No comments about Alaska Butterflies & Moths: An introduction to 72 familiar species (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press).

2 comments about Pacific High: Adventures In The Coast Ranges From Baja To Alaska (A Shearwater Book).

1. Great book. Who says we have to travel to far away places for adventure? Tim Palmer had what for most of us would be a lifetime of adventures on this 9 month journey. At the same time the people he introduces us to and the observations he shares about all that he sees will make any reader think harder about our place on and responsibilities to this world.



2. Tim Palmer is an excellent writer - his evocative imagery, jaunty pace, and contagious enthusiasm pervades this book. Truly one for adventure, Palmer and his wife set out to explore the coast ranges from Baja, Mexico to Kodiak Island, Alaska. Palmer prefers mountain to ocean and it is among the mountains and about the trees that he waxes most eloquently.
   
   Firmly left of center, the author seems to struggle with himself to keep his book from descending into mere ideology. He is largely successful, though there are places where one wishes he'd keep to the scenery. Environmentalism is a crucial cause - one for which Palmer advocates aggressively - but his dogmatism occasionally overflows it's banks bringing an awkward bitterness aimed well beyond the theme.
   
   Nevertheless, Pacific High is a page turner. I returned to it often, reading large chunks at a time. It's vicarious, though informative nature makes for a pleasurable piece of travel writing. From mountaintops to river runs, I've been given more places I need to see. 4+ stars.

No comments about Scats and Tracks of Alaska Including the Yukon and British Columbia: A Field Guide to the Signs of Sixty-Nine Wildlife Species (Scats and Tracks Series).

5 comments about The Woman Who Walked to Russia: A Writer's Search for a Lost Legend.

1. The least information supplied in this book is about Lillian (last name uncertain), the woman, whose legend has it, walked to Russia. The author is Australian, and that is probably the market for which this book is intended. She sets off on an investigative journal to uncover information about the mysterious Lillian, and comes up instead with a travelogue about travelling in Northern British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska. Along the way, she fills in details of the scenery, the towns, her menu, her disfunctional friendship with her travelling companion, and offers a half dozen book reviews. For someone like myself, with a solid knowledge of North American current events and Arctic history, the narrative offers very little, and in fact, gives away important details some of books still waiting on my reading list. For others, who are looking for an introduction to the region, or enjoys another person's perspective, they may find some merit in the book. The writing style is fine, and the book does have flow to it. However, don't confuse it with investigative journalism.



2. I read this book while taking a Refugee and Immigrant Perspectives class. In the first third of the book, Pybus presented a historically strong case for her heroine (statistics, archives, interviews, etc.). Then, Pybus begins to profile her own journey - nearly overshadowing her writers' pursuit of Lillian Alling. While I found the final resolution more realistic but slightly less climatic than I had been expecting, Pybus' travels and observations lend themselves to the wild Alaskan frontier and the dangers of walking/driving/living there. Overall, a good read but perhaps should be renamed: The Woman Who Walked to Russia And The Writer Who Drove to Alaska. Now I'm off to read Into The Wild...



3. Pybus purportedly is writing about a woman who, in the 1920's, set out to walk from British Columbia all the way to Siberia. There isn't much information on this woman and Pybus, with a friend, was going to retrace her steps in an effort to find out more.
   That sounds really good. That is why I picked up the book to read it.
   What most of this book is about, though, is how mean Cassandra's friend is to her, how too many people are hunting Alaskan moose, how backwards Americans are, how nice Cassandra is. There is finally a resolution to the "woman who walked to Russia" story but it's only thrown in in a halfhearted way before Pybus throws her whole self into telling us how happy she is to be back with her husband, and that's what really matters, right? If she had spent more time being sympathetic the first 3/4 of the book I could have been happier with the ending. As it was, I was completely uninterested in Cassandra's personal life, having been given regular doses of it throughout the book.
   There are some good descriptions of Yukon & Alaska in this book; it's an area I've visited before, and her descriptions made me miss it. I can get nostalgic without having to tread through 200 pages of complaining about Pybus's sad lot in life.



4. I thought that The Woman Who Walked to Russia, by Cassandra Pybus was a good book. The book showed a relationship between Cassandra and her friend Gerry; and how Cassandra never gave up. I felt that it was important that Pybus never gave up because she felt and was so into Lillian Alling and how she supposedly walked through the wilderness to get back where her home was. Pybus said "To follow Lillian's trek from Vancouver would involve a return trip of ten thousand kilometers, allowing for a side trip to Providenija , and to do the trip I would need to hire a four-wheel-drive vehicle for five to six weeks."(p.41) Knowing that all this would have to be done to find how and what Lillian had to do to get back home is remarkable. If I was in Pybus position I do not think that I would go through all that trouble.
   The relationship between Pybus and Gerry is a good one for the both of them on this trip. They are both from Australia so they can relate on things, but also can snap at each other. For example when Gerry says, "And I got fat!" and later after they ate dinner, "As if nothing has happened between us, she cheerfully dismantles the Tranjia stove, packs up the food box and locks them into the trunk of the car."(p.111) With it just being them two in a car driving it must get crazy at times. Not having anyone else to talk to or having your own place to just get away must be really challenging.
   I liked this book because I never read a book with the people in it being from Australia and looking for someone that they have never met before and them determination just moved me. Also the determination that Lillian had to go back where she was from and here she knew where her home was at.
   
   Natalie San Francisco



5. The woman of the title is nowhere to be found. If you are looking for wilderness adventure, as I was, you will be disappointed. Pybus has almost no information on Lillian Alling's life or supposed epic hike to Siberia. In fact, she doesn't even know her name. Lillian Alling is largely a guess. In the end, she finds a few tidbits and one first hand account and from that weaves a wispy fairy tale. What the reader finds instead is an often fascinating, if unintended self-portrait author -- a woman frightened by wilderness and unable to comprehend anything beyond her own limited and narrow world view. As when she mocks rural Americans or expresses "astonishment" that readers of Jon Krakauer's "Into the Wild" see anything more than hubris in the the book's protagonist.
   
   The interactions between her, her travel companion, and her thoughts along the way are mesmerizing, if often painful.

No comments about Econoguide Cruises, 5th: Cruising the Caribbean, Hawaii, New England, Alaska, and Europe (Econoguide Series).

5 comments about Inside Passage Walking Tours: Exploring Major Ports of Call in Southeast Alaska.

1. Sure, Alaskan Cruise Ships offer guided shore excursions which usually entail a bus tour. But Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and Sitka are all so much better on foot!

   If you decide to check out these ports of call at your own pace, be sure to get this great little book. I loved it because it fit right in my pocket. The maps were easy to follow, simple to understand, and the advice was right on the mark. It's ideal --especially if you're on a limited time schedule. The author even suggests a few terrific dining spots in each town. She also notes them again with a knife and fork icon right in the text description of the tour, so you can't miss them as you go along.

   You'll be sure to enrich your Alaskan cruise if you bring this book!




2. Not too much, not too little and good fun.

   This cute little book is easy to read, and full of all the right kinds of stuff. I didn't have to waste time sussing things out on my own. I knew what to expect before I got to each location, and when I did arrive I knew what to do every step of the way.

   Good on ya, Julianne Chase .. great book!




3. We took this book with us to each port that we went to and were able to find a number of little off-the-beaten-path treasures as a result. The book gives detailed directions that even the directionally-impaired (like myself) can follow, and offers street names, landmarks, and amounts of walking time in order to assist you in getting from place to place.

   In our case, our scheduled shore excursion in Juneau was canceled, so we just set out with the book. We got to see parts of Juneau that nobody else on our tour saw, and really enjoyed getting to know the city better. Some of the port towns in Alaska are very touristy, and this allowed us to plot out our own routes that would take us away from the crowds to see some of the lesser-known but just as fun landmarks. In both Juneau and Ketchikan, we found this book invaluable. I highly recommend it for anyone planning a cruise to Alaska - and especially for those who are doing it on a budget. By touring Juneau on our own instead of through a ship-planned shore excursion, we saved nearly five hundred dollars. Great book.




4. What a fantastic guide for Alaska cruisers!!! This book helped us make the most of our time in the ports of call.



5. Although dated this is a useful guide for people who wish to independently explore Alaskan tourist ports .

5 comments about Way Out Here: Modern Life in Ice-Age Alaska.

1. His first book, Edges of the earth was amazing. So I thought this book would be a terrific sequal. Was I wrong. He complains and whines throughout the entire book. The story goes nowhere. A far cry from his first novel. Don't waste your time with this book if you are interested in life in Alaska, read his first book if you can get your hands on it (I know it is out of print). It is full of passion and drama.



2. The main difference between this book and Leo's first one is the degree of "personal" he gives it. In the first one, we read his reactions, emotions and dreams, his failures and victories, and especially his love for his girlfriend and son. In this second book, there's lots of beautiful Alaska, descriptions of animals, weather, struggles for survival, but none of the human touch. I wanted to read a sequel to the first book, to see how Rick's life turned out, but this isn't it. He barely refers to his wife (a native woman?), and his kids buzz around like the mosquitoes instead of being the center of his life. What happened Rick?? Did 15 (now 20) years in the bush harden you that much? Please write another book that fills in the gaps!



3. After completing this book, I found myself eager to read other stories of grit and determination in the wilderness. This led to books about sailing and shipwrecks, homesteading and exploration, dogsledding and extreme sports. . . until I got the "adventure obsession" out of my system.

   I read this several years ago, and still rave about it to anyone who will listen. It touched me that much. Now, having recently purchased a used copy of Leo's first book about his life in Alaska, "Edges of the Earth/a Man, a Woman, a Child in the Alaskan Wilderness", and reading not-so-great reviews of this book, I can't wait to read "Edges. . ."

   Leo's descriptions of the flora and fauna, almost incomprehensible amounts of snow, and the glory of the northern sky are truly inspirational, and touched me on a very deep level.

   Truly a worthwhile read.




4. I breezed through this in an afternoon, but alas found nothing I was looking for after enjoying the first book. Since I wrote a book (Alaska Tales 2001) about my numerous excursions to Alaska over the same period albeit earlier than Leo (1976) to the same area around Talkeetna and points north including the Brooks Range, I really expected more insight and journalistic inquiry in to the area and the people. Some of them I'm sure I remember, but none are recognized here.
   
   I mean how many times can one describe the trail in and out of the cabin? This descriptive quickly turned circular from snow to flood to bugs to freeze-up and again. Even the trips away from the homestead are nothing more than brief summaries.
   
   I wanted to know about his new wife, first son Janus, first wife Melissa, and how in the hell does he scrape together the few thousand dollars to live there, still? Certainy not from these books. What? I'm afraid there just isn't enough going on to chronicle in the limited field of vision from the ridge above Petersville road. There could be if Leo paid more visits to his neighbors and read some John McPhee as a primer. That's how it's done. This clearly isn't.



5. anyone who seeks the deeper meaning in life inevitably entertains the notion of leaving it all behind and heading into the woods. and in doing so, one comes to the conclusion that community and family are paramount to a fulfilling life.
   with beautiful zen oriented imagery and a compelling narrative voice that might drive you into the wilds yourself, this book has stuck with me for years.

5 comments about Northern Lights and Shadows: Sixteen Years in the Alaska Bush.

1. A great book. The descriptions of the wildlife and landscape are insightful and accurate - I was informed as well as entertained. The book captures the feel of wild Alaska and allowed me to experience life in the bush along with the author and his wife. I felt as if I was in the plane when he was lost during a snow storm. I stood beside him and felt the excitement and fear when wolf or grizzly was encountered at close range. The book gives us an environmental message as well. Wilderness is ours not only to experience, but also to protect. The author's insights into how to live with the land and appreciate its beauty and harshness make this a valuable read.



2. Wow! Captivating from the beginning digging your way out of the cabin. Excellent imagery. Made me want to go there before it is all gone, to breath the air, to see the landscape, to feel the rush of the wind, the chill of the frozen tundra, to taste food that is fresh and wild, free from man's processing. To hear the sounds that nature sings.
   This descriptive account of life in Alaska is an eye opener of the fortitude it takes to make it in the Last Frontier. The extreme conditions and the extreme rewards.
   This book opens your eyes to the hardships and the little things a tenderfoot wouldn't think of in your survival in the Alaskan wilds. Dotted with humor, sprinkled with love and support of a life mate, along with the daily challenges of self-sufficiency. Here you will find many helpful hints if your dream is to live in the wilds of Alaska. And if it has been your dream it will open your eye to the reality of such a challenge. A marvelous read and an excellent way to experience the wilds vicariously in the comfort and safety of your own armchair, from wildlife survival, to the Elmer's, natures Christening, the antics of the wilds, this books is fascinating, one to read and re-read.
   I can only say thank you Lee for writing your experience out in such vivid details.



3. From earliest childhood Lee Basnar loved nature. Basnar was born in Vermont in 1938. Stories of Alaska created a fascination for Lee. He wanted to experience the last frontier.
   
   Lee's father had plans for him to graduate from college. Instead Lee married his high school sweetheart, Joan. He worked for his father as an apprentice carpenter. It was seasonal work. Tired of menial jobs and unemployment checks during the winter months, Lee again disappointed his father. He joined the army in 1961.
   
   Lee's service career took him to Germany and France. In 1968 he was transferred to Viet Nam where he served as advisor to the South Vietnamese infantry division and later as an infantry company commander.
   
   In October of 1971 Lee was assigned duty at Fort Richardson. His dream of seeing Alaska had finally come true. However, in 1974 he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia. Soon Lee was seeking reassignment to duty in Alaska. An opportunity opened and Basner became senior advisor to the 207th Infantry Group of the Alaska National Guard, near Anchorage, for the remainder of his Army career.
   
   As time drew near for his army enlistment to end, Lee began to plan his retirement. Together, with Joan, he looked for a site that would accommodate a cabin home. They both were ready to take on the challenge of the Alaskan frontier by living in the bush.
   
   Lee is a gifted story teller. His descriptions of animal life, nature trails, mountains, and rivers in the vast Alaska wilds are spectacular. In breathtaking word pictures Basner creates new vistas for the reader. "Snow sprinkled the mountains like powdered sugar on cupcakes, and each new snowfall frosted the slopes a little lower." Each chapter includes a photo which depicts something of its contents.
   
   Narrow escapes and life threatening experiences mount up as one after another Basner chronicles his story. He tells of a smoke filled cockpit in his small Taylor Craft airplane. After an emergency landing and repairs he had to battle river rapids for a dangerous take off at 2:30 AM to return home. After landing, securing the plane in a blinding snowstorm, having had no sleep for 24 hours, Lee, the master of understatement put it this way, "For some reason I felt a little tired."
   
   Adventure stories of trapping, hunting, fishing, and photographing moose, wolves, bears, and other wildlife fill the chapters of this rapid paced narrative. The unpredictability of grizzly bears, a midwinter chimney fire, and other narrow escapes will keep you turning the pages of this fascinating account of the Basner's life in the bush.
   
   Lee related how after surviving his tour of duty in Viet Nam, he was plagued by survivor guilt. He hoped to exchange combat nightmares from Vietnam for a new sense of freedom peace and contentment by living in the bush. After some years of roughing it, Lee wrote: "Vietnam intruded less frequently as the years accumulated...the demands of bush living shoved Viet Nam aside, leaving room for healing. The nightmares, less frequent now, retreated to a hidden place, emerging rarely. Drifting and pondering gave me time to realize that I had truly survived and shouldn't feel guilty because of it".
   
   This is a book for everyone who ever had a dream of adventure on the last frontier. It is a book for Veterans, who experienced the ravages of war. Every school library should have a copy. It is for the sportsman, the hunter, and the environmentalist.
   
   This is an incredible read.



4. Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (08/06)
   
   Ever since I read Jack London's Call of the Wild when I was a child, I have been enamored of anything to do with Alaska. If a book is set in Alaska, I'll buy it, more for the background and how people live than for the storyline.
   
   Lee Basner was born in Vermont and in his early childhood developed a fascination with the Alaska Territory. It took him thirty years, but he finally achieved his dream of living in the far North. Sick with guilt over the men under his command who never came home from the Vietnam War while he made it through, Lee retired from the U.S. Army as a major at the age of forty-two and he and his wife Joan built a log home 200 miles from Anchorage. They moved in during a March blizzard and lived there for the next sixteen years, pitting themselves against the worst Alaska could throw at them and surviving to tell the tale.
   
   They had no indoor plumbing, self-generated power and no telephone for the first years. Clothes were washed in a wringer washer and hung outside to freeze, after which they were brought inside to thaw in front of the wood-burning stove, the only source of heat.
   
   Balanced against these inconveniences was wildlife at the door, breathtaking scenery and the chance to really live their own lives as they wished, with no one to tell them what to do.
   
   Filled with anecdotes of their daily life from the mundane, like digging a trail to the outhouse, to the poignant such as a herd of caribou caught in an avalanche, many of them killed and injured while Lee was unable to reach them to at least put them out of their misery, I was unable to put the book down. I even took it with me to read while I waited in line at the bank. I loved this book. It's a real keeper.



5. ... I have met the author. It is certainly true that I have met Lee. Indeed I've known him for several years. The fact is though, I like Lee's writing style. I have read his newspaper columns. I own his earlier book on Vietnam too. Lee has the ability to bring a full range of emotions to the surface in the reader. From sadness to anger to a feeling of smallness in awe of the power of nature, I can't help but be involved with his writing. Moving among the lights and shadows of this book is entirely pleasant, amusing and fulfilling.

1 comments about Caribou and the Barren Lands.

1. Written by a scientist, in the language of a poet, with the illustrations of a professional photographer - remarkably, all the same man. Highly recommended story, history, and life of the caribou and the environment within which it survives.

No comments about Alaska Review.