Dirty Work: My Gruelling, Glorious, Life-Changing Summer in the Wilderness

by Anna Maxymiw

When Anna Maxymiw accepts a summer job as a housekeeper at a fishing lodge in Northern Ontario, she has little idea what to expect. At twenty-three, she has decided to step away from her master’s degree and city life to board a floatplane bound for the remote boreal forest.
For sixty-seven days, Anna will be working and living alongside twelve strangers. Together this group of young men and women will keep the lodge running. While the male fishing guides head out on the water with the fishermen who are the lodge’s guests, the women stay on land to clean and serve. Against the backdrop of a vast lake, wild storms, and hot days and eerily still nights, Anna encounters bears, bugs, and the lore surrounding the lake’s legendary pike. As the summer progresses, complex (and sometimes fraught) bonds form between the men and women who work at the lodge and the tension builds. Anna notices a shift in her outlook, too: she finds herself letting go of fears and insecurities and welcoming surprises and possibilities, both good and bad, with a willingness to be changed by them.
Warm, funny, vulnerable, and wise, Dirty Work offers a singular perspective on the age-old impulse to leave familiar surroundings behind. It’s for anyone who has ever felt the urge to test themselves and wondered how they’d fare and who they’d be when they came out on the other side.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Canada, Nature, Adventure, Audiobook, Travel

276 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2019

Reviews

[Elorra · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a nice book, but I just kept waiting for something to happen. You're not hoping for anything tragic by any means but she keeps referring to how the summer changed her life and I don't really see that change, as the book (spoiler) ends the day she leaves the resort.

I will commend Maxymiw for doing justice to the Canadian wilderness, she really beautifully captures what the deep forests are like and the noisy silence of the wild, I found that super relatable.

All together it's nice read, but it seems a bit self gratifying for the author instead of the reader.

[CarolG · Rating 3 out of 5]

My nephew's wife was one of the staff working alongside the author during the period about which this book is written. I've been saying for a year or more that I'm going to read this book so I decided now is the time. There's no doubt Anna Maxymiw has a gift for words as the book was well written with many evocative descriptions of the lodge and the area but I found myself skimming a lot. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about pike, about cleaning toilets and septic tanks, immature pranks and jokes, etc. My hat is off to the people who voluntarily spend their summer working in such an environment; not only does it sound dirty, it sounds like it's a thankless job. It was interesting to sit back and watch the staff members become fast friends though and you just know it's an experience they'll never forget. Like my nephew's wife said, this isn't just a book to her, it's memories. It isn't a book I'd recommend to everyone but some people would enjoy it much more than I did.

[Lindsay Purchase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fierce, funny and honest memoir transports the reader to a brief, but transformative moment in time in the author's life. The interpersonal relationships are captivating. So are the gender politics. I devoured it in a weekend.

[Karen Liddiard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been to this lodge, and have a daughter who worked there, which is why I picked up this book. There is definitely a rich trove of material for this book, but I feel that Anna Maxymiw, just never got deep enough into any story for me to relate to either her, or the other characters she describes. I’m sure she was walking a fine line so as not to step on any toes, but give me something! I felt the stories she told were unfinished and lacked purpose in building toward a conclusion, or revelation. Also, I got the feeling that Maxymiw was constantly trying to impress us with the depth of her vocabulary, which just does not ring true to the setting. I really wanted to like this book, but my recommendation to anyone who wants to experience Kesagami is to go and see for yourself, and please be kind to the housekeepers/servers while you are there.

[Lesley Tulipano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirty work is an awesome read - especially in the summer! You can tell Anna is a talented writer from the way she describes her time at the lodge and the beauty of northern Ontario. You feel like you are right there with her. Highly recommend this book for the hilarious and honest stories she has gathered from her summer.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dirty Work interested me for a few reasons:
1. Canadian author
2. Canadian northern Ontario wilderness (I don't live far from this)
3. I spend summers doing a seasonal work in a camp like setting
So in a few ways I figured I would relate to some of the authors experiences and appreciate them. Basically Anna is a city girl from Toronto working at a fly in fishing camp. I found her descriptions of the land actually very soothing and relaxing but at times the writing did seem like she was trying to hard to sound "smart" and "sophisticated". I enjoyed the friendships everyone made a the camp but I could not stand the way the female workers were treated. It also seemed like Anna's stories were incomplete, Im sure she left alot of extra details out and they seemed kinda blah. Really this is a book where nothing that exciting happens and I think most people would find it boring. Myself, it made me think of my crazy summers working at a campground and I could appreciate the story Anna told.

[Chas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ontario author, Ontario topic, Northern setting. I realize i read it out of loyalty. Normally its easy know what i can take away from a book. This one? I certainly learned about one young woman's emotions and her growth. For me, she didn't develop the authority that would allow me to say that her thoughts and feelings were transferable to her cohort. Thus i don't believe i will be seeing the world any more clearly subsequent to this reading.
Nevertheless it is interesting to be reading someone's first book and i am likely to look in on their next one, watching for what changes and what remains the same.

[Miya A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Maxymiw's memoir about her summer in Northern Ontario is an odd memoir; why write a book about this? I mean, there's a whole chapter about cleaning up human excrement and as several other reviewers pointed out, nothing 'big' really happens to Anna on this summer in the remote and incredible grueling wilderness.

Nothing happens, and yet, everything happens. Anna Maxymiw subtly points out each of the people she works with, with keen and loving observation; each of them is so interesting (and at times, confusing) that they are complex and real throughout. She taps into attraction and friendhip in a way that is honest and maddening. She describes the importance of, and politics of, female friendships; when and why they work, when and why they don't, and the reason for their importance. She painstakingly recreates some of her more horrible and depressing tasks at the fishing lodge so the reader feels exhausted along with her. She is at times, confident, and at times, self-depricating and unsure, but the message of the book seems to be this: despite her urban life and initial reservations and uncertainties, she becomes the most authentic and best version of herself through this experience, despite how horrible and hard it sounds (especially for those of us who value nightlife, city comforts, makeup, and sleep!).

Perhaps because Anna Maxymiw completed a similar degree and lived a life in Vancouver far from home, similar to myself. And perhaps it is because I used to work housekeeping in a block of old-school cabins in Jasper National Park (also my hometown and where my parents still reside so I can relate to gearing up for busy, laborious summers and transient twentysomethings tossing lude jokes and flirtations at one another), I deeply related to this book and fell passionately in love with it. While it is a bit of a strange and episodic book which will never please the plot and action seekers, it is a rich and gratifying read which had me longing for my twenties and my summers in Jasper in a way nothing has in a long time.

[Riley (runtobooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was really underwhelming and i am disappointed that i didn't enjoy it because i was excited about this one. while lots of character development, it doesn't ever really lead to anything? nice to see depictions of the ontario north, but aside from that it was just a series of vignettes. too bad.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author accepts a job as a housekeeper at a remote fishing lodge in Northern Ontario. The only way to get to the lodge is by small plane and this is where the story starts. Anna writes an honest, emotional, portrayal of camp life in the summer months. We learn about the strenuous, difficult labor that the men and women do there 24 hours a day. We learn about the inter-personal relationships between the staff including the rough behavior, foul language, pranks and tricks, and how people learn to bond in a way you'd never think possible.

I loved all the details and information about the fish called Northern Pike. Anna had been at this lake the summer previously as a guest along with family members. She soon learns that her life as an employee is completely different.

The writing and Anna's use of the English language is exquisite. She describes every feeling, every movement, every thought and emotion in such fine detail and so perfectly. We soon come to realize that she has experienced some emotionally difficult times in her life, particularly when she made the choice to move to Vancouver. At times, Anna feels very lonely at camp and wonders if she will ever fit in with the other staff.

The sense of humor of the camp boys was somewhat unusual, at times vulgar and disgraceful, and I had difficulty understanding why they thought certain things were so funny. There were many snide, degrading remarks, and callous actions taken by the boys at times. As you read the book, you begin to understand the reasoning for this, somewhat.

Anyhow, this is a very worthwhile read written by a very gifted, talented author. I look forward to reading more from Anna Maxymiw in the near future!

[Emma Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This should not have taken me so long to read, I just could not find the time to sit down for more than a few minutes and really get into it. But today I set aside a few hours and flew through the last 150 pages!

Anna Maxymiw's beautiful prose paint a scene that I know intimately well - scraping human feces off the wall of a bathroom, watching a pile of garbage go up in flames, and the flooding feels of love that come from spending two months in the wilderness with a group of brash boys. Though I'm not sure every reader will experience this text in the same way that I did, Maxymiw's "Dirty Work" had me laughing out loud and tearing up with heartsick emotion.

The author takes a well-hidden side of lodge life and exposes it in the most naked way possible. She connects her summer with the land that she became a part of, and her true love for her experiences shine through. It's incredibly difficult to put into words the awe and reverence a person has after two months working in the bush, and I know that there's many lines I'll pull from this text to echo my own feelings after I finish each summer.

Though the average reader may not be able to connect with the text in the same way I have, Maxymiw still makes such a special experience accessible to all. I want to shove this book in all my friend's faces and say "Here. This is what I live through each summer." And to all the people in my life that I share my summers with, I want to shove this book in their faces and say "Here. This is what we live through together, and someone has finally put words to it."

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirty Work is raw, real and relatable in all the best ways. You'll feel everything right along with Anna as she experiences it because she is so open in her writing, even in the most uncomfortable and vulnerable of moments. She tells it like it is and holds nothing back, letting you get to know her and everyone else at the lodge on an intimate level. Funny, honest, heartwarming and masterfully written, Dirty Work is a must-read.

[Matthew Romanada · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-crafted memoir that offers insight into life at a fishing camp in Northern Ontario. The book smoothly blends interesting details and lore surrounding this rural setting with a narrative tale of a fish-out-of water city girl who is trying to prove to her co-workers and herself that she can thrive in this physically and emotionally challenging environment.
The stories of the staff at the fishing lodge read like a better version of any summer camp movie out there, as Maxymiw brings the characters alive with her observations, humour and honesty.
You don't need to care about fish, or know anything about Northern Ontario to appreciate this book.

[A.M. Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maxymiw writes with honesty, a trait I valuable highly in memoir writing. The book is salted with sharp descriptions of the natural world. Good Canadiana.

[Suzanne Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book as a goodreads giveway...I absolutely loved it...!Trained as a yoga teacher, I read so many self- help books..etc etc.and this...awakened my own natural instincts to be explored..
As we join Anna who accepts a job at a fishing camp in Northern Ontario, we learn to sweat, swear, get dirty fingernails , develop grit and caliber and chiselled down to what is left...your true self and as she described..ancient instincts..
Senses in nature are awakened...observing the movement of the pike as they draw the sign of infinity, really touched my core and helped me realise that nature is our greatest teacher...and working alongside others physically , sweating together creates real , raw and true bonds...Well done Anna Maxymiv....! My exploration of nature..my Self and swearing begin!!..

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Dirty Work, Anna Maxymiw captures a definitive time in a young woman's life in a relatable, funny and endearing way. While she toils away over dirty laundry and toilets in remote northern Ontario, I found delight in Maxymiw's small moments of rebellion. She describes the haunting beauty of the northern forests and lakes in a way that made me emotional. Her relationships with the fellow workers are painted with humour and above all, shameless honesty. I was so invested in these characters that I sometimes forgot I was reading a piece of nonfiction. It was a delight to read a book from someone who truly understands the romance and magic of northern Ontario.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go with Anna Maxymiw to a remote fishing lodge in the Ontario wilds. A studying writer, Maxymiw tries her luck as a housekeeper for the summer, encountering more than expected in the Canadian North: here there are bears and dirty jokes, back-breaking chores and misogyny, sweet French boys and laugh-till-you-pee one-liners. With bald humour, dextrous language, and bracing vulnerability, Maxymiw makes you fall in love with what she's fallen in love with: which, in the case of the unknowable landscape of the northern lakes and woods, is everything.

[Olivia Lavery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Dirty Work in two days and every moment I spent away from it felt like torture. This beautifully written memoir is about a Canadian city girl who moves to the remote Northern Ontario wilderness to work as a housekeeper at a fishing lodge for the summer. She recounts the magic and madness of cleaning up after people for a living, and in luminous prose explains the realities of sharing a small space with a group of perfect strangers in the middle of nowhere.

Anna Maxymiw captures so many of the feelings of tumult and nostalgia and freedom I've felt in my life but have never been able to accurately put into words. Reading her story felt, in many ways, like reading my own. Dirty Work is one of my favourite books of the year. It was a compelling story and a relaxing read. I’d highly recommend this one to anyone who likes memoirs and travel stories!

[Melly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a struggle to get through, you keep waiting for something interesting to happen and it doesn't. I had high hopes for some character development, interesting tales of Northern Ontario work, but no, nothing. How can this author make the glory of remote Northern Ontario seem as interesting as a wet napkin? I'm giving two stars because I think the author was trying to use different vocabulary to make her book more interesting, and I did pick up a few new words. Other than that, just so boring, I kept trying to imagine how Bill Bryson would have written the same story.

[Kristen Colquhoun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviews claim “nothing happens”, but that is kind of the point. It is the mundane and glorious in each moment and the author has found a way to do that. I could picture myself there - working day in and day out, admiring the beauty of the land and the relationships that form, all while “nothing” happens. I wonder if those who lacked a fantastical event in this book are also those that have a hard time relaxing on vacation and have a tendency towards boredom. I was happy to kick back for the duration of this book and just soak it in.

[James Rawly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was good enough to keep me interested just not sure anything spectacular stood out for me.

Spoiler? Below??






In one of the few last chapters the douchebag boss pisses off on one of the first if not the first plane outta there. Then the crew realized they forgot to put away some boats.

They almost miss their flight putting away said boats for a fuxktard that didn’t seem to care about his own operation.

This left me scratching my head as to why do such a thing for a dude who was gone ASAP?

[Kate McDougall Sackler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written with very descriptive prose. The author really brings the foliage of the northern Ontario wilderness to life. However, I felt this book only scratched the surface of what it could be. I had hoped for more about the author; why did she have trouble making female friends, why was she depressed, and I kept waiting for something to happen between her and Jack. There was so much lead up, but then it fell a little flat.
2022 reading challenge-a book set in a small town or rural area

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't stop listening to this one. Fascinating, lyrical about the wonders and shittiness of Northern Ontario. Described some off-putting Indigenous interactions near the end, which struck me as kind of true to life in that humans are messy and there is no such thing as a neatly tied ending or closure to relationships, but still came off very strangely and wasn't commented on at nearly the length or with the literary deftness I had come to expect from the novel and so felt strangely shoved in there - I wasn't sure if this was literary liberty, but it ended quite abruptly.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I worked at this lodge, granted years after Anna did but it was definitely interesting to see how things change and how many things were the same. My biggest issue was that I did not like the writing style, I can’t do info dumps in the best of cases and because I’ve done this job I found myself skimming a lot. I will say every summer up at Kesagami is just as eventful and the gender roles are just as prevalent as they were then. I enjoyed my summer there and this book was a good hit of nostalgia, but it I hadn’t worked here I wouldn’t have finished the book.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. And LOVED IT. Very descriptive and funny. And I have worked a cleaning job before (truckstop, close enough to camp life) and can attest to some of the things that make you say HOW DID THIS EVEN GET THERE (Did you aim?). Nothing dragged on for too long, and the ending left you feeling a little bit sad because you knew the camaraderie and fun was being left behind. Totally an awesome read for this summer on the lake!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook! I enjoyed that it was narrated by the author. She has a lovely reading voice, it was so soothing at times.

The overall story was good, I find it hard to rate memoirs but it was interesting and I loved learning about the fishing cabins up north. I just wish there would have been more to thr ending, maybe a look back once she arrived back to Toronto how different she felt etc.

[Linda Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dirty Work” made me want to travel to the lodge and see for myself this beautiful unique part of the Canadian wilderness ... and I’m left wondering where the real characters are today. There were a few places where I laughed out loud. A feel good reminiscent true story about a life changing experience - worth reading.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a dirty, raw, real view of summer life at a fishing camp. There were so many connections for me to my days as a tree planter in Northern Ontario and a camp counsellor at an over night camp. The powerful writing filled with imagery and rich language made me feel like I was reliving all the moments with her. It is a nostalgic 5 stars for me.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn’t terrible, but I couldn’t finish it. I got through 65% and still couldn’t finish :( perhaps a younger version of myself would have enjoyed it, but I’m over adolescent drama at this point in my life! As another reviewer said, they just kept waiting for something interesting to happen. I was in the same boat, and when nothing happened, I gave up.

[Breege Moyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was wonderfully real. I enjoyed every page. From the pike to the simple act of escaping from the lodge instead of standing there laughing, waiting for the guy's joke to be over. I feel like Anna captures so much in these pages that other people would forget or simply not notice. She had me when she described her love for Vancouver and for Toronto.. how two places can be loved so dearly.