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Survival: Stories
A collection of stories dealing with the beauty, the nature, and the people of Alaska.
Survival --
The winner --
Marks --
The lady with the sled dog --
A guy like me --
Visqueen winter --
Imitations --
The bucket of mice --
Waiting for the thaw --
Volcano --
Nature lessons --
Small potatoes --
A true story --
Snowblind --
Why I live at the Natural History Museum
Survival --
The winner --
Marks --
The lady with the sled dog --
A guy like me --
Visqueen winter --
Imitations --
The bucket of mice --
Waiting for the thaw --
Volcano --
Nature lessons --
Small potatoes --
A true story --
Snowblind --
Why I live at the Natural History Museum
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 11, 2009
This may have deserved more stars than I afforded it; I am beginning to believe that I should steer clear of short stories. The writing was good. The stories were interesting. I can't blame this on the book. It's all my fault. I want more. I want more background. I want more closure. I want more insight. I want a novel.
Here of some favorite excerpts--they should provide a feel for both the mood of this collection of stories, and the writing style.
"He didn't understand the lure of just plain wildness, the idea of going to a place because it was good for the soul."
"There's something about her that reminds me of myself, or of someone I used to be, or thought I wanted to be."
"The rollers hitting the beach advanced the sun's glare rhythmically, the glitter at each crest like the diamonds on a camera lens when a picture was shot into the sun."
"As I bend branches, I'm comforted that there is still so much unfenced and untrammeled space."
"When I came to Alaska, it was with the sure knowledge that there were places that, truly, no one had stepped. And it mattered, the sense of putting a foot down and knowing I was the first to look upon the world from exactly that vantage point. Every sight- of mountain or mouse hole- was a discovery.
"An owl hooted, and Marco walked back behind the garden and down toward the spring to look for it. It was a great horned, sitting at the top of a dead spruce. Silhouetted against the night sky, its ear tufts fanned as it turned one way and then the other. Watching it filled him with a sense of reverence. I t was these moments, these encounters with God's other creatures, that he valued most about living in the woods. It was this that he wanted Mary to know, this that was important, this that had value."
Here of some favorite excerpts--they should provide a feel for both the mood of this collection of stories, and the writing style.
"He didn't understand the lure of just plain wildness, the idea of going to a place because it was good for the soul."
"There's something about her that reminds me of myself, or of someone I used to be, or thought I wanted to be."
"The rollers hitting the beach advanced the sun's glare rhythmically, the glitter at each crest like the diamonds on a camera lens when a picture was shot into the sun."
"As I bend branches, I'm comforted that there is still so much unfenced and untrammeled space."
"When I came to Alaska, it was with the sure knowledge that there were places that, truly, no one had stepped. And it mattered, the sense of putting a foot down and knowing I was the first to look upon the world from exactly that vantage point. Every sight- of mountain or mouse hole- was a discovery.
"An owl hooted, and Marco walked back behind the garden and down toward the spring to look for it. It was a great horned, sitting at the top of a dead spruce. Silhouetted against the night sky, its ear tufts fanned as it turned one way and then the other. Watching it filled him with a sense of reverence. I t was these moments, these encounters with God's other creatures, that he valued most about living in the woods. It was this that he wanted Mary to know, this that was important, this that had value."
July 25, 2016
As I wrote at the time, this is a "fine collection of stories" of people struggling in Alaska. Most moved there from other states, not for jobs but for the wilderness and freedom. They work in fisheries and do other menial labor to support their unusual lifestyle. They often live in solitude - some prefer it while others resent it when their spouse if away working).
Families left behind in the Lower 48 rarely understand the appeal. When visiting they don't embrace the lifestyle, which pains the Alaskans who wants to share their love of the land or who finds their lifestyle impeded by the tactless, unappreciative invaders.
Families left behind in the Lower 48 rarely understand the appeal. When visiting they don't embrace the lifestyle, which pains the Alaskans who wants to share their love of the land or who finds their lifestyle impeded by the tactless, unappreciative invaders.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews