Alaska Books

A well thought out book. Woody's obvious respect for the land and Native thinking clearly shows through in his writing. Reads as if though the author were talking directly to you ~ nice flow.

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.

What a book! This author is a poet, philosopher, storyteller and uspense novelist, who has put together a page turner with suspense, intrigue, quotable lines, fine characters, great plot line, romance, adventure, love, beauty. What more could you ask? Oh yes, it also explores a hot topic without preachiness. I absolutely loved this book and recommend it highly --it has universal appeal.

If you like your murders on ice, try this one on for size: Call girl Carla tries to play house with her idealistic guy in Alaska--and winds up killing him with a pitchfork. Then she suspects a friendly trapper of ulterior motives and kills him, too, as the winter closes in, and wolves lay seige to her cabin--and Carla slips into a deja vu mode of her murderous moments repeating themselves again and again--even as we speak! It'll grab you!

I wondered if this novel could possibly live up to being WORTH the asking price. I'm happy to report that if enviornmental stories are what you like, this new series is for you: if you are as new to them as I, let these authors make you a fan!

Sean Ryan, an experienced CIA and FBI agent, is transferred to the newly established Enviornmental Crimes Unit where he feels women should work, and not Soldiers. He does not want to catch 'paint dumpers'and fears this is a backward step. His first case is playing the husband of EPA investigator Juliana Del Rio aboard an Alaskan Cruise Liner. (These cruise ships have been reported transporting toxic wastes and then dumping the contents outside the three mile limit.) Ms Del Rio has the knowledge to test the waste and add more weight to the convictions as set forth by the FBI.
Just as they are wrapping up this case, Sean becomes enmeshed in the larger and unknown case having to do with the illegal manufacture and usage of nuclear weaponry, politicos on the take and the cover-ups they create to hide their dealings. With help from unlikely people, Julie is rescued before she gets too far over her head -- although as a beginner she does get herself into deep waters. Nothing they can't handle, though!

This was a well-written cozy with some interesting and thought-provoking information about nukes. I felt the focus was on the illegality as it pertained to the "World" and not just "Our Little Corner" of it. Worth reading if only for that.
(The Adventures of Juliana Del Rio: EPA/FBI - Book #1, The Case of the Ocean Polluters in Alaska was previously published under the title: "Countdown in Alaska")

Reviewed by Thomas Biblewski for the Baker Street Distpatch.

This is a book you would like to read by your fireplace. It is a true story about a family who leaves California to live in Alaska on homestead land, and the trials and tribulations of the harsh winters and the wildlife including Grizzly Bears.

This is a great book by a true master of storytelling. I couldn't put this book down and my wife couldn't get me to listen to anything... Give this story a try and you will be in for a ride you won't regret. This is about the frontier Alaska in 1800's and about one seriously tough guy that landed there to make his fortune and found his future... Awesome Story.

Chips From The Chopping Block: More Tales From Alaska's Bush Rat Governor is a frank, straightforward memoir written as a postscript to the autobiography of former Alaskan governor Jay Hammond. Filled with frank, candid, unvarnished honesty and a with wit, humor, and keen feeling for the Alaskan soil, wilderness, cities, and people, Chips from the Chopping Block is very hearty autobiographical and observational entertainment and highly recommended reading.

I found a copy of CIVIL AND SAVAGE ENCOUNTERS in a little bookstore while vacationing in Alaska. The Alaskan landscape is beautiful and awe inspiring. However, once I started reading this diary, I couldn't stop. It is a treasure! I stress, I became so engrossed in Golovin's exceptional descriptions, I totally lost interest in the beauty of Alaska. I don't understand why this diary did not become a best seller.

I loved Golovin's comparative descriptions between his beloved Russia and Europe. Americans will be mesmerized by his perception of the American Civil War.

Golovin has a charming and wonderful vividness in his writing style. Could he have intended for his diary to be published? On the other hand, I have often heard it said that we have lost the art of good writing. We'll never learn the answer. Regardless, CIVIL AND SAVAGE ENCOUNTERS is a wonderful piece of literature.

Prior to 1960, the availability of books regarding the Civil War was a fraction of what it is today. Extraordinary storytellers such as Shelby Foote were not yet on the scene and Hollywood had not yet glamorized the war in such glorious fashion with epic movies and 10-part mini-series'. What I'm getting at is, in 1960, when B. A. Botkin first released his book, A CIVIL WAR TREASURY OF TALES, LEGENDS AND FOLKLORE, he set a new standard in Civil War narration.

This 2006 edition is a reprinting of the original save for the addition of new artwork by Warren Chappell, who replaced Stephen Cushman as illustrator in the last reprinting. The stories are the same, so if you're looking for new material, you won't find it, but if you've never read Botkin's compilation of letters in this classic work, you don't want to miss it.

Botkin presents over 500 pages of letters, many originals, written by either those who took part directly in the events or who witnessed them firsthand. This is the Civil War without the sugar coating, and without the glamorizing. Some of what you read will make you laugh, some will turn your stomach. Your heart will be ripped apart as you only try to imagine the anguish of Sergeant Driscoll who shot a Confederate Officer in an ambush only to discover a few minutes later that it was in fact, his own son who had gone south before the war. You will feel the devotion of the two soldiers found sleeping next to Jackson's statue after the war, "just to sleep with the old man once more".

There are a few accounts of major battles, and a few profiles of individual leaders, but for the most part, this is a collection of stories about skirmishes, many of which you may never have heard of, and about individuals and their happenings during the war. In all, there are six chapters here, one for each year of the war, as well as a brief closing chapter regarding the aftermath. This is followed by an extraordinary collection of over 30 pages of notes, however, sadly, most of the books referenced here are long out of print and nearly impossible to locate.

Botkin, himself a professor of history, compiled over a dozen volumes of folklore. I believe this was his best compilation. An outstanding study guide with great merit for students, this is the Civil War as told by those who lived it.

Monty Rainey
www.juntosociety.com