Amazon.com
"People step into the [Alaskan] landscape and vanish without a trace," writes wildlife guide Lynn Schooler in this ode to the wild beauty of the Alaskan coast, an unusual friendship, and a mysterious bear with fur the color of "burnished metal." Schooler spent a decade searching for the elusive blue (or glacier) bear with Michio Hoshino, Japan's preeminent wildlife photographer. Hoshino was a gentle genius who would sit still for hours, his face swelling from mosquito bites, for the perfect photograph, and who had the same patience and consideration for a bruised heart like Schooler's. Schooler had lost all ability to trust, scarred first by the scorn of classmates for his twisted body and finally by the brutal murder of the woman he loved. But as a guide--both for wildlife photographers and for readers of this evocative and gracefully composed memoir--Schooler richly reveals the place that sustains him. He makes remarkable connections between whales and the complex workings of old-growth forests, between glaciers dropping 100-foot columns of ice into waiting fjords, and the breathing of the planet. Ultimately, though, it is Hoshino's death by a bear that finally enables Schooler to make peace with humanity and death. A quiet, profound gem. --Lesley Reed
Book Description
With a body twisted by adolescent scoliosis and memories of the brutal death of a woman he loved, Lynn Schooler kept the world at arm's length, drifting through the wilds of Alaska as a commercial fisherman, outdoorsman, and wilderness guide. In 1990 Schooler met Japanese photographer Michio Hoshino and began a profound friendship forged by a love of adventure and cemented by their mutual obsession with finding the elusive glacier bear, an exceedingly rare creature, seldom seen and shrouded in legend. But it was only after Hoshino's tragic death from a bear attack that Schooler succeeded in photographing the animal -- and only then that he Was able to complete his journey and find new meaning in his own life.
Set amid the wild archipelagoes, glittering fjords, and dense primordial forests of Alaska's Glacier Coast, The Blue Bear is an unforgettable book that shines with purity and passion.
Customer Reviews:
Not all that great a bear tale but...........2007-04-02
The theme of this is really the author's life, both past and now as a small boat captain in Alaska's dramatically beautiful south coast. If you are passionate about bear stories this is not that great. Toting the Japanese film crew got old and his own entry into photography was tedious. Taken in total with the cultural history, the sea, forests, wildlife, and glaciers, and the author's own qwest it is worthwhile, but certainly not epic.
A book to consider........2006-11-11
A slightly slow start, but please persevere, as this book has so much to offer. Set in Alaska, with glorious descriptions of this environment provided by Lynn during the search for the elusive blue bear. However, I believe the real story lies in Lynns life experience, his battle for a normal childhood, his relationship with his father, his yearning for true love, the pain of loss, and his almost self imposed exile in this heaven on earth.
A Beautiful Book.......2004-12-10
The Blue Bear is a fantastic read! If you are at all interested in Alaska, nature, wildlife or friendship I am certain you will love this book.
Beautiful book worth reading........2004-05-14
My only regret is that the book wasn't longer. Every page is full of descriptive prose and fascinating narrative. You will feel like you're there with the author, either on the boat, hiking in the wilderness, or examining the joys and sorrows of friendships gained and lost.
What a well-written book!
Elegant writing reveals love of wilderness.......2004-03-11
Elegiac is the perfect word to describe both the cadence and direction of this book: somber, straightforward, yet filled with joy. We come to know both men -- the author and the late Michio Hoshino -- through dialogue and description that is utterly natural, yet weighted with meaning. Pivotal scenes are described so elegantly that you want to read them again and again to extract every nuance of mood. Small vignettes speak volumes, such as the visit of the two men to a village where hundreds of native women and children died by starvation due to a US government relocation program. Or the choice of the author to pilot the boat away from Hobart because he could not bear the sight of the ravaged hillsides.
The author's lightness of touch is captivating especially because it is paired with such a deep knowledge and love of the flora, fauna and weather of the region. Reading Blue Bear, you become effortlessly acquainted with the Alaskan coast, as though it is indeed home, and come to mourn its slow, relentless destruction. I look forward to Lynn Schooler's next book.
Book Description
O'Donoghue tells what happened when he entered the 1991 Iditarod, along with 17 sled dogs with names like Rainy, Harley and Screech. O'Donoghue braved snowstorms, sickening wipeouts, and endured the contempt of more experienced racers. Narrated with icy elan and self deprecating wit, this is a true story of heroism, cussedness, and astonishing dumb luck.
Customer Reviews:
No match for Paulsen.......2006-03-15
Every once in a while we go up to Ely, MN, and spend a day or so dogsledding. So, prior to this year's trip, I bought a few books on the Iditarod and mushing in general.
With the Iditarod in the news right now (especially with the legally blind woman competing this year) I figured I'd learn more about that particular grueling race. This was the first book I got, as the title caught my eye and the reviews were good.
About 1/3 the way into the book, the jumping around between the various mushers and their stories started to get annoying. While I was interested in the various stories, interspersing them in a sort of "time line" format along with O'Donoghue's own experiences was not something I, myself, particularly enjoyed. There were other things about his writing style that seemed to indicate the book was written for his associates and the people with whom he raced, rather than the public at large. As a reporter, it made sense that O'Donoghue would toss in some short human interest stories of the other mushers. But he also had a few nicknames and references that seemed to be for the benefit of those in the know.
Then I made the mistake of picking up Gary Paulsen's Winterdance before I had finished this one. What a huge difference!
I reluctantly came back to My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian and am still trying to finish it. After Paulsen, it just isn't the same. Not to mention his overuse of the word "lesbian" as an adjective, almost as if he felt it necessary to justify the title of the book. OK, the dog was "confused". We get that. But halfway through the book I started noticing he was referring to her as "the little lesbian" or "the lesbian" more often than anything else (like "my lead dog" or her name), and once that sort of thing is noticed, you know, it then just sort of jumps off the page at you. So it's gotten to the point where, when I read that description of his lead dog my eyes roll and I tend to flinch. Gahhh not another one!
I'm still stuck somewhere in the middle of the Iditarod with "O'D" and just can't quite bring myself to pick it back up. He doesn't convey anywhere near the appreciation or love of the dogs that Paulsen does, and it is, after all, all about the dogs. Or should be.
If you want objective, dry facts and figures, this is your book. If you want the soul of mushing, read Paulsen.
A must read.......2003-11-24
I thought the book was well written - I read at every opportunity, even my lunch time at work! I'm from South Africa, where winter day temperatures hover around 15 deg C (59 F) and I've seen snow maybe twice in my life, but this story was written in such a way that I'm burning to try mushing myself! Imagine that! I've ordered other books on mushing which, I'm hoping, will convince me that I shouldn't be so crazy.
Well worth the read and keep it on your bookshelf for future reading.
a lot safer than taking on the iditarod yourself.......2002-04-22
This is far from the best-written non-fiction book I have ever read. The journalist's experience writing in the shorter form of articles shows through in the disjointed feel of much of the narrative. This is still well worth the read if you have any interest in Alaska, mushing, or man's working relationship with dogs. Even without those interests you may well find the book enjoyable.
At the beginning I was first overcome by the romantic notion of this amazing race, and reading through his preparations deluded myself with the fantasy of doing such a thing myself (a real joke considering how much I dislike even camping). Once the race gets underway, my most common thought was "these people are ...insane!" It was terrific and I really wanted to know how it would turn out for each and every one of them.
The title can provide for some fun too. The other day I overheard from another room Child A ask, "What is a lesbian?" Child B responded, "It is a type of dog." After much laughter I had to call them in and correct it, although I had fun imagining the kind of conversation this could cause in public at one point if they were both left with their misconception.
Since you are on this page, and reading these reviews, you are probably interested enough in the subject that reading this book would be a positive experience for you.
I'll Just Read About It, Thanks........2002-02-07
Of the Iditarod books I've read this has to rank as one of the best. Apparently a good sense of humor and a high appreciation of irony is a necessary component of being a Musher.
And I thought rock climbers were a bit off the scale............2002-01-31
A dynamite read even for someone who has never lived north of Key West, who has never even heard of the Iditarod, and who hates dogs. Adds credence to the fact that I never read fiction..life is a lot stranger, and a lot more exciting
Book Description
The Coldman Cometh A Family's Adventure in the Alaska Bush Bob Durr A memoir of a remarkable quest, a reconnection to the wilds, and an in-depth report of a radical experiment in alternative living n 1968, Bob Durr resigned his professorship at Syracuse University and moved his family into the Alaska Bush. Kerosene lamps, an outhouse, and near-total isolation were what he was after. And for thirty-five years, they were just what he found. The Coldman Cometh is not only a memoir of an adventur-ous quest, but an in-depth report of a radical experiment in alternative living. It's a beautiful and harrowing account of dropping out of the mainstream: of the smell of pine pitch and roar of a bull moose and the 'whys' of the fabulous journey. Ultimately, it's a commentary on society that can only be given by a writer who has so nearly left it. Praise for Down in Bristol Bay: 'A rollicking good adventure.'-The Washington Post 'Brilliant, compelling, believable, and astonishingly sound....challenges today's conventional wisdom and custom.'-Booklist 'Here is the North Country memoir I've been looking for. Mr. Durr knew....that man (or woman) is at his best when fitting the modern body and mind into the ancient topography of our primal life.' -Doug Peacock, author of Grizzly Years BOB DURR earned a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of Down in Bristol Bay and he lives in the cabin he built by a lake ten roadless miles north of Talkeetna, Alaska. Nature 0-312-31179-6 $23.95 $34.95 Canadian 51/2" x 81/4" / 304 pages Includes 8-page bw insert Thomas Dunne Books July
Customer Reviews:
Hippy-Dippy.......2007-07-19
I've spent the last few months reading to my mother who has failing eyesight but has always loved, and continues to love, tales of Alaska and/or Northwest Territory, and/or Arctic adventures, and this book has to be one of the worst (my mother and I agree) that either of us has ever come across in this genre. There is something just decidedly pretentious about a hippy college professor raving on and on about the benefits of our more primitive and simpler existence, while he and his family and friends and associates trip out on mushrooms and smoke marijuana under the midnight sun, all the while advantaging themselves of the benefits of chainsaw and snowmobile and... and... and.... --I'm afraid it just got genuinely boring to hear the same old arguments against how civilization is going to hell in a handbag and how the only solution is for all of us to get "out there" (like the know-it-all professor) and experience the great adventure of possibly being eaten by a bear, or falling through the ice, or freezing to death after tripping the psychedelic "fantastic". --My preference continues to be good reads about unpretentious people who head into the wilderness for other reasons than just to impress their peers with how a bona-fide college professor can actually head on out to the middle of nowhere and -- pat him on the back! -- associate with genuine real-life rednecks. --Excuse me, but I'd rather eat whale blubber.
A very readable and fascinating story of the Alaska wilds.......2006-09-05
This book has particular appeal to those who have visited Alaska and were impressed by the awesome beauty of the wilderness. Bob Durr's book is very readable - it holds your interest through an descriptive storytelling style. Occasionally the philosophizing gets a little tiresome, but then we are back to the story line and things move along briskly. I think Durr's characterizations of the people are particularly effective and help you to visualize each scene as it unfolds. He also incorporates passages written by his sons, Steve and Jon. In summary, I enjoyed the book and plan to read Durr's other book about Alaska!
Of all the Alaska wilderness books I've read..........2006-08-14
The Coldman Cometh was advertised by Amazon as a new release and I've read a ton of these Alaska wilderness books so I tried it. Well I was most dissappointed, of all the authors, many of whom where "uneducated", I've always been satisfied but usually impressed. However, this author with all his credentials is full of himself. Very little of the material is focused on the wilderness adventure but rather on a displaced, pot smoking hippie with an ego. If your looking for the romance of Alaska wilderness homesteading and lifestyle don't look here. This author is purely trying to make a quick buck.
As They Say in Tierra del Fuego..........2005-06-04
As the say in Tierra del Fuego, this book sucks. The first reviewer nails it. Here is what you will learn in Durr's second book: 1) That he was a comfortably entrenched popular academic in New York (he reminds the reader of this at least 30 times). 2) That he and his son Steve enjoyed playing and singing folk songs that they wrote, and that people would actually pay to listen to them. 3) Next to nothing about his wife Carol, except that she somehow stayed with this moron for a while at least. Durr leaves it to his son Steve to write an icy tribute to Carol in the final paragraph of the book. 4) That despite his earnestness in getting away from the conformist world and retreating to the last pure wilderness in the US, he can't go too far or too long without his pot.
If you read Down in Bristol Bay and were hoping to get some additional Gene Pope stories, forget about it. Pope is mentioned rarely, though Steve claims at the end that Pope is still alive.
Durr's writing is lazy and each page contains at least two cliches. Durr's son Steve actually writes much better that his academic father. In the end, Bob Durr comes across a a bitter, lonely and ageing hippie, who passes the time writing letters to the editor denouncing capitalism, and bemoaning those who have come to Alaska seeking, as he did, a certain refuge.
Cold Fish.......2005-04-11
Is the memoir of Dr. Robert "Jungle Bob" Durr who I ran into in 1976 at Chase Alaska on a homesteading mission for a neighboring landowner, or lease holder from the 1968 open to entry land program. I was too late for that myself, but Durr, already roaming the country since 1963 was well-positioned to acquire this land at Back Lake. I never saw his lake as the Durrs were snobbish to anyone who dared venture into their territory and we, just like #1 son Steve had it turns out, inhabited the cabin near the tracks at the invitation of Rick La Francis when we weren't living at the greenhouse on Nita Kaufman's property.
It's a strange place. Very cliquish. My book "Alaska Tales" has more of this and the lead chapter is online, but Durr rambles here; prone to literary cliches and superficial skimming of the difficulties faced in building his place and even more important, acquiring the money to stay there and buy the new Arctic Cats I saw him driving during my brief winter stay in Chase.
"I don't know where the money came from," he writes concerning his first chainsaw. Really? I sure would, and do vividly. Of course in those days most including myself were stoners, but still, what this book lacks is the day to day struggle to get supplies and pay for them. Does he intend to just hang out on a biologically dead lake(the one detail I enjoyed hearing: no feeder streams due to an earthquake) until the end? What about the last thirty years? The New York literary world was just waiting with open arms because of his former literary professorship at Syracuse? Did he ever use his Ph.D to get work locally teaching or whatnot? And how do sons Stevie and Jon, two scruffy marginal local musicians at the time make it there? The other people I met grew dope and sold it. I may not agree with that per se, but at least I get the idea of how they buy snowmachines and Banjos. Frankly I don't know what the hell the Durrs do and neither will anyone else who reads this book from the looks of what I can see in the text.
Book Description
Alaska is like no other state and few countries; men experience greater risk in her arms. This one-of-a-kind anthology captures the spine tingling adventures of daring men and women who venture into Alaska's vast wilderness and look death in the eye. Danger Stalks the Land relates gripping episodes of animal attacks, avalanches, aircraft disasters, fishing, hunting, and skiing accidents, and chronicles risky climbs and reckless mountaineering amid Alaska's fantastic peaks. Through exhaustive research and interviews, author Larry Kaniut has captured in one volume, the terror and beauty of man's attempt to explore a vast and unforgiving land.
Customer Reviews:
Definitely a Good Read.......2007-09-17
I purchased this book as I like to read about TRUE life adventures. This book will not disappoint. I cringed with a couple of the stories as they are true and one wonders how human beings can survive sometimes. Definitely worth purchasing. I am going to see about other books by this author. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.
Best "bathroom book" ever written!.......2007-09-01
Great for the short of time or attention span as it's a bunch of 1-5 page stories. I call it, "Bad *&@#$% that can happen to you if you visit Alaska". It's one of my favorite books for entertainment & I bought this one as a birthday present for my brother. Great gift item. The stories are riveting.
MORE BIG GUYS, .......2007-07-09
MORE BEARS AND SURVIVAL STORIES..READING THESE GIVES YOU AN EDGE...I NEVER GO OUT IN THE BUSH WITHOUT A WEAPON AND A FIRE STARTER...
Alaskan Melodrama in the Style of Reader's Digest.......2006-07-18
I think reading any work should teach you something, and tales of wilderness incidents should not simply be armchair rubbernecking. This book is a collection of true incidents involving sportsman, backcountry travelers, and bush pilots. Their misfortunes could have been models for preventing readers from finding themselves in similar situations. Kaniut misses this opportunity. Instead of an analysis of the actions that saved the subjects (or cost them their lives), most stories are just circular and pointless recollections of how scary it was having a bear drag you around/being submerged in freezing water/crashing a plane in the backcountry, etc. According to this book, surviving these incidents simply requires some really hard praying, but reaffirms one's love of life and/or faith in god. It's akin to seeing dozens of people pulled from a wrecked plane and saying "WOW, what a miracle!!" while ignoring what the pilot did in the last seconds, recognizing the crew for an efficient evacuation, and acknowledging the skill and training of the ground emergency response crews. Kaniut would relate being mauled by a bear, the conclusion being that this was a terrible attack by a viscous animal, but god smiled and saved the day. In contrast, an NGS story I read after Danger Stalks about several bear attacks on hunters taught me (if I was inclined) how not to handle kills and seasonal factors that could emerge in the future that would make bears more aggressive, all the while infusing the human emotional element of these attacks. A serious missed opportunity is analyzing bush pilots' incidents. This book could have served as an excellent resource for this otherwise dry and difficult to find info (you can read FAA/NASA reports, but they often lack analysis, can be hard to sort through, and often simply blame "pilot error leading to..."); but the reader will have to find their own lessons in the aircraft incidents, if Kaniut provided enough detail between the sermons and anecdotes. Thus distilled, Danger Stalks is either just reflective of the human fascination with other's bad luck or a fluffy triumph of the human spirit book.
Pass on "Danger stalks the Land...".......2006-06-14
First of all, let me just say that I read a lot of non-fiction books about adventure (Jon Krakauer's books, Spike Walker's "Working on the Edge", Greg Child, etc.). I found this book to be boring and uninspiring. The problem is this:
Most of the stories are either far too short to get into (some are even comprised of 2 pages) or just plain boring. The overtly religious overtones of each story were kind of an annoyance, but easy to overlook, and stick with the story. Had I been Mr. Kanuit, I would have chosen 6 of the best stories, (if indeed there were 6 decent stories in here) and written them with far more detail than he does (some stories of lost persons jump from day 1 to day 5, and so on). The few decent stories are hard to come by. I would liken this book to buying a CD for 2 or 3 good songs, with the rest being just filler.
Another annoyance of Mr. Kanuit's writing style is his use of words to describe certain things (he constantly refers to snowmobiles as "snowmachines". Is he from the 19th century or something)?
I feel that I really gave this book a chance, but wouldnt recommend it to anyone. There are just far too many better written and more entertaining books about adventure out there to choose from, rather than settling for this mish-mash.
Customer Reviews:
Laughed out loud quite a few times..........2004-11-08
Being owned by a couple of sled dogs myself and utterly familiar with their character(s), I was able to fully empathize with the author. This book is very well written, and I admired the author's candor when describing the rookie mistakes he made in the beginning of his adventure. Training sled dogs is a tough job in itself, now try doing it in a very harsh, demanding environment without all the comforts of (most people's) home.
But the book not only focuses on the dogs, it also paints a very colorful picture of the people who live in Alaska's towns and in the wilderness. Hats off to those individuals who make it in an environment that can turn from stunningly picturesque to life-threatening within an instant!
If you love adventure travel books, and happen to like dogs, too, this is the book for you.
The dogsledding dream at its finest........2002-07-16
If you've dreamt of leaving your job, car payments and cell phone for a pack of Alaskan Huskies and wide open tundra, you'll love this story. Keep in mind, it is not a book about running the Iditarod, but rather following the Iditarod trail. Excellent read and a must have for any dogsledding fanatic.
very fun read.......1999-08-13
A great read for anyone who romanticizes the great white north, or at least wants to know what its like. I was captivate by the crisp clear prose and was swept up in the adventure.
This is definitely worth looking at.......1999-03-30
A useful and crisp description of Alaska by an inveterate traveler. Scott has a good grasp of the art of writing clear and readable prose. A good view of the Idiatrod race and a cursory history of Alaska as well.
Book Description
Russell Annabel was Alaska's most famous big game guide.
Customer Reviews:
tells it like you want to read it.......1999-07-01
Annabel has to be one of the finest writers I have ever read. He tells his tories like you want to read them full of action and suspense with humor and thrill thrown in for good measure. The first part of the book is how he got started in Alaska etc. The second is a story of a man and a wolf who terrorize each others lives. A MUST READ
I couldn't sleep until I had read the whole thing........1999-01-06
The man was the best storyteller in the land. Hetold the story in detail and color like no other writer I've ever read. I'm sure I will read this book many more times, before I'm done. Alaska has never been more awesome in any other tales of hunters and trappers. If you had a category with ten stars, I would pick ten.
Book Description
These daring stories shed light on what life was really like in the Last Frontier just before, during, and after Alaska joined the Union.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting collection of Game Warden experiences.......2007-10-17
Ray provides a good overview of the challenges and adventures he faced in his wildlife enforcement career in Alaska. I'm a pilot; hence I enjoyed Ray telling his stories from a flying game warden's perspective. A good portion of the book conveys flying-related experiences--hence you'll enjoy the book more if you are a pilot and/or if you enjoy reading about plane "stuff."
Paul Schmitt.......2007-05-15
Not a barnburning read, but still OK. If you are looking for a book that focuses on rural wildlife law enforcement--keep looking. The book deals more with Mr. Tremblay's aircraft than law enforcement. Angle of attack, pitch and rolls and shaky landings highlight the book with some animal enforcement adventures mixed in. Easy read, but not exactly what I thought it was going to be about.
Great!.......2007-02-27
My father worked with Mr. Tremblay so I was really interested in this book. It is a great book, exciting! Neat pictures! I loved it.
Book Description
From the Klondike to the Bering Sea, from Alaska's bounty that brought fortunes to some to its wilderness that claimed the lives of others, Tales from the Edge explores the myth, beauty, and peril of the arctic landscape. Editor Larry Kaniut brings together some of the world's best outdoor adventure writers to celebrate the land and the people who have measured themselves against it.Tales from the Edge is a celebration of Alaska featuring such notable contributors as Peter Jenkins, Spike Walker, Jay Hammond, Nick Jans, Dana Stabenow, Larry Kaniut, and more. Tales from the Edge will stir the soul and imagination of every armchair adventurer.
Customer Reviews:
Tales from the Edge: True Adventures in Alaska.......2007-01-10
After reading dozens of other books about Alaska and it's peculiar and adventursome folks, I found this book very disappointing. Not because it is a bad book, but because it appears to be a book about exciting stories from Alaska. This book isn't about exciting adventures as much as it is about stories of people from Alaska. While I was looking for tales of adventure, I got to read about a Governor and his legislative stories, Wildlife managers and their public and political struggles, and occaisionally a story about something outside of a building. To be fair, there was a fishing story where a boat was stranded, and the story of a woman dogsledding across the country, and even some not so exciting stories about some bush pilots. To put this in perspective, I don't consider finding wolf tracks while dogledding across Alaska very riveting. The dogsledding part is fine, but the most exciting part of the story is that the woman saw some wolf tracks, (not actual wolves, just tracks)
If you are looking for adventure stories, this isn't a very exciting book. On the other hand, if you are interested in some historical information and stories about Alaska and some of the people you would probably find this book interesting.
Note: this is not a Kaniut book but a great compilation edited by him.......2005-09-15
I ordered this book expecting another version of Danger Stalks the Land and was mildly disappointed when I found that it was a collection of excerpts from other authors books. But that didn't last long, because Larry did a fine job of bringing together some great Alaskan classics.
I fell in love with Alaska ten years ago on my first visit and I have been reading everything I can get my hands on since. So, I had read several of the excerpts in books I have read, but for the most part, they were new to me. Thanks to Larry's introduction, I now have a dozen more books on my wish list from reading this book.
If you are hoping for more Kaniut written stories, there are only four in the book and only one has not been published before. Two are from Cheating death and the previously unpublished story is from Larry's upcoming book Swallowed Alive.
So, I recommend the book, but be sure you are expecting a great collection of Alaskan literary outtakes and not the typical Kaniut, white knuckled collection of survival stories.
Book Description
With a body twisted by adolescent scoliosis and memories of the brutal death of a woman he loved, Lynn Schooler kept the world at arm's length, drifting through the wilds of Alaska as a commercial fisherman, outdoorsman, and wilderness guide. In 1990, Schooler met Japanese photographer Michio Hoshino, and began a profound friendship cemented by a shared love of adventure and a passionate quest to find the elusive glacier bear, an exceedingly rare creature, seldom seen and shrouded in legend. But only after Hoshino's tragic death from a bear attack does Schooler succeed in photographing the animal -- completing a remarkable journey that ultimately brings new meaning to his life.
The Blue Bear is an unforgettable book. Set amid the wild archipelagoes, deep glittering fjords, and dense primordial forests of Alaska's Glacier Coast, it is rich with the lyric sensibility and stunning prose of such nature classics as Barry Lopez's Arctic Dreams and Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard.
Customer Reviews:
I LOVED this book!!.......2007-06-29
This book was probably the best book I have read in a long long time. It takes a LOT for me to say "I couldn't put it down" but I COULDN'T!!! It was written so well and so compellingly interesting, it was over before I knew it, and I wanted more. I do hope that Lynn Schooler writes again about ANYTHING ALASKA. A terrific find.
Friendship & Tragedy.......2007-04-17
I have been reading a lot of non-fiction Northern Frontier/Alaskan books and this was one of the better ones. A great read about a new friendship developing over something that was so rare and elusive. And yet such a sad and tragic end... Highly recommended. It's more about friendship than just that blue bear...
A Warm but Tragic Story.......2007-03-06
"The Blue Bear" by Lynn Schooler is a story of friends, of nature in all its raw and open forms, and of the possibilities of healing. The subject of this book -- just as photographer Michio Hoshino is quoted as saying about a Japanese documentary on him -- is actually Alaska itself. I enjoyed reading of the various journeys, both emotional and physical, that the author makes in his life, with the splendor of Alaska always providing a visual backdrop to the twists and turns in the plot.
It was good that the author chose a more humble approach to his narrative as opposed to, for example, arrogantly listing all his conquests of the natural world, as we see in much of nature-related writings these days.
I have to say, though, that after getting to know Japanese photographer Michio Hoshino better through the pages of this book, it was a bit difficult getting through the chapter in which he is literally taken away us. Of course, here in Japan, Hoshino is still considered something of a legend and his work lives on. Still, it was nice to be able to go behind the legend of a great photographer and human being, through such a gifted storyteller as author Schooler. A warm but tragic story that will leave you feeling much fuller inside than before.
"Michio,where the hell are you,now that we've finally found the bear.".......2005-08-21
I had this book recommended to me by a friend who has a deep interest in bears ,has travelled widely and seen and watched many up close in their natural habitat;including in Alaska.She has shown me photos of standing only a few feet from wild Grizzly bears.I could hardly believe it, when she told me how approachable they were for experts and the pictures convinced me.Not to say, that I wouldn't keep my distance and give them utmost respect.When she told me this was an excellent book,and that I would enjoy it,I knew I was in for a great read.In other words,since it impressed her so much,it was sure to be good.
I read a lot of "Nature" books and spend an awful lot of time outdoors birding and am very familiar with the enjoyment and spirituality one gets from that wonderous combination of people,animals, landscape,sounds and silence,weather and atmosphere,and all that is encompassed when one partakes in a relationship with nature.
The excitement one gets when finding something new or just observing something seen before, is undescribable; but Schooler does as good a job of it as any nature writer that I have come across.He writes from the soul and great love he gets from living.Yes,this book is about the Blue Bear,Alaska and his friend and soulmate Michio,along with many other things,but what he really is writing about is the great enjoyment life is if one really learns to appreciate it.From this book you should learn that it is not only in Alaska that such enjoyment can be found.It is in the desert looking at sunsets,cactii and Roadrunners,in the forest searching out a Barred Owl,on the ocean watching a Tropicbird,sitting at a campsite when a Moose appears,or watching and trying to identify up to 20 different species of Gulls around Niagara Falls in the winter when it is wet windy and bitterly cold;or any of the millions of things the Creator has provided.
I'd like to quote a few things that demonstrate the excellence of the author's writing skills:
"Everything always gets what it needs."
"Home is not always a door at the end of a sidewalk.
Sometimes it is a broader place that holds the shape of the
sky,the water we drink,and the food that becomes the minerals
of our bones,Sometimes it is the sum of our experiences and
memories,and sometimes it is wherever we happen to be-if
we are with the right companion."
"As a photographer,,"Michio taught me how to 'look' with
my eyes-- but as a friend,how to 'see' with my heart."
An excellent read for anyone who enjoys life,and a great eyeopener for anyone who thinks life is boring.
Awesome writing.......2005-01-07
An amazing story coupled with great writing makes for a great read. I've traveled to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest three times and have never read a book that does a better job of summing up the power and beauty of the region. Lynn Schooler adds such personal touches that I feel I was there with him and Michio. His feelings about nature, glaciers, and the grand scheme of life and death remind me of the book 'Freedom is the Highest Good' by Tim Hammell
Average customer rating:
|
Adventures in Nature Alaska
Paul Otteson
Manufacturer: Avalon Travel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Reference & Tips
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
| Beaches
| Business Travel
| Cruises
| Essays & Travelogues
| Food & Lodging
| Guidebooks
| Pictorial
| Reference
| Spas
| Tips
| Tourist Destinations & Museums
| Travel Writing
Ecotourism
| Specialty Travel
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Adventure
| Specialty Travel
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Pacific
| West
| Regions
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Alaska
| States
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
North America
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Alaska
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Cheating Death: Amazing Survival Stories from Alaska
-
Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer (Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer) (Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer)
ASIN: 1562614878 |
Amazon.com
With more than 57 million acres of designated wilderness to wander, the Alaskan adventurer needs a good guidebook in hand, and Alaska Adventures in Nature is a good candidate. Paul Otteson offers advice on visiting national parks, preserves, forests, monuments, and wildlife refuges. He points you in the right direction to experience hiking, fishing, flight-seeing, paddling, and where to find the best places to see bears, whales, eagles, and other wildlife. Helpful road routes include information on driving conditions and milepost marker listings to guide you to roadside attractions and lodgings. And as with other John Muir guides in this series, resources and information are provided regarding conservation and responsible tourism. The book also offers listings for Alaskan airlines, outfitters, guides, and tour companies, as well as accommodation and restaurant recommendations.
Book Description
This second edition of Alaska: Adventures in Nature includes e-mail and Web site listings to make it even easier to plan an outdoor adventure in Alaska. The author offers thorough information on a wide range of outdoor activities - from whale watching to rock climbing - and details travel options for every budget.
Books:
- The Craggy Hole in My Heart and the Cat Who Fixed It: Over the Edge and Back with My Dad, My Cat, and Me
- The Deschutes River Railroad War
- The Final Frontiersman: Heimo Korth and His Family, Alone in Alaska's Arctic Wilderness
- The Geysers of Yellowstone
- The Ghost Brigades (Sci Fi Essential Books)
- The Human Impact Reader: Readings and Case Studies (Blackwell Readers on the Natural Environment)
- The Interpretation of Ordinary Landscapes: Geographical Essays
- The Jaws of Death: Sharks as Predator, Man as Prey
- The Naturalist in Nicaragua
- The Nature Specialist: A Complete Guide to Program and Activities
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge
- The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses: Sedges, Rushes, Restios, Cat-Tails and Selected Bamboo
- Portfolio Design, Third Edition
- Reverse Heart Disease Now : Stop Deadly Cardiovascular Plaque Before It's Too Late
- Suzuki Violin School: Violin Part, vol. 1
- The Ramona Collection, Vol. 1: Ramona the Brave / Ramona and Her Father/Ramona the Pest/Beezus and R
- The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time
- Careers for Introverts & Other Solitary Types, Second ed.
- Schumpeterian Puzzles: Technological Competition and Economic Evolution
- Commonwealth of Independent States Business Law Handbook
Grizzly Bear Family Book, The (The Animal Family Series)
Hoshino's Alaska
Grizzly
Arctic Homestead: The True Story of One Family's Survival and Courage in the Alaskan Wilds
The Blue Bear : A True Story of Friendship and Discovery in the Alaskan Wild
