So disappointing - much better books out there than this - Rated 
I am three quarters through this book and am really struggling to finish it. I don't like his writing style, which of course is a personal thing - one of the main things that annoys me is the use of 'footnotes' to expand on points in the main text. The comments in these footnotes are relevant to the story and to trying to live in the Alaskan wilderness so it almost feels as if he's relegating them to second place by excluding them from the main text. For example, describing what bunny boots are, or indigenous Alaskan's right to land is key to life in Alaska - not a footnote!
But that I could live with. My main issue is that I find it almost offensive that he headed to Alaska so unprepared and seemingly without having even read useful and key books like Richard Proenneke's One Man's Wilderness. This book is a simple tale of true wilderness life, building a cabin and living off the land. I am amazed at the patience of the villagers who helped him so much when he didn't even go to the bother of finding out all he could before he went there. I spent three month's travelling round Alaska last year, and though it was spring/summer, I read all I could before I went, simply to acknowledge the power of that land and give it the respect it deserves. I was never going to have to apply all that I learned but still I read up...I really do find it insulting to those who live in the Alaskan wilderness all year round that this guy turned up and seemingly expected to be helped when he needed it. That the locals did help is testament to the wonderful warm, friendly nature of Alaskans, which I was lucky enough to discover for myself.
For much much better reading of this kind, I'd recommend the already mentioned One Man's Wilderness, James Campbell's The Final Frontiersman, and James Huntington's On The Edge Of Nowhere.
The only reason I've even given this two stars is that he has to be admired for making it through winter (albeit that he seemed to spend many weeks in Don's house) and that I suppose he was willing to give this experience a go in the first place.
Not what it says on the tin! - Rated
I was disappointed with this. Not because of the fact that he abandoned his wife and family or that he had loads of help building his cabin, but because of the title and the contradicting facts.
The author tries his best to build a sense of wilderness and fear - at one point suggesting that his food is running low and he faces starvation, when all the while he has a sat phone and laptop and is continually calling the local village and e-mailing his wife! How can he possible starve when he has that level of contact?
It might be bad storytelling, but he also gives the impression that people are popping in by plane, boat and skidoo all of the time! He even is given a quad bike by some friendly locals to use around camp. He goes back to the village for seemingly long spells of time and I simply never got the impression that he was experiencing the real 'wild'.
I also wondered why if, Don, Charlie, et al are so much like family to him why are there no photos. The conclusion I came to is that he is indeed self centred.
My conclusion after reading this book that it is the longest CV in history - he went not to experience the wild, but the try and get himself known and thereby a new career. Guess what - a TV series followed!!
If you want a true story of winter survival and isolation then read North to the Night by Alvah Simon.
What an adventure! - Rated 
I found it easy to empathise with the guy from the start. Leading a dull office life, long commutes, only getting to see his family for an hour or so every night. Guy decides to do something radical to change his life, so he goes to live in a cabin in Alaska for a year. His approach and reactions are like what I imagine my own might be. I was slightly surprised by the two negative feeed backs. Yes Mat Surfer he does leave his family for a long time, but so do a lot of people, those in the military or those in shipping for example. And yes D A Robinson he does get help, that because he not an idiot, in fact he never intended to build a cabin at all, he only did that because the one he was going to be staying in burnt down just before he got there. If you want to read a story about a SAS trooper getting dropped with only his underpants and a spoon surviving all winter fine, go read one. If you want to read about a normal guy like yourself doing his best to adapt to a remarkable world with humility this is fantastic absorbing read.
cutting wood - Rated 
if you are reading this review, lets face it - you have already got the inclining that this book might be for you. This book adds to your ever growing list of things that you might do if you had the time, if you could believe in yourself and spread those wings .. or even if you were absolutely brave (and yes, perhaps, sometimes selfish) and you would cast off everything that keeps your daily life ticking over (for a while)- this is another dream led by someone else and at times its crazy and at times it seems unbelievably stupid but it is a little gem of a story of one man's extraordinary mission: His Dream, His Journey.
If you travel - be it from your arm chair or ever get out and get on with it - this will stretch your imagination that one step a little futher... and more.
My advice is: read and enjoy and (yes) question and learn - and hey .......... thanks for the tip on how to cut those darned impossible roundles of wood .......... I will probably never built a 'chalet' - erm Log Cabin / Shack ! .... but can keep the fire going- cheers!!!!!!
brilliant reading. - Rated
This was one of the best books i've read in a long time. Guy describes his whole adventure with an honest and thought provoking style. I may never get a chance to do what Grieve did, but after reading this book, i felt i was there with him.
I firmly disagree with some reviewers points about the morals of such a trip and his hunting and trapping techniques. He wasn't any kind of macho idiot out to shoot as many trophy animals as possible, indeed he passed up any number of occasions to do so. He shot and trapped to survive, an idea i find much more palatable than our western techniques of factory farming and wastage.
He travelled with a sense of humility and respect for the wilderness and the people he encountered. Not only did he survive, i dare say he is a better person for it.
Fuzzy rules!
|
