Something Bookish

 October 15, 2024 

Okay, so moving forward with Michener’s Alaska, the cast of characters are a feat of genius; some based, loosely, or not so, on real people. As historical fiction the ultimate plot moving forward gently and not so gently blends fictional characters and events with non-fictional. Sadly, the next few chapters aptly titled, “Lost Worlds” and “Giants in Chaos” graphically document the decline of the native animal population as well as peoples. All of the peace that the prehistoric and early native population of Alaska created was destroyed by the explorers who were some very flawed men. Within the chapter, “Lost Worlds,” we are introduced to a female protagonist of Russian decent who valiantly attempts an honorable restoration of native culture as well as providing a strong female presence.  Moving swiftly through time, in the chapter titled, “Giants in Chaos,” the early 18th century is upon the Alaskans. Explorers such as James Cook and Vitus Bering, were expanding their global navigation, however part of their responsibility to the governments that funded their exploration was to report the findings. This paved the way for commercial exploration. These men were chosen with particular intentions in mind—to bring back as much of the stuff they found as possible, in any way possible, and with any means possible. And they did. However, the sale of Alaska from Russia to the United States, on 18 October 1867, swiftly transferred control from one power to another and to another focus of exploration and exploitation, gold. 

Once again taking a quick break, with a lighter read, I find myself adding in an unexpected and enjoyable diversion—An Object of Beauty, by Steve Martin. Yes, the comedian. The novel is charming and witty as Martin himself. This book was found in a Little Free Library in Warren, Rhode Island. Copyright is 2010, so it has been out a while. I’d not heard of it before and was pleased to find it. So far, the young protagonist, Lacey Yeager is making her way in the art world of New York City during the 1990s. Interesting and informative as it is fun—I’m making my way through and learning quite a bit about what makes art collectors tick. In a brilliant seaming of fiction with real art in real time, I’m eager to find out how the whole thing falls together. I’ll keep you posted.  Thank you for reading and please remember to email me with your thoughts about Something Bookish at: breezehill71@gmail.com 

24 July

So, I stopped by the library this afternoon for a little while to pick up a book or two. You know, right? It’s like going to the grocery store for just one thing. I think you get my drift. At any rate, Jay asked me to write a little bit—a word about books, something bookish. 

Here it goes, may as well start with A is for Alaska, or Alice, as the case might be. I’m going to tell you a little about the current novel I’m reading by James Michener, Alaska. It’s going to be a little bit, because Michener is a master, and there isn’t enough space in this short column. The novel Alaska is a veritable masterpiece of research from prehistory to current times (1988). 

 First of all, for those who aren’t familiar with James Michener, he was an American author of more than 40 books. He was born February 3, 1907, died October 16, 1997. Best known for historical fiction of multigenerational length, some of his novels boast more than 100 fictional characters spanning nearly 900 pages in length. For those of us that enjoy the story so much that we don’t wish for the ending, he’s our guy. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, A Presidential Medal for Freedom, Commonwealth Award for Distinguished Service, and the St. Louis Literary Award. 

The novel, Alaska, which I am still reading and will be for a while, starts out with beautiful endpapers that show a political map of the current state of Alaska. Michener takes the reader on an imaginative tour of historical events in prehistory, as we can know them. Animals following a food source over a land bridge that spanned the Bering Sea, or, an early people’s brave exploration over an ocean in small man-made boats to escape tribal retribution. In an early chapter titled, “The Ice Castle,” animals that we no longer have in our world, named and anthropomorphized with dynamic, courageous, and loving characteristics, come to life in vivid renderings of their daily round and quest for survival. I was sad to move forward in the novel to the chapter titled “The Explorers.” However, I am, and I will. 

 A few years ago, I read another of his novels, Journey. Journey, while not quite as long, but every bit as intriguing was about the Gold Rush in the Klondike region of Alaska in the 1890s. Men and women of stalwart strength and iron will from many countries and ethnicities make their way along the North Country to find gold. Yes, it is a journey. All good books worth their salt are. 

As our little library in Abington is going into its 231st year, it too is worth its salt.  Let me know what you think about, Something Bookish. You can contact me at:  Breezehill71@gmail.com