Books I love

I've just finished reading the most wonderful book! 

You know the kind - you stay up until the wee hours reading, hoping it never ends! 

That was how I felt while reading this sweet book, 

titled 'Are We Walking To Alaska'

by Author and fellow blogger, JoAnn Dunlap Bayne. 

You can read her wonderful blog,  Scene Through My Eyes  where she takes beautiful photographs and writes about life here in the Pacific Northwest. 

The book recounts her childhood adventures growing up in Southeast Alaska. 

Written from a child's point of view, you feel you are experiencing the world through the eyes of little JoAnn as her family sets up housekeeping on the remote shores of Alaska after leaving all that they have ever known and loved in California to operate a fishing boat in the cold waters of Kalinin Bay. 

You can read some wonderful excerpts and order the book through her blog

 Scene Through My Eyes. 

I have always been fascinated with stories about Alaska. My Father was stationed on Kodiak Island during the Korean War when he served in the Army/Airforce as a Sergeant and Tank Commander. 

He told us stories of riding in an open jeep on nightly patrols and hearing wolves howl. 

Of Kodiak Bears barging into the mess hall while soldiers scrambled like children out windows and doors. 

Of going hunting in the hills around camp and encountering wolves and bears so big they stood 12 feet tall on their hind legs. 

Of hearing train whistles from Russia on still, moonless nights. 

It was the time of his life and every day of his life he carried an etched whale-tooth hunting knife from that wonderful time, which was passed down to me. 

Sadly, he never got to go back to Alaska. 

But in 2005, Dennis and I did get to go. By then my Father was in the early stages of Alzheimer's, but his long term memory was still intact and he fondly spoke of his adventure's once again as we showed him the photos we took on our trip. 

When I found JoAnn's blog and saw that she had written a book about growing up in this enchanting place, I  couldn't wait to read it. 

Alaska truly is the 'Last Frontier' and has always held a fascination for anyone interested in how people live in remote and wild places. 

People who live in Alaska are a special type of person. Open, friendly, helpful and resourceful, they depend on one another due to the harsh environment. 

This warmth and friendliness comes through in JoAnn's book as her family endures the hardships and travails of life in the remote outposts of the Alaskan shore. 

You will truly love reading this wonderful example of childhood resourcefulness and find yourself sad to see it end. 

But you can continue the journey of JoAnn's life through her lovely blog as she interprets life as 

Scene Through My Eyes

xoxo