mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
Meandering, long and slow, especially the last chapter, which my e-reader called 6 hours. This book had three sections - I think my favorite was the first, mostly a trip down river. The second section, about Alaska figuring to change the location of the capital, a story I had not heard. The third was basically gossip, who said what about whom, what their cabin was like, how they supplied. It's only point seemed to be describing what kind of person might have lived around Eagle, Alaska at a particular time. Pretty language, but a bit to fond to unusual non-obvious words.
swoody788's review against another edition
5.0
This may be one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I’m not saying it’s the best book I’ve ever read, but the experience of reading it was so utterly enjoyable and interesting that despite its worthy length of 438+ pages, I wished for more. Even though the book is dated, and many things have changed since the 1970s, when it was written, I was just lapping everything up. I know my state capitals, and where Alaska’s is, but the part of the book on the debate of where to move the capital had me referencing Wikipedia just to be sure. Getting a glimpse at the various personalities around Eagle was delightful. I adore McPhee’s writing style, and his subtle humor, and this gives me the feeling that I may soon be ready to tackle Annals of a Former World again. I think I will read another one or two of his works first, though, just to be sure.
booccmaster's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
unclerooibos's review against another edition
I don't usually read books about the north. I put this aside to finish cyclonopedia.
gregorspv's review against another edition
5.0
Truly a master of narrative fiction. The last book of three is a bit on the long side though.