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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Impressive how this book managed to annoy me in two opposite ways at once, first as the author explained how the Bible is wrong, animals aren’t subhuman, and so he doesn’t trap anymore (but apparently still eats meat?), and second as he tried to drive his point home by describing many graphic and unpleasant animal deaths.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
The beginning was slow but once the Iditarod starts, the story picks up. Gary Paulsen of "Hatchet" fame decided to run the grueling dog sled race in Alaska and this book is the true story of his training and rookie race. It makes you realize what a true feat it is to train for this race, let alone compete in it and finish. Recommend reading if you have interest in the Iditarod.
Oh, Gary Paulsen is a gem. I laughed so hard. It took me back a handful of years to the several times I read Paulsen's Harris and Me to my kiddos. Rip-snortin' funny.
And wonderful. Paulsen regales with stories of his journey to and through the Iditarod, and doesn't disappoint. He is honest to a fault, flays himself open for his readers, and lays every ounce of himself out for inspection. He even seems to enjoy it. For a guy who's lived the life he has lived, that selfless portrayal of what is and what was without a hint of apology maybe comes easy. A walk in the park compared to his experiences on the trail.
I'm ashamed that I haven't read more of his fiction, but it's now on my To Read shelf. Pretty much all of it. If this excellent specimen of non-fiction is any indicator, and if Harris and Me is at all exemplary of his fiction, I can't wait.
And wonderful. Paulsen regales with stories of his journey to and through the Iditarod, and doesn't disappoint. He is honest to a fault, flays himself open for his readers, and lays every ounce of himself out for inspection. He even seems to enjoy it. For a guy who's lived the life he has lived, that selfless portrayal of what is and what was without a hint of apology maybe comes easy. A walk in the park compared to his experiences on the trail.
I'm ashamed that I haven't read more of his fiction, but it's now on my To Read shelf. Pretty much all of it. If this excellent specimen of non-fiction is any indicator, and if Harris and Me is at all exemplary of his fiction, I can't wait.
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Usually when I finish a book, I have something to say about it. Now's one of the times I can't form sentences to describe what is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read.
I cried, I laughed, and I sat on the edge of my seat, scared, hopeful, nervous. Gary Paulsen wrote well, and I mean really well, and his emotions bled through the pages.
Running the Iditarod is insane. That I've always known. But I hadn't before realized just how driven and determined the people running it are.
Edit. I was sobbing when he described the bond between the human and the dogs, how loyal the dogs are, and how bloody the history of sled dogs is.
I cried, I laughed, and I sat on the edge of my seat, scared, hopeful, nervous. Gary Paulsen wrote well, and I mean really well, and his emotions bled through the pages.
Running the Iditarod is insane. That I've always known. But I hadn't before realized just how driven and determined the people running it are.
Edit. I was sobbing when he described the bond between the human and the dogs, how loyal the dogs are, and how bloody the history of sled dogs is.