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marvsbooks's review
2.0
Telling about her experiences learning to live at fish camp, and her family’s stories related to living at fish camp and foraging for local food, this book is not quite a memoir, and not quite an autobiography. Another reviewer said in their review that it seems like this was written for future generations of the author’s family, and I agree. While I read the whole book, it didn’t have a flowing narrative with a connecting thread that kept me engaged. It seemed very piecemeal, with short stories that were surface-level only.
These stories would have meant more to me as a reader if I could share in the emotion and feeling behind them. If I knew what brought the author back to fish camp. If the language wasn’t so plain and almost robotic. If the author shared her own feelings about things, not her observations of the world around her in a detached way. One of the early chapters discussed the Pulse shootings and the author’s sexuality—but did so in a way that left me asking “why was this even included” because it was so bereft of emotion on the pages, and then wasn’t mentioned again. Really unfortunate, as there’s so much potential in sharing these stories and this family’s tradition and heritage.
I enjoyed reading about the native herbs and plants foraged in Southeast Alaska. I’m an herbalist, and am looking forward to trying some of the recipes included. I also loved the enthusiasm for which the author includes spruce tips in everything.
Thank you to Goodreads and the author for a free copy of this book through Goodreads giveaways.
These stories would have meant more to me as a reader if I could share in the emotion and feeling behind them. If I knew what brought the author back to fish camp. If the language wasn’t so plain and almost robotic. If the author shared her own feelings about things, not her observations of the world around her in a detached way. One of the early chapters discussed the Pulse shootings and the author’s sexuality—but did so in a way that left me asking “why was this even included” because it was so bereft of emotion on the pages, and then wasn’t mentioned again. Really unfortunate, as there’s so much potential in sharing these stories and this family’s tradition and heritage.
I enjoyed reading about the native herbs and plants foraged in Southeast Alaska. I’m an herbalist, and am looking forward to trying some of the recipes included. I also loved the enthusiasm for which the author includes spruce tips in everything.
Thank you to Goodreads and the author for a free copy of this book through Goodreads giveaways.
scholastic_squid's review
4.0
Alaska, indigenous culture, a view into a family and their life
This was a wholesome and educational book about the author and their family. I enjoyed hearing about their grandchildren and how they included everyone in the berry picking. The fact that the family and the surrounding area is in fact a community that supports one another is amazing. It’s what we all want but they live, breathe, and eat it through fishing, picking, and passing down knowledge.
Although I will unlikely be able to cook many of the recipes in the book, I did enjoy having access and that she so graciously shared it. I wish I had access to the lichen to make the tea she spoke of because that sounds like something I need in my life lol.
Wonderful book, I would recommend.
This was a wholesome and educational book about the author and their family. I enjoyed hearing about their grandchildren and how they included everyone in the berry picking. The fact that the family and the surrounding area is in fact a community that supports one another is amazing. It’s what we all want but they live, breathe, and eat it through fishing, picking, and passing down knowledge.
Although I will unlikely be able to cook many of the recipes in the book, I did enjoy having access and that she so graciously shared it. I wish I had access to the lichen to make the tea she spoke of because that sounds like something I need in my life lol.
Wonderful book, I would recommend.
rtgoeckner's review
4.0
Very grateful to have received a copy to review through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. My Father's Smokehouse seeks to give readers a real "taste of place" for Southeast Alaska. Author Vivian Faith Prescott brings together stories from her Indigenous heritage with experiences living and growing up at her father's fishcamp. I will certainly be trying any of the recipes here with recipes that can be sources locally to me.
Organized through two seasonal cycles, Prescott takes the reader on a journey through the change of seasons and activities in her Southeastern Alaskan community. While I liked this organization style, the book would benefit from some minor editing (for instance, we don't get a definition of muskeg until almost 200 pages into the book).
Overall, a great read for anyone interested in local and Indigenous foodways.
Organized through two seasonal cycles, Prescott takes the reader on a journey through the change of seasons and activities in her Southeastern Alaskan community. While I liked this organization style, the book would benefit from some minor editing (for instance, we don't get a definition of muskeg until almost 200 pages into the book).
Overall, a great read for anyone interested in local and Indigenous foodways.
ryner's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
Inspiring and educational, Prescott's collection of stories and essays evokes a cozy, back-to-the-earth mood as she describes her family's harvesting, crafting and hunting traditions surrounding her father's fishcamp in Wrangell, Alaska. Despite being a nature enthusiast, I was surprised by how many plant and animals species I'd never heard of, and I eagerly found myself googling many of the unfamiliar species mentioned for further information. I'd love the opportunity to sample some of the recipes provided — I'm a terrible cook, landlocked and unable to source many of the ingredients locally. At minimum, I got the distinct feeling that I'm really missing out on spruce tips! The book was comforting and reassuring that even if the industrialized world implodes, a scenario that feels likelier with every passing day, life will still go on and those who respect and listen to the land will probably be all right.
I received this ARC via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
I received this ARC via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
patsaintsfan's review against another edition
3.75
I was generously given this through a LibraryThing giveaway. Thank you.
I really enjoyed reading about the author's life in Wrangell. The family stories are wonderful, and I enjoyed perusing the recipes she included throughout the book. It's doubtful that I will try any since they include quite obscure ingredients. A lovely read.
I really enjoyed reading about the author's life in Wrangell. The family stories are wonderful, and I enjoyed perusing the recipes she included throughout the book. It's doubtful that I will try any since they include quite obscure ingredients. A lovely read.
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