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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Admitting that I didn't finish this (it's 900 pages!!), but I did get past 600 while I was in Alaska for a week this summer and really enjoyed having this book as a companion to the landscape and experience there. I had never read Michener before, so the blend of natural history, human history, and creative invention was new to me. Definitely informative and entertaining.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A very, very long book. Some very interesting parts, more just ok.
It is obvious a white man wrote this. White male characters were the most developed and well written. Women and characters of colour did not have depth or good writing.
The language used certainly shows the book’s age and author’s prejudices as well. A lot of usage of Eskimo when a number of alternatives could and should have been used instead, for example.
The many moving parts of the book were often disconnected. Ending was a disappointment, especially considering the length of the book.
It is obvious a white man wrote this. White male characters were the most developed and well written. Women and characters of colour did not have depth or good writing.
The language used certainly shows the book’s age and author’s prejudices as well. A lot of usage of Eskimo when a number of alternatives could and should have been used instead, for example.
The many moving parts of the book were often disconnected. Ending was a disappointment, especially considering the length of the book.
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
informative
reflective
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Amazing
My first Michener read/listen.
Having visited a small portion of Alaska through a cruise, and reading this tome, I am eager to find what lies in a future exploration of Alaska.
My first Michener read/listen.
Having visited a small portion of Alaska through a cruise, and reading this tome, I am eager to find what lies in a future exploration of Alaska.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
For me, Alaska wasn't as compelling of a book as Hawaii. The stories felt disjointed from each other instead of flowing together throughout time. However, I think the topics of the book are fascinating since I have never learned about Alaska history before. Eye opening about the stranglehold Seattle had on Alaska.
This was a slog for me aside from the last 300 or so pages. I also don't care for the racist terms Michener uses at times to describe people or scenarios. The ending was something that made me go "hmm, ok then".
Overall: learned a lot, desired more flowy storytelling, and am glad to be done with it. Also, Goodreads page count is wayyyy off. This book is 1124 pages long, not 800-something.
This was a slog for me aside from the last 300 or so pages. I also don't care for the racist terms Michener uses at times to describe people or scenarios. The ending was something that made me go "hmm, ok then".
Overall: learned a lot, desired more flowy storytelling, and am glad to be done with it. Also, Goodreads page count is wayyyy off. This book is 1124 pages long, not 800-something.
This tome was a bit longer and broader in breadth then it seemed it was going to be at first glance. I enjoyed it and am glad that it was a book I tackled. The character development was here and there, and the real story or character is the personification of Alaska and its wilderness. It was a really detailed and classic read. Well worth the time and effort to read.
2.5. I generally make it my rule not to finish books I'd rate lower than 3 stars. I should not have finished this one... but I'd already invested so much time in it! I read this in preparation for an Alaska trip (though I didn't finish it til a couple of weeks after I returned), and I did learn a lot about Alaska's history. In true Michener fashion, this tells the whole history of the place. What I didn't like about this one was the episodic feel -- i.e., here's one story about 2 guys who bonded as they conquered the elements, then (a *long* chapter later) here's another story about 2 more guys who conquered the elements. I didn't care about most of the characters. And the book was filled with so many depressing details about senseless hunting, violence and subjugation of natives. Yes, it's based on history. But to listen to 50+ hours of it is definitely not fun. When it finally came, the ending seemed sudden and lacked closure. I think this will be my last Michener.