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knittingdoc's review against another edition
5.0
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.
venakava's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
corinne_schro's review against another edition
3.0
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.
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
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.
craftygoat's review against another edition
2.5
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.
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
James Michener's Alaska is an exhaustive -- and exhausting -- primer on Alaskan history, filtered through the lens of fiction. As an alternative to reading a stuffy old history book, this Alaska has a lot to offer: colorful characters (some historical, some fictional), dramatic landscapes, momentous occasions, and far-reaching human drama. On the down side, if you're looking for actual historical facts, they're here -- but you have to go looking for them. While Michener does provide notes detailing fictional vs non-fictional elements, it leaves the reader guessing from time to time whether he's presenting an example of what might have happened, or something that actually occurred. In true Michener fashion, the books starts with the geological underpinnings of the area, billions of years ago, and moves forward in time to include mastadons and woolly mammoths before finally reaching the first human settlers. The book is entertaining, jam-packed with facts and figures, and illustrates historic times by focusing on the individuals who lived through them. I would recommend Alaska to anyone interested in gaining an overview of the state's history... although I must be honest and state that the first word that occurred to me when I reached the last page (page 1073!) was "finally!"
misterjay's review against another edition
5.0
Epic, as a description, is thrown around far too often these days. So often, in fact, that the meaning has been diluted down to where it is used only to describe a long story.
Alaska, by James Michener is not just a long story. Rather, Alaska is an epic in the original sense - a story that is told over the course of epochs, involving generations of characters and genealogies.
The story begins with the forming of the continent of North America and takes the reader through modern times. Along the way, the people who shaped Alaska are introduced and we follow their stories as they form the greater narrative. We meet the Russian and Inuit settlers, the captains of the great whalers, the politicians and gold miners who wanted to claim Alaska as their own. We meet the average people who, in extraodinary circumstances, become heroes and outlaws. We even meet the dogs and salmon who form such an integral part of Alaska's story.
Michener writes with a clear, simple style. He weaves characters together with such deftness that the reader never questions the occasional use deus ex machina or coincidence to further the greater story. Thankfully, Michener is not overly wordy, else his thousand page stories would be double or treble their length. Instead, he is concise and not too verbose, describing places, events, and settings with a few words before entering it into the grand positions.
Any book titled with the name of a place should be valued at how well it either explains or entices the reader into learning more about, or visiting said place. Alaska, judged thusly, earns top marks. Alaska, the place itself, has been transformed in my mind from a cold, mountain place, rarely thought of, to a desired destination - somewhere I would like to travel to, even if only briefly.
Alaska, by James Michener is not just a long story. Rather, Alaska is an epic in the original sense - a story that is told over the course of epochs, involving generations of characters and genealogies.
The story begins with the forming of the continent of North America and takes the reader through modern times. Along the way, the people who shaped Alaska are introduced and we follow their stories as they form the greater narrative. We meet the Russian and Inuit settlers, the captains of the great whalers, the politicians and gold miners who wanted to claim Alaska as their own. We meet the average people who, in extraodinary circumstances, become heroes and outlaws. We even meet the dogs and salmon who form such an integral part of Alaska's story.
Michener writes with a clear, simple style. He weaves characters together with such deftness that the reader never questions the occasional use deus ex machina or coincidence to further the greater story. Thankfully, Michener is not overly wordy, else his thousand page stories would be double or treble their length. Instead, he is concise and not too verbose, describing places, events, and settings with a few words before entering it into the grand positions.
Any book titled with the name of a place should be valued at how well it either explains or entices the reader into learning more about, or visiting said place. Alaska, judged thusly, earns top marks. Alaska, the place itself, has been transformed in my mind from a cold, mountain place, rarely thought of, to a desired destination - somewhere I would like to travel to, even if only briefly.
skpatton's review against another edition
5.0
It took me a while to read the 868 pages because I didn't want to miss a single word. Michener was one of our best writers. His ability to tell a story with so many historical details and characters that are so well developed you feel as though you know them is unique. I found myself "googling" several of the characters just to learn more about them. What a great story. I can't wait to visit this incredible state.