This was an interesting read. Not one to dive into and bury myself in, but I enjoyed it still. The pace is contemplative and bounces around between Allen (a 19th-century Alaskan explorer), Sophie (his wife and budding bird photographer), Walt (Allen's descendant who is donating Allen's effects to a museum), and Josh (the museum currator), interspersed with clippings, museum notes, and the increasingly unhinged journal of the exploration team's naturalist. There are other characters, including several Indigenous folks, but the narrative is from these points of view. At times it is downright creepy, but nothing is done with these moments other than to note and move on. Sophie provides a lovely journey of self discovery and joy of the natural world. Josh and Walt's correspondence is stilted and a bit 2 dimensional at times, but serves to insert the reader as accomplice in their own assumptions and investigations. 

I wish there was more from the Indigenous points of view, especially Nat'aggi. But overall a nice, thoughtful read. 

I'm not totally sure what to say about this one. I absolutely loved The Snow Child, and I thought I'd love this one too, but it didn't grip me the same way. I think it's biggest strength is also its biggest weakness. It's told in letters, which make it feel so grounded in history that I nearly Googled a bunch of things after finishing, even though it's fiction. But I think this style of narration was also the reason I had a harder time connecting to the story. It all felt very distant, and it was hard to really care about the characters the same way. Although I will say that I got misty at the end, so that's something! 

I'm glad I read it in winter, as it's so fitting, and the extra illustrations and photographs really added to the magic. And it is a little magical. I thought I was reading straight historical fiction, and then things got WEIRD. So if you're looking for historical fiction that feels super true to life with a big dose of magical realism, this would be a good one!

This book is one of the better books and I’ve read this year, and I read a lot. There was something for everyone: adventure, spirituality, and a struggle between man and nature. But the true gem at the heart of this story was the unconventional love story between the two protagonists. The author weaves her tale with precision and artistry. But her true gift is her ability to draw her character with intelligence and humanity.

This is such a beautiful book, lyrical, mysterious, just gorgeous. It’s a story told in letters, diaries, military orders, articles, and advertisements, and includes drawings and photographs. The format brings an immediacy to the telling, drawing the reader into the tale. 

I was emotionally invested in all of these characters and it was hard to say goodbye when the book ended. I can’t recommend it highly enough. This is the second time I’ve read it and I look forward to reading it a third time.