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A Book Worth Reading: The Alaska Chronicles
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April 24, 2009
A Book Worth Reading: The Alaska Chronicles
By Kirk Deeter
Photo by Tosh Brown
A fly fishing memoir is a tough thing to pull off. In my mind, "been there, done that," isn't good enough. "Me and Bob went fishing"... yawn. "How I learned to solve the mysteries of the universe while I caught trout"... give me a break.
In other words, I often pick up these books, and within 10 pages, I'm usually thinking to myself, "Get real!"
Whoa, wait a minute... there's a thought. Get real...
That's what Miles Nolte did with his compelling and gritty work in The Alaska Chronicles, published by Departure ($27.50). The work is a collection of semi-daily reports (initially posted on the message board of The Drake magazine website) from a summer spent guiding in Alaska. In effect, it became a collective "being here, doing this" experience... a thread that connected over 3,000 online message board readers from Singapore to Germany.
The writing appeals to me by virtue of its honesty and simplicity. Sure, you get the fish stories, but you also get the client grind, the cold hamburgers, bloodied body, fatigue, bears... essentially the stuff that separates the pretenders from the contenders in the guide world, and ultimately makes the real Alaska experience come alive. The book is more than worth reading for its candor alone, and the visual images that spin out of that.
For the record, I also find it interesting that the project is a website-to-book phenomenon, the first I know of of this type. The lesson? People can argue all they want about media trends, the death of print, whether long-form writing can work online, blog writing being "open mic nite," and all that... what I see here is that substance transcends. Online, in print... where there is substance there is value. I have long believed that the real substance in the fly fishing world inevitably lives amongst the guides. And there is plenty of all that in The Alaska Chronicles. Check it out.
Deeter
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Comments (8)
Think Ill check this book out...youre the 2nd or 3rd person to recommend this book...as a former guide in Montana and Alaska, Im sure Ill find parallels to my own experiences...thanks for the heads-up deeter...
I bought a copy of the book from Miles here in Austin,TX (and met Tosh Brown, the publisher) at the Fly Fishing Film Tour earlier this week.
I am about 50 pages into the book and love it.
Miles signed the book for me..."Never guide in Alaska" LOL.
An easy read, and Miles seemed like a great guy in person. Looking forward to finishing this one.
Anything about, "sunny weather and dry flies" in the Last Frontier,is my kind of reading.
The excerpt, certainly tweaked my interest!
An on the money recommendation Deet... I just finished it... it's a great read.
I heard about this book - it looks like an excellent read, and from these reviews, I'm pretty sure I'll have to get it...
I know sometimes corny, I enjoy reading novels that have a fishing or hunting plot/ or atleast something to do with the novel. Sounds like an interesting book, anyone who guides in Alaska has my upmost respect. Alaska aint' no joke.
I read the excerpt from the link in the article. Very very good. I usually read a couple few books during the winter. I'll put it on my list.
Add this to your The Alaska Chronicles!
Back in 1989, Sergeant Dixon stationed at Eielson AFB AK went to Chitna Alaska and did his 2 day limit in Salmon. The following weekend he and a group went to Taylor Mountain bear hunting only caching glimpses of one particular Grizzly. On the third day as they were headed back down the mountain, they notice the same bear tracks the same Grizzly they have been hunting. They followed the tracks right up to Sergeant Dixon Cherokee Jeep where the weekend before was full of Salmon. The bear tried to get into the back then came around to the driver door and pulled the door panel out far enough I can put my arm down as far as my elbow, then moved around to the front bumper bending one driving light down and breaking other one off as it climbed up on the hood caving it in. Once on top the bear caved in the roof deep enough you can take a bath, NO JOKE!
The following Wednesday, I called the Biologist in Tok AK to see if the Caribou herd was in the area we plan to hunt. The fella asked if I knew the Sergeant and if I could ask him if he can borrow his jeep for bear bait. Yes I do know him I replied and he works just down the hall in Quality Assurance!
NO LIE GI!
TRUE STORY!!!
Words of wisdom while in Alaska
Someone is always watching and news travels fast!
I just finished the book and it was a great read. Hopefully one day I'll get to fish that part of the world and experience some of that fun. I met Miles and Tosh when they were in Austin for the Drake FFT. Great guys!
Post a Comment
Think Ill check this book out...youre the 2nd or 3rd person to recommend this book...as a former guide in Montana and Alaska, Im sure Ill find parallels to my own experiences...thanks for the heads-up deeter...
I bought a copy of the book from Miles here in Austin,TX (and met Tosh Brown, the publisher) at the Fly Fishing Film Tour earlier this week.
I am about 50 pages into the book and love it.
Miles signed the book for me..."Never guide in Alaska" LOL.
An easy read, and Miles seemed like a great guy in person. Looking forward to finishing this one.
Anything about, "sunny weather and dry flies" in the Last Frontier,is my kind of reading.
The excerpt, certainly tweaked my interest!
An on the money recommendation Deet... I just finished it... it's a great read.
I heard about this book - it looks like an excellent read, and from these reviews, I'm pretty sure I'll have to get it...
I know sometimes corny, I enjoy reading novels that have a fishing or hunting plot/ or atleast something to do with the novel. Sounds like an interesting book, anyone who guides in Alaska has my upmost respect. Alaska aint' no joke.
I read the excerpt from the link in the article. Very very good. I usually read a couple few books during the winter. I'll put it on my list.
I just finished the book and it was a great read. Hopefully one day I'll get to fish that part of the world and experience some of that fun. I met Miles and Tosh when they were in Austin for the Drake FFT. Great guys!
Add this to your The Alaska Chronicles!
Back in 1989, Sergeant Dixon stationed at Eielson AFB AK went to Chitna Alaska and did his 2 day limit in Salmon. The following weekend he and a group went to Taylor Mountain bear hunting only caching glimpses of one particular Grizzly. On the third day as they were headed back down the mountain, they notice the same bear tracks the same Grizzly they have been hunting. They followed the tracks right up to Sergeant Dixon Cherokee Jeep where the weekend before was full of Salmon. The bear tried to get into the back then came around to the driver door and pulled the door panel out far enough I can put my arm down as far as my elbow, then moved around to the front bumper bending one driving light down and breaking other one off as it climbed up on the hood caving it in. Once on top the bear caved in the roof deep enough you can take a bath, NO JOKE!
The following Wednesday, I called the Biologist in Tok AK to see if the Caribou herd was in the area we plan to hunt. The fella asked if I knew the Sergeant and if I could ask him if he can borrow his jeep for bear bait. Yes I do know him I replied and he works just down the hall in Quality Assurance!
NO LIE GI!
TRUE STORY!!!
Words of wisdom while in Alaska
Someone is always watching and news travels fast!
Post a Comment