Title: Alaska
Author: James A. Michener
Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell’s Books):
“In this sweeping epic of the northernmost American frontier, James A. Michener guides us across Alaska’s fierce terrain, from the long-forgotten past to the bustling technological present, as his characters struggle for survival. The exciting high points of Alaska’s story, from its brutal prehistory, through the nineteenth century and the American acquisition, to its modern status as Americas thriving forty-ninth state, are brought vividly to life in this remarkable novel: the gold rush; the tremendous growth and exploitation of the salmon industry; the discovery of oil and its social and economic consequences; the difficult construction of the Alcan Highway, which made possible the defense of the territory in World War II. A spellbinding portrait of a human community struggling to establish its place in the world, Alaska traces a bold and majestic history of the enduring spirit of a land and its people.”
Thoughts: James A. Michener is known for his highly detailed narrative and pages-long expository on the history of a region. When done correctly, a reader is taken on a whirlwind adventure through time, following the growth and development of an area through the eyes of the land and of a select few founding families. When done poorly, the effect is more like a lengthy history textbook. Alas, Alaska falls into the latter category.
What Michener does well can become nauseatingly boring over time without a human factor. Where there is a human factor, the construct of the overall novel is such that the human factor is deliberately interrupted. Each chapter is like an individual novella. There is some attempt to connect the characters through the generations and across the state, but the individual chapters and lack of depth of character development creates an extremely disjointed story.
In addition, there is an undercurrent of dispassion and lack of affection for Alaska that does not exist in some of Michener’s other works. The best example of this would be Hawaii. His love of the South Pacific is palpable on every page. It is not overt, but it is something that permeates all of his descriptions and makes them more vivid. Unfortunately, the descriptions of Alaska are more rote and clinical. The fascination with the flora and fauna is missing, and the reader is left struggling through dry and lengthy descriptions.
At 868 pages, Alaska is simply too long. There are too many native Alaskans, too much land, and too much political infighting. Michener’s choice of creating stand-alone chapters does nothing to help foster understanding or clarity. Readers looking for something similar to the magical Hawaii or even the excellent Chesapeake are guaranteed to be disappointed. The lack of memorable generational families and tedious descriptions make this more of a slog than something to enjoy.
Many times I have wanted to read ALASKA but the abundance of characters are hard to follow and remember. It there a character description list that I can refer to as I read?
There may be something like this on the Internet. I know my fellow book club members started keeping their own lists of characters to help them keep it all straight. Good luck!
By chance I started to read your book with ALASKA, and just finished it. I'm not a native English-speaking and not live in a English-speaking country, however, I like this book very much. Thank you to spread magnificent Alaska pictures before me and help me to understand the natives, the terrains and all those political business infight.
J
Yes, this wasn't his strongest one. HAWAII remains my favorite, but I did enjoy CHESAPEAKE too.
I had the same feeling. There is a definite lack of that interest in Alaska that made HAWAII so much fun to read. It will be my last Michener for a while.
HAWAII is a wonderful book. I read it a few years ago and still remember it quite well and quite fondly.
Yes, do not start with ALASKA. HAWAII remains my favorite Michener. CHESAPEAKE was pretty good too. I've also heard good things about CENTENNIAL.
It is a lot of book to read. I normally love chunksters. It will be my last Michener for a while.
Oh, no! I have read a couple of Michener books and loved both of them, particularly "Chesapeake." I'm looking for another Michener to read for a challenge; think I'll pass on this one.
I do plan on reading Michener at some point, although I doubt I will choose Alaska! I am pretty sure I would be bored to tears.
I had to read your review after cheering you on that last little bit. I'm sorry this book didn't work for you because 868 pages is A LOT of book to read even if you are enjoying it.
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