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5th out of 24 books
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24 voters
The Blue Bear: A True Story of Friendship and Discovery in the Alaskan Wild
With a body twisted by adolescent scoliosis and memories of the brutal death of a woman he loved, Lynn Schooler kept the world at arm's length, drifting through the wilds of Alaska as a commercial fisherman, outdoorsman, and wilderness guide. In 1990, Schooler met Japanese photographer Michio Hoshino, and began a profound friendship cemented by a shared love of adventure a...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
May 6th 2003
by Harper Perennial
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The Blue Bear by Lynn Schooler is an excellent book. I have previously read a book by this author and was eager to read another. Schooler travels to multiple locations throughout his home state, Alaska, telling the story of his adventures along the way. The purpose of this book is to entertain the reader. Throughout the book, Schooler uses comical scenes and phrases to enhance his writing to make it more engaging for the reader.
Throughout the book, the author and his god friend are in search of...more
Throughout the book, the author and his god friend are in search of...more
What did I think? It was my weekend indulgence, pressed because I had borrowed my parents' copy, pressed because I wanted to get it read quick.
I thought author Lynn Schooler was a bit self involved at times, but who among us isn't? When he spoke of his twisting scoliosis spine causing him to distrust and become a hermit, I felt like giving him the Cher treatment in Moonstruck--slapping him across the face and saying, "Snap out of it!" But I also did not ultimately mind his wound-licking moments....more
I thought author Lynn Schooler was a bit self involved at times, but who among us isn't? When he spoke of his twisting scoliosis spine causing him to distrust and become a hermit, I felt like giving him the Cher treatment in Moonstruck--slapping him across the face and saying, "Snap out of it!" But I also did not ultimately mind his wound-licking moments....more
I enjoyed some of the nature-oriented passages, mostly because they engage my interests, but in the end this book felt contrived. It tries to wrap itself around a central topic--the author's friendship with a nature photographer--but the topic is too lightweight to support a whole book. The relationship in question is based on just a few shared trips, with more details of the natural events witnessed than of interpersonal bonding between the two main characters, and the author comes across more...more
I really feel like I should love this book. There's so much that's right with it. The Blue Bear is ultimately a story of admiration and love for a good man. It's written by Lynn Schooler, a guide who makes his living taking photographers around the waters and glaciers of the fractured straits, islands, and bays near Juneau Alaska. One of his repeat customers is a Japanese nature photographer named Michio Hoshino. In the course of their working relationship Hoshino and Schooler become good friend...more
I can't remember the last time I went to the dictionary so much to check the meaning of words. I mention this not just because Schooler seems to have a McPhee-like commitment to preserving the richness of the English language, but also to show how much I wanted as a reader to understand his thinking. His in an engaging story, complete with storms at sea, encounters with bears, death and murder. But it's also a moving tale of friendship and a thoughtful examination of how one's experiences can af...more
We've had this book in our home for several years, so I'm not really sure why I only just read it (it was a gift for my husband a few Christmases ago). Very good read, with wonderful descriptions of time spent exploring the natural beauty of Southeast Alaska, and the great friendship of two people who share the love of true wilderness. Lynn Schooler does not hold back when it comes to examining his own life, although he is pretty hard on himself. I may have to take a break from the intense perso...more
My son bought this book for me, otherwise I most likely wouldn't have picked it up. I'm glad he did. The author lives on a boat in Juneau, home is the 'Wilderness Swift' at the harbor. He is a guide for wildlife photographers, and takes bookings for trips around Southeast Alaska. The story focuses on the author's growing friendship with a Japanese photographer, Michio Hoshino, and his search for the elusive and seldom seen Glacier bear, so called blue because of the hue of its fur. Their adventu...more
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I started it. I'd only heard about it because I eavesdropped on overheard someone's conversation while I was hiking out to the Exit Glacier in Seward, AK. I heard a woman recommend it to a companion, and decided I should check it out. This was a nice memoir of an Alaskan wilderness guide. A self-described hermit, the author formed an unlikely friendship with one of his clients, a Japanese wilderness photographer. Together the two go in search of...more
Great book!!!! Schooler was a great guide as his writing introduced me to the Alaskan wilderness, his lifestyle and his friendship with Michio Hoshino. I had never heard of Michio before and since I have read Scholler book, I can NOT forget him. This fact proves Schooler's book achieved a great goal.. But even beyond bringing me close to Michio, Schooler brought me close to his heart --This author reads honest and smart... I really loved the work!.
For nature lovers, some interesting facts and stories. For relationship lovers, again, some interesting insights. Not my favorite book of the year, but glad I read it. It does have a few pages of pictures in the middle which I skipped over and which anyone who reads it should skip as well if you don't want to know the ending. (Personally, I use this rule on all books which have pictures in the middle.)
Some unfortunate soul lost this book and I happened to be the fortunate soul that found it. I really enjoyed this book not only for the story, but also for the wonderful way that he is able to present a vivid image of the beauty in Alaska. I really got the feeling that I was right there with him most of the time. Just a well written book that could be enjoyed by anyone.
I didn't know what I was expecting when I started The Blue Bear. Through this book I was able to visit places in Alaska that I had never heard of and I was able to experience the adventure that I probably will never be able to experience in just this way.
This is a wonderful story and so much more than just another story about the wilds of Alaska.
This is a wonderful story and so much more than just another story about the wilds of Alaska.
Schooler tells the story of a decade long search for the rare glacier (blue) bear, and of his 'friendship with an uncommon man' - a Japenese photographer whom he met by chance. Over several expeditions to photograph whales and glaciers, the two focused in on the glacier bear, a rare creature that became the Holy Grail of their joint expeditions.
This was the second time I've read this book, and I liked it just as much the second time. It's a wonderful blend of nature writing and memoir that captivated me with the descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness and touched me with the story of a friendship's evolution. This is definitely a book I'm keeping on my bookshelf!
A hard-edged Alaskan commercial fisherman and guide meets an award-winning Japanese photographer. The book is a story of their travels into remote areas of Alaska so the photographer can photograph wildlife, especially the mythical "blue bear." The story of an ususual friendship that resonates with respect and warmth.
I found this book at the library by accident and decided it sounded like an interesting story. I have an interest in Alaska so I was especially looking forward to finding out more about it.
I very much enjoyed the book and the story, as well as the author's very personal and intimate way of describing his life story. Sometimes I felt like I was reading a letter rather than a book.
I was not familiar with the characters of the book so to me this was not a book about "famous people". It was more abo...more
I very much enjoyed the book and the story, as well as the author's very personal and intimate way of describing his life story. Sometimes I felt like I was reading a letter rather than a book.
I was not familiar with the characters of the book so to me this was not a book about "famous people". It was more abo...more
May 15, 2011
Peter
added it
Story about an Alaskan boating guide and his friendship with a Japanese photographer who is killed by a bear. One of the themes of their friendship was the search for a blue bear (or glacier bear), an exceptionally rare coloring of black bear found along the Alaskan coast.
AMAZING story. Well written with honesty, humor, and intelligence. The author's clear, but not overwhelming, descriptions make the subjects stand out and become like friends to each reader. While the reader will cheer for the author, the author tells the story as it happened. For better or worse.
I absolutely loved this book, and writing this review makes me want to read it again. I don't read all that much non-fiction, but I read a review of this book somewhere and was interested enough to seek it out at the library. My initial interest was mainly based on learning more about the life and death of Michio Hoshino, whose wildlife photography I loved, and whose tragic death I had read about in National Wildlife magazine. Boring, uninteresting writing is what usually makes me give up on a n...more
Incredible book - a must for the lovers of Alaska natural beauty and unforgettable account of a friendship that happens once in a lifetime. Language is a healthy combination of descriptive and poetic.
I learned a lot about Alaska geography and the hardships of the long winters in that area. I read this prior to a trip to Alaska on the recommendation of a travel journalist in one of our newspapers.
Beautiful. Fast read. Totally engrossing, thoughtful, informative about history, culture, environment. If you've ever lived in Alaska, been to Alaska, or wanted to go to Alaska, it's a must-read.
Feb 20, 2009
Lori Tobias Christiansen
added it
Lovely book about Alaska, friends, bears, whales – and the search for the elusive glacier bear. There’s even a bit about serial killer Robert Hansen thrown in.
This is a great, true story around Southeast Alaska. It's fun to read about places close to my heart, and it's well written, but a bit slow.
I liked this book. I couldn't put it down. You must be interested in spirits and legends and the quest to find the truth in the stories.
A loner in Alaska writes of his relationship with Japnese photographer killed by blue bear. Well written
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This is a good book, very well written and heartfelt, by a man who has an acute appreciation of the value of friendship and who really sees and understands the natural world.
Schooler, an Alaskan guide, meets and develops a friendship with Michio Hoshino, a Japanese photographer. He guides Hoshino on several expeditions, developing a warm bond with him and learning both photography and life lessons along the way. Schooler has a comprehensive knowledge of the geography, geology, flora and fauna o...more
Schooler, an Alaskan guide, meets and develops a friendship with Michio Hoshino, a Japanese photographer. He guides Hoshino on several expeditions, developing a warm bond with him and learning both photography and life lessons along the way. Schooler has a comprehensive knowledge of the geography, geology, flora and fauna o...more
Very informative and well written non-fiction Alaska story. Well developed characters.
A great memoir of what it means to be an Alaskan, a photographer, and a friend.
This is a heavy, beautiful book. One I could easily read again. The author mixes in a part of Alaska's history while telling us the story of the friendship of the two.
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Lynn is a critically acclaimed writer, guide, and outdoorsman whose work has been published in more than a dozen languages. His first book, The Blue Bear, was awarded the French literary prize Prix Littéraire 30 Millions d'Amis. His most recent non-fiction work, Walking Home, won the 2010 Banff Mountain Festival's 'Best Mountain Literature' prize. His first novel, published under the pen name Lynn...more
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