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66th out of 249 books
—
145 voters
Looking for Alaska
More than twenty years ago, a disillusioned college graduate named Peter Jenkins set out with his dog Cooper to look for himself and his nation. His memoir of what he found, A Walk Across America, captured the hearts of millions of Americans.
Now, Peter is a bit older, married with a family, and his journeys are different than they were. Perhaps he is looking for adventure,...more
Now, Peter is a bit older, married with a family, and his journeys are different than they were. Perhaps he is looking for adventure,...more
Paperback, 448 pages
Published
September 14th 2002
by St. Martin's Griffin
(first published 2001)
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I really enjoy Peter Jenkins’ writing style because I found it to be so accessible. He writes sort of like I think…as in, when I’m traveling about and am narrating in my head. That’s how he writes, if that makes sense. Well, it does to me.
In reading Jenkins book, Looking for Alaska, I feel as though the experience can be likened to going on a really great guided tour in a museum, like the one they give at the King Tut exhibit or one, perhaps, at the British Museum or Louvre. You aren’t actually...more
In reading Jenkins book, Looking for Alaska, I feel as though the experience can be likened to going on a really great guided tour in a museum, like the one they give at the King Tut exhibit or one, perhaps, at the British Museum or Louvre. You aren’t actually...more
This book sort of confounded me. The fourth star is because the stories were interesting, but there was something sort of...off about Jenkins's writing. I haven't read "A Walk Across America," but this one was just wandering and nostalgic and unfocused. Normally I don't have a problem with those three things, especially in travel writing, but this was to the point that I just didn't even understand how one sentence followed another. And in some cases, even a single sentence didn't really make se...more
Overall this book was a great read. I felt like I was getting small but informative glimpses into other people's lives—and there are several different ways to go about living in Alaska. Everyone there is presented as a bit wild and fiercely independent, although some are more independent than others. There are breathtaking natural wonders everywhere, and nature (sometimes in the form of dangerous black and brown bears) can always come to knock at your door. It is possible to live in towns that a...more
This was one of the best travel/nature books I have ever read! And I've read few, especially on "the frozen North". I've read other Peter Jenkins books and they are all good but this one I did not want to end. I guess, of the books of his I've read, this one and his first one were my favorites. I will probably never get to see Alaska so this really was the next best thing and I thank him for that with all my heart! I wish there had been more photos but it was a pretty big book as it was so I gue...more
This book is nothing special, just what it is -- a reporter's superficial view of the Alaska experience. Jenkins visits people in Juneau, Barrow, Coldfoot, Fairbanks, and folks who live out in the bush. And, somehow miraculously meets Jeff King, the champion musher and devotes a chapter + to Jeff and his dogs.
The most human thing about this book is how easy it is to meet people, and how surprisingly trustworthy they are. (He keeps freaking out about how he is trusting himself and his daughter, a...more
The most human thing about this book is how easy it is to meet people, and how surprisingly trustworthy they are. (He keeps freaking out about how he is trusting himself and his daughter, a...more
In the mid-1970's an article appeared in National Geographic about Peter Jenkins a disillusioned college student who set out from upstate New York with his dog Cooper to walk across America. In those turbulent social and political times he was hoping to discover some truths about himself, his country and his place in it. (What I found truly remarkable was that he audaciously walked into the National Geographic offices when he was hiking through Washington, D.C. and proposed that he do an article...more
Another wonderful book by Peter Jenkins. Years ago I savored "A Walk Across America" and "A Walk Out West (Walk Across America II, joined by his new wife).
He visits representative regions of Alaska and touches and is touched by the people he meets.
The most magical part of the book for me was the description of gathering the root Mussu the first part of September on the Tundra. The women go out and look for small disturbances where mice have built a cache of Mussu and trade the Mussu for vegeta...more
He visits representative regions of Alaska and touches and is touched by the people he meets.
The most magical part of the book for me was the description of gathering the root Mussu the first part of September on the Tundra. The women go out and look for small disturbances where mice have built a cache of Mussu and trade the Mussu for vegeta...more
Having read A Walk Across America and finding that horribly written, my expectations for this book were low. However, this book is amazing. Peter Jenkins obviously found an excellent editor this go round, because this book is chock full of awe-inspiring facts about the real last frontier, about how you get around (mostly by plane), how the locals live & survive... and it's full of brilliant stories of bears, native Alaskans & their traditions, snow, ice, bears, stupid people who aren't p...more
I'll be honest, my opinion of this book is not unbiased. I was one of the many people who found Walk Across America to be a formative piece that sowed the seeds of wanderlust in me at a young age. Then later on I found Jenkins' book about his journey of faith, and that really excited me because I like it when people I look up to share my faith. It seems pretty clear from this book that Jenkins has left most of that behind. Now divorced, he rarely talked about God in a book about Alaska. If you c...more
I had read Peter Jenkin's Walk Across America and really enjoyed it. Because of this, when I saw Looking For Alaska on the shelf, I decided to snap it up. While I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the other, it was still interesting and Jenkins is still a great writer.
Many years from his first book, Walk Across America, Jenkins has almost grown kids of his own and has explored many places of the world and America. His next stop is Alaska. Moving a portion of his family up (with the rest visiting...more
Many years from his first book, Walk Across America, Jenkins has almost grown kids of his own and has explored many places of the world and America. His next stop is Alaska. Moving a portion of his family up (with the rest visiting...more
Years ago I read Peter Jenikens account of his Walk Across America and was immediately taken by need to follow his dream and his hunger to experience the lives of those people he met along the way.
Once again, while reading this book, I found myself again captivated by his sensitive and insightful understanding of this magnificient wilderness area that surrounds a few people.
This book is one that should be read by any person who desires to know more about this remote state and who craves followi...more
Once again, while reading this book, I found myself again captivated by his sensitive and insightful understanding of this magnificient wilderness area that surrounds a few people.
This book is one that should be read by any person who desires to know more about this remote state and who craves followi...more
I've never been to Alaska, but I've fallen a bit in love with the idea of the place. That, combined with my love for snow dogs and slight obsession with the Iditarod, drew me to this book, which I found really delightful armchair travel. Jenkins makes you wish you were there alongside him and his friends in the Alaskan bush at 50 below. His profiles of the people of the great state just fuel my travel lust. A great read....I've read Jenkins' first and now his most recent book, and will likely ev...more
From an outsider's point of view, never being anywhere near Alaska, this book was a riveting read. I almost lost it when some of the inhabitants shared their experiences with bears, especially the man who got his skull cracked by one! Peter Jenkins reflected a complete Alaskan landscape, including the humor with which some inhabitants go about their daily tough lives. The hardships and daily adventures explains why the inhabitants are different from the rest of America. There's a purer form of i...more
I loved this book. One of the best things about it was Jenkins and his accepting way of describing all the people he met and found fascinating. I listened to the audio book and could hardly wait to get into my car so I could hear what happened next. I went right to my library and checked out "A Walk Across America." I always thought I might like to live in Alaska, as it seemed to have much in common with my favorite place the Upper Peninsula of MI. NOT! It does have some things in common, but Al...more
I love that Jennings takes you all over Alaska, from the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska to the coast of the Arctic Ocean -- and all points in between. His descriptions of the people and places he visits are truly mesmerizing.
I remember sitting in Starbucks over Christmas vacation while I was reading the book one very nice, sunny day, when someone opened the door and a gust of wind whipped into the coffee shop. At the time, I was reading of Jennings' wintertime adventure with a family who liv...more
I remember sitting in Starbucks over Christmas vacation while I was reading the book one very nice, sunny day, when someone opened the door and a gust of wind whipped into the coffee shop. At the time, I was reading of Jennings' wintertime adventure with a family who liv...more
Again Peter Jenkins makes you feel like you are with him on his travels. His beautiful descriptions of Alaska and the people he came to know and sometimes live with are rich with detail. He paints Alaska as the raw, wild an incredible place that it is. Capturing its aura through countless tails of adventure that keep you on the edge of your seat. A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining book.
Ok, I never finished this book technically. I left it on an airplane yesterday with about 2 chapters to go. A nice memoir style book about a family who spent a year in Alaska. Written in a down home NPR manner this is an easy read that doesn't really teach you anything except just that people are people and Alaska is a tough place to live.
This is a book that my Dad gave me to read. I wasn't really excited at the time, but this is a truly fascinating book. Those braving the winters in the Alaskan wilderness risk their lives to survive the winter as part of their everyday existence. I'll take my heat, highways, cable TV and supermarket any day, but now I appreciate it more.
I have read a few other books by Peter Jenkins and this one pales in comparison. After I started it I realized that I had read it before but even though I am not one to reread books I wanted to give it a second read. Alaska has always been an interesting topic for me.
I think this book has less interest because it is not a continuous narrative but pieces of life over the course of a year. You don't just write a daily diary about how you spent a year in Alaska you have to turn it into a sort of s...more
I think this book has less interest because it is not a continuous narrative but pieces of life over the course of a year. You don't just write a daily diary about how you spent a year in Alaska you have to turn it into a sort of s...more
I really enjoyed this book and more so as I got further into it. It's not the best written and a little scattered at times and my liking it is surely influenced by the fact we just returned from Alaska. Still I think it's worth reading as he does a good job of capturing what Alaska is like in a lot of ways. Particularly, his descriptions of the landscape brought back good memories of what we saw and what I'd love to see on future trips (?!).
Purchased this book from a Library sale, and couldn't be happier. Peter Jenkins writing is engaging, and rather than reading like the travel guide that it could be, it reads like a blog. He and his family moved to Alaska, living there for 18 months, and he writes about the places he visited very vividly. Loved it!
Made me want to go to Alaska, and see God's creation. Peter Jenkins descriptions of people fishing, close encounters with bears, and living so far from conveniences was very interesting. I think I like stories that show a will to survive and thrive in harsh conditions.
Awesome! I have been wanting to move to Alaska. Now I have to just need to do it,. This book was a great read and I really enjoyed it. I read Peter Jenkins book Walk Across America which restored my faith in Americans. Now with this book, I want to take that to the next level and move to Alaska and live in all that wonderful nature.
I'd not read the first book, but I picked this up. We'd been to Alaska a few years ago, and I'm an avid fan of the Iditarod. I thought this book did a good job I felt of telling something about Alaska not just the obvious that the tourists see.
Read this book in preparation for my trip to Alaska. Interesting to read his version of some of the same towns I visited. Made me want to be hardier. Loved his insight into various Alaskans he & his family encountered.
Stirring descriptions of life in Alaska and the realities of bitter cold living, up and close with nature. Not a life-changing read but a good introduction to the realities and eccentricities of our northernmost state.
I've a fondness for adventure books and Peter Jenkins always delivers. His sense of adventure is alive and well and his ability to introduce his readers to the people he encounters on his journeys is unique and refreshing.
This is a very interesting account of Peter Jenkins time spent exploring and living in Alaska with his wife and family. He travels all over Alaska, exploring different areas and lifestyles during his time there.
This book made me re-think ever moving to Alaska. I don't want to get eaten by a bear. Great look at many aspects of the state. Anyone who wants to visit might want to read this book first.
Sep 11, 2010
Dave Gaston
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
nonfiction,
dialog-masters,
ecology-earth-science,
history,
humor,
sea,
sly-wit,
sociology,
travel,
fire,
ice
A very strong mix of travel and adventure writing - apparently if you live in Alaska, you can not do one without the other. Jenkins has a contemporary, lighthearted journalistic approach that is certainly intimate, almost conversational. You might swear that you spent an afternoon fishing with the man. His interviews, character sketches and descriptive details mainline the fresh smells of the ocean or the clarity of a frigid arctic night. As you might imagine, most Alaskan’s march to a very diff...more
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Born July 8th, 1951 in Greenwich, Connecticut,
Peter is the eldest of the six children of Frederick and Mary Jenkins.
Graduated from Greenwich High School in 1969.
Attended Woodstock in summer of 1969.
Graduated from Alfred University in 1973 with a BFA, majoring in Sculptor/ Ceramics.
Began his Walk Across America on October 15, 1973 in Alfred, New York. It ended in mid-January of 1979 in Florence, Or...more
More about Peter Jenkins...
Peter is the eldest of the six children of Frederick and Mary Jenkins.
Graduated from Greenwich High School in 1969.
Attended Woodstock in summer of 1969.
Graduated from Alfred University in 1973 with a BFA, majoring in Sculptor/ Ceramics.
Began his Walk Across America on October 15, 1973 in Alfred, New York. It ended in mid-January of 1979 in Florence, Or...more
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“Talk is cheap and easy; making dreams real takes hard, humble work. Dreams in the Midwest are acceptable, just keep them to yourself. Maybe tell your family, but don't just talk—do something about it.”
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10 people liked it
“It was as if we'd only been gone the weekend. Or had we been gone a lifetime. Part of that was because when you've lived in Alaska, living in other places seems easier, less challenging, less threatening. Alaska had enlarged each of us. No one is ever the same after coming back from Alaska.”
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4 people liked it
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Feb 16, 2013 01:45am