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A Tender Distance: Raising My Sons in Alaska
by
Kaylene Johnson (Goodreads Author)
Fishing, hunting, hiking, biking; this mom wants her sons to know what Alaska's wilderness has to offer, but also struggles with wanting to keep them safe. Johnson offers her finely-crafted recollections of raising boys in Alaska, and how she matured along with them. Her journey begins as a young wife who is separated for the first time from her close-knit family. She con...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
September 20th 2009
by Graphic Arts Books
(first published May 1st 2009)
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The Kaylene Johnson, the author of ‘A Tender Distance’, sent my son and me a signed copy of this beautiful book. Though my son is still a little to young to appreciate the tenderness of her story, I know the day will come too quickly that he will.
Kaylene Johnson has a beautiful way of sharing her life as she watched her sons grow into adults. She explains things in a way that every mother can relate to. In doing this, she shares her family’s love for the Alaska frontier and the ma...more
Kaylene Johnson has a beautiful way of sharing her life as she watched her sons grow into adults. She explains things in a way that every mother can relate to. In doing this, she shares her family’s love for the Alaska frontier and the ma...more
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Okay, I am biased because I acquired this title for the small publishing company I worked for the last 20+ years. I was so excited when Kaylene shared this manuscript with me. We had traded stories of raising sons throughout the years of our friendship. Part of me was afraid to read it because I wasn't sure what I would say or do if I didn't like it or I felt the company couldn't publish it. Fortunately, I was captivated from the beginning. I laughed. I cried. I got chills and yes, if you are a ...more
Another book I won on goodreads! Cant wait to read it!
Quick and easy read. I don’t have children so I cannot fully relate to the depth of love one can have for a child or how they can drive you crazy. But I found myself reflecting and wondering what my parents were thinking while I was growing up. I am sure similar thoughts of fear, anger, and love went through their head, especially as they let me go off skiing, hiking, and traveling. But more than anything I love the idea of th...more
Quick and easy read. I don’t have children so I cannot fully relate to the depth of love one can have for a child or how they can drive you crazy. But I found myself reflecting and wondering what my parents were thinking while I was growing up. I am sure similar thoughts of fear, anger, and love went through their head, especially as they let me go off skiing, hiking, and traveling. But more than anything I love the idea of th...more
So, I won this book on FirstReads, and when I started the other day, I was all, "Oh, uh, a mushy mother memoir. Bleh." I was looking for every flaw in the writing that I could possibly find. And I found them. The first story was unorganized and meandering and I couldn't see the point Johnson was trying to make. But I kept reading; I had this review to write, and I couldn't do that after reading ten pages and giving up. So, I kept reading and the writing got better. It may not ha...more
Won on First-Reads
"A Tender Distance: Raising My Sons in Alaska" is a superbly written book with beutiful descriptive language. It is recommended for those who love their children, those who love the outdoors and those who love God. Not being an outdoors woman myself, at times, I found it a bit difficult to relate to the author. My children situation is also a bit different than hers but the anxiety about harm befalling them and looking to God to protect them is definite...more
"A Tender Distance: Raising My Sons in Alaska" is a superbly written book with beutiful descriptive language. It is recommended for those who love their children, those who love the outdoors and those who love God. Not being an outdoors woman myself, at times, I found it a bit difficult to relate to the author. My children situation is also a bit different than hers but the anxiety about harm befalling them and looking to God to protect them is definite...more
A Tender Distance brings us into the lives of Kaylene Johnson and her 2 adventurous boys as they grow and venture out into the wilderness of Alaska. In Alaska, Kaylenes role as parent in helping her fearless children move forth into the world takes on a balancing act that has been described as walking a tightrope.
This was not a fast book to read, but a good one. It was a combination of beautifully crafted descriptions of the scenery, philosophy of parenting, and adventure that made m...more
This was not a fast book to read, but a good one. It was a combination of beautifully crafted descriptions of the scenery, philosophy of parenting, and adventure that made m...more
Honistie
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This book was really good. I could relate to the mother in the book well. Kaylene Johnson did a wonderful job explaining how a mother feels from the moment her children are born until the time they leave home. She even describes the pain of almost losing a child. The adventures she took with her kids and without were amazing and I understood her conflict of leaving the house for four days for a hike. It made me realize that I will feel that way long after my young children are older. I was hopin...more
Wonderful book by a wonderful woman. A sincere and tender set of stories and introspective essays on life, loving young ones, and appreciating nature and God.
Paula
marked it as to-read
I won this book through Goodreads but I think it was lost in the mail because I did not receive it.
Wonderfully written!!!! It is very touching and interesting. I will be keeping this one forever and re-reading it from time to time.
Won on first reads. As the world lost a great lady when my wonderful friend, Ramona, just passed away, this review will serve for her. She will be dearly missed and cancer will be cursed for taking her from us so young.
Won on first reads. As the world lost a great lady when my wonderful friend, Ramona, just passed away, this review will serve for her. She will be dearly missed and cancer will be cursed for taking her from us so young.
-this book is getting one star. i wanted to leave it as zero stars because i won this book as a goodreads first reads, and never got it, but i didn't want it to seem like i just didn't review a book i won. very unfortunate.
edit:still have not gotten this and o won it over a month ago
won this book as a firstreads. cant wait to read it!
edit:still have not gotten this and o won it over a month ago
won this book as a firstreads. cant wait to read it!
I'm only giving this book 1 star because I won it in a giveaway over 4 months ago and never received it. I just found out yesterday that the publishing company which posted the giveaway went out of business. If I ever do come across a copy of this book I will read it and give it a proper review.
I won this book in the first reads giveaway! I will read & review soon.
Update 12-22-09: The giveaway was over 2 months ago & I still haven't received my copy!
1-2-10: Sent an email to the author & to Graphic Arts Center Pub. Co. (they listed the giveaway).
Update 12-22-09: The giveaway was over 2 months ago & I still haven't received my copy!
1-2-10: Sent an email to the author & to Graphic Arts Center Pub. Co. (they listed the giveaway).
I won this on first reads and can not wait to receive it. Please check my friend Melissa Murphy's review for this book.
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Reads | 4 | 9 | Jan 04, 2010 06:41am |
"Kaylene Johnson is the author of A Tender Distance: Adventures Raising My Sons in Alaska (Alaska Northwest Books 2009); Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down (Epicenter 2008); Trails Across Time: History of an Alaska Mountain Corridor (KMTA, July 2005) and Portrait of the Alaska Railroad (Alaska Northwest Books, May 2003). Her award-winning articles and ...more
More about Kaylene Johnson...
![Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down [With Earbuds]](http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327933811m/11409403.jpg "Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down [With Earbuds]")
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