Alaska is far away.
Maybe you think you know this, but however far away you imagine Alaska to be, double that. Because Alaska is really, really far away.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend a week with other writers on a remote Alaskan island. I wish that each of you could have the chance to be dazzled by the Alaskan sun and scoured by the Alaskan wind. I wish that you could taste King salmon only just pulled from the water.
If a two-day journey isn’t an option for you, what about a book instead?
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Here is a memoir of that same remote island. It is also one of the best memoirs I have ever read.
Surviving the Island of Grace: Life on the Wild Edge of America
This is a memoir of marriage, motherhood, spirituality, and poetry. It is also a memoir of wilderness and the dangerous and exhausting work of commercial salmon fishing.
Even if you can’t imagine enjoying a book about fishing (much less actual fishing!) I highly recommend this book. The writing is stellar, the story captivating, and the whole thing is edged with lyricism.
This is the most particular and most universal of stories. Now, I too, am asking the question at the heart of this book: how do we bear the terrible, beautiful grace that sustains our lives?
This was where we unraveled the rest of our lives, it seemed, even as we sewed up the holes in the nets. There was something about this space, about standing out there on the beach under the open sky – the clouds or sun, mountains on every horizon, though it was ocean all the way to the edge. The walls were gone, how could there be a larger space to stand in, and yet, it became a sort of confessional. – Leslie Leyland Fields
I picked up another Alaska memoir in the bookstore at the Anchorage airport: Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs: A True Story of Bad Breaks and Small Miracles
Lende organizes her chapters around the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, but she incorporates other traditions as well, such as Buddhism or Native American spirituality.
I kept this one tucked in the seatback pocket on the long flight from Anchorage to Seattle. At one point, my seatmate asked if she could read it, and I passed it over. She laughed out loud for the rest of the flight.
It’s a good book.
I wonder if to be human is to know that we can’t ever banish pain and ugliness from the world, only learn from it and create something beautiful and good out of it – like the newest totem pole in Sitka, the one called ‘You Are Going to Get Well.’ If you ever see it, you will believe that’s possible. – Heather Lende
One of the guest writers at the Alaska workshop was the novelist Bret Lott. You can’t go wrong picking up any of his fiction (I adore the strange, hilarious, heartbreaking first story in his collection The Difference Between Women and Men: Stories), and his novel Jewel
I especially recommend his latest, a collection of essays called Letters and Life: On Being a Writer, On Being a Christian
For writers, his essay “On Precision” is outstanding. For everyone, the final long essay on the death of his father is beautifully crafted. I aspire to write personal essays like this one.
As a writer you must always be striving for that which you cannot yet achieve and for that which you cannot yet know. – Bret Lott
I have two bonus recommendations for you today. The first is Girl Meets Change: Truths to Carry You through Life’s Transitions
The second is the most recent book from Emily P. Freeman: Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World. I don’t think anyone writes Christian formation quite like Emily. Her writing is accessible but also lovely, straightforward but rich and wise.
In my eagerness to read it, I mistakenly ordered two copies. Leave a comment here, and I will enter your name in a drawing to win one of those copies. A winner will be notified by email.
Tell me, friends. Read any good books lately?
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Being a home school mother and the newly elected person over our church ‘s women’s ministry, I feel certain I will be looking for the “simply Tuesday” moments even more. Would love to have a copy of the book to read.
Ooh, I’m so eager to read Simply Tuesday! Thank you for hosting this giveaway!
And I’m *thrilled* to learn that you were able to attend the Alaska writing retreat. What a gift! I heard about it, and it sounded so amazing. Leslie’s memoir sounds fantastic. Thanks for the recommendation!
I’m currently reading Girl Meets Change, as well as Making it Home by Emily Wierenga.
Blessings on your weekend!
Thanks for hosting this giveaway – I think I need to be more intentional about appreciating the “little” moments in our busy, two-full-time-job, three-kids life!
Thank you Christie for hosting this give-away. I would definitely love a copy of Simply Tuesday. I am familiar with Emily’s writing and find it insightful and encouraging for one’s daily journey. Currently I am reading a small book I picked up just last week at a mission in San Diego. It is called Bless This Food: ancient & contemporary graces from around the world.
I forgot to mention the author, Adrian Butash, of the book I am reading.
I have visited Alaska! Truly God’s hand is everywhere you look. Thank you for the chance to win of copy of Simply Tuesday. I would love to read it. Blessings.
Oh Christie, how did I not realize you managed to attend Leslie’s workshop in Alaska?! How delightful!! I have thought about her writers retreat many times, and kick the idea around overtime I see she is opening it up again. I would love to hear more about it!
Thanks for these book recommendations, as always. No need to enter me in the giveaway, as I have read Emily’s newest, and have Kristen’s on my nightstand as we speak.
I always appreciate these posts from you, thanks, friend. XO
Kris, it was amazing. I really hope you can go. It’s a sacrifice of time and money, but so, so worthwhile. I think it would be perfect for you, and I’d love to tell you all about it!
I’ve got Marion Roach Smith’s The Memoir Project, Kathleen Flint’s Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good, and Annie Barrows’ The Truth According to Us in a stack that I schlep everywhere with me these days. I’m nearly finished with the first, and I’m working my way down.
After reading this post, I’m looking forward to adding Letters and Life and Simply Tuesday, so thank you for the giveaway!
I recently finished “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.” Have you tried this mystery series yet? I thought it was delightfully charming and excellently written. His metaphors were so unique. I think you may enjoy giving it a try if you have not.
I also took “A Fatal Grace” to the beach with me and am loving “50 Women Every Christian Should Know.” I have loved reading the biographies of Christian women of the faith my whole life and this book is introducing me to some new ones, especially from the Medieval period.
Hi Christie,
I would treasure a copy of Simply Tuesday. As a third-year student at the Wharton School of Business, I could do with some guidance on plugging through the Tuesdays and transforming the grueling into grace.
Blessings,
Abigail
Just ordered Field’s book and then started reading her Amazon bio. An amazing woman. Always love your suggestions! And your graceful writing!
Would love the chance to read this!
I would love to win this book. Thanks!
Thank you for your reading recommendations. Each of them sounds interesting. I have read several of Bret Lott’s books and have enjoyed them. This is a good reminder to read more. I would enjoy Simply Tuesday as I find the title intriguing and very applicable to what I have been pondering lately.
I’ve been enjoying the devotional, “Savor” by Shauna Niequist. I also recently read and loved “The Best Yes” by Lysa Terkeurst.
Ooo, enter me, please! If I’m not too late.
Good book I’ve read lately: Robert Farrar Capon’s The Supper of the Lamb. A beautiful (and sometimes funny) slow savor.
So many things to read next. How to choose??
I’ve read Leslie’s book. Love her writing-I swear I could actually smell that salmon! I’m currently reading The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life by Thomas Moore. I’d love that extra copy of Emily Freeman’s book.
I’ve been wanting to read her new book, so thanks for the lovely chance to win a copy! I’m looking forward to checking out some of these other books, too…I love memoirs and essay collections!
Emily’s new book has popped up half a dozen times on my Amazon account as a recommendation, so I suppose that’s a good sign I should read it 🙂
Thank you for these recommendations! I’ve been wanting to read Bret Lott for some time…one of his may be my next book.
I really like Heather Lende’s work, especially her first memoir, If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name. And these other books sound so lovely.
Thanks for participating, everyone! I am closing comments and emailing the winner (chosen through a random number generator).