Rowing To Latitude, Journeys Along the Arctic's Edge

This book belongs to one of my very favorite categories of books, that of true-life outdoor adventure. This book, "Rowing to Latitude" by Jill Fredston, was very enjoyable. The book is about the author and her husband who are avalanche experts in Alaska, and spend the 4-month off-season each year rowing along a different northern coastline. Ms. Fredston rows backwards in an ocean-sturdy skiff with a sliding seat and oars. Her husband Doug Fesler spent the first 13 thousand miles kayaking, but then switched to a boat with a sliding seat and oars also due to greater speed allowed by that type of boat. Each year they plan a trip to a different coastline. In this book she details memories from their trips; Seattle to Skagway, the Yukon River (Skagway to Nome), the Chukchi Sea, the Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean, the coast of Labrador, the coast of Norway, Svalbard islands, and the coast of Greenland.

This adventure book is an interesting overview of the peoples, landscapes and animals they encountered along the way and the trials and difficulties they overcame on the journeys. There is so much land and water in the northern hemisphere that is uncharted, unexplored and relatively unknown. The few people they interacted with are relatively isolated from the rest of the world so that at times it seemed like they lived in another time.

Ms. Fredston writes with intelligence and clarity, deftly choosing which details to share with us to give us a clear picture of her experience. I don't necessarily agree with all her conclusions, but I appreciate her honesty as she shares her thoughts with us.

This was a interesting, low stress book that stimulated all the adventure genes in me without the usual intensity and suspense of most of the outdoor adventure books I have read before. I thoroughly enjoyed it! This book would make a great summer beach read.

Alyn's Favorite Authors

I just added a list of my favorite authors of fiction.

A few disclaimers: to get on my list, an author has to write more than 2 books that I really like. For most of the authors listed, I have read several, sometimes dozens, of books they have written. I am always on the lookout for the latest book from these writers. That doesn't mean I have liked everything they have published. For example, I think I have read every book that John Grisham has written. Most were good, a few were spectacular, but I really did not like "Playing for Pizza". It was a fluff novel in my opinion, and a waste of Mr. Grisham's talent. He should stick to the detailed legal thrillers he is known for.

I will continue to read every book these authors publish. This doesn't mean I recommend all of them. Everyone has their own tastes and sensitivities. But there are some real gems here!

The books I really like have to be well written, with interesting words, flowing narratives that make you think and induce vivid visual images. Great books also contain lots of descriptive detail. Have you ever read a book and as you are reading you realize half-way through that you don't even know what the main character looks like? Very annoying! Lastly, depending on the genre, the book has to have an intelligent plot or story with believable characters and logical scenarios. I like really well-rounded, complex characters and settings. The plot should be interesting and hold my attention, but I dislike being unduly manipulated by overly creative twists and turns, very wordy or awkward phrasing, and abruptly surprising endings. A clever turn in the story is best when subtle. A skillful writer knows how to describe something well without bogging us down in too much detail.

There are a wide variety of genres here to suit my varying moods. I hope you will check out a few of these authors for yourself. Then let me know how you liked what you read!