Just finished listening to a Dana Stabenow book on CD, "Whisper to the Blood". This is one of her Kate Shugak novels. I've been reading those books for the past several years, and have really learned to enjoy learning about life in Alaska. Stabenow must have real life experience with Alaskan life at least it sounds pretty real to this Iowan.
Main character Kate is an 30-something Aleut - a native Alaskan who lives on a 160 acre farmstead in a generic park (Alaska is full of National Parks) with her half wolf dog Mutt, Johnny the 16 year old kid she's guardian to and Jim, her Park Ranger honey. The people who live in this area call themselves Park Rats.
The book narrator was very good, and I greatly enjoyed the way she read the author's narratives from Kate's Aleut aunties. English is a second language to them, and they are very tight-lipped besides having their own particular way of expressing themselves.
I like hearing about how Mutt, the dog is so wise. When they ride the "snow go" together, Mutt gently grips Kate's parka with her teeth. The author is also good at describing people and their personalities. In this book, Kate stops to check in on an elderly proud man whose sons have pretty much left him alone in rural Alaska with little food. Softy Kate stops back later, sneaking supplies onto his porch and driving off without awaiting acknowledgement.
The main story line (there are lots of little dramas going on) is that a big mining company has struck gold and copper in the area. A mine will bring lots of jobs to the area, but will also have repercussions. Two murders happen during the course of the book, and a group of marauding snowmobilers are ripping off people moving supplies along the river. They make the mistake of hitting Kate's boy Johnny and his friends. Also...Kate has been drafted to head up the Native Association Council. By the end of the book, one almost feels like you know the people of this village.
Yep, the sex is hot too. Ranger Jim is a ladies man, but he's fallen mightily for this self-assured and sexy woman. Jim calls himself a "dog", but avoids falling in bed with a sexy woman representing a mining company courting the area.
This series is becoming one of my long-running faves.
Main character Kate is an 30-something Aleut - a native Alaskan who lives on a 160 acre farmstead in a generic park (Alaska is full of National Parks) with her half wolf dog Mutt, Johnny the 16 year old kid she's guardian to and Jim, her Park Ranger honey. The people who live in this area call themselves Park Rats.
The book narrator was very good, and I greatly enjoyed the way she read the author's narratives from Kate's Aleut aunties. English is a second language to them, and they are very tight-lipped besides having their own particular way of expressing themselves.
I like hearing about how Mutt, the dog is so wise. When they ride the "snow go" together, Mutt gently grips Kate's parka with her teeth. The author is also good at describing people and their personalities. In this book, Kate stops to check in on an elderly proud man whose sons have pretty much left him alone in rural Alaska with little food. Softy Kate stops back later, sneaking supplies onto his porch and driving off without awaiting acknowledgement.
The main story line (there are lots of little dramas going on) is that a big mining company has struck gold and copper in the area. A mine will bring lots of jobs to the area, but will also have repercussions. Two murders happen during the course of the book, and a group of marauding snowmobilers are ripping off people moving supplies along the river. They make the mistake of hitting Kate's boy Johnny and his friends. Also...Kate has been drafted to head up the Native Association Council. By the end of the book, one almost feels like you know the people of this village.
Yep, the sex is hot too. Ranger Jim is a ladies man, but he's fallen mightily for this self-assured and sexy woman. Jim calls himself a "dog", but avoids falling in bed with a sexy woman representing a mining company courting the area.
This series is becoming one of my long-running faves.
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