The Alaskan Retreater's Notebook

January 1, 2016
In 1978, Ordorica packed up and moved north to live full time for three years in a 12-by-16-foot cabin overlooking Lake Louise. A freelance writer, Ordorica maintained careful notes during his time in the bush, which he drew heavily from for this combination of nature memoir and guidebook to life in Alaska, illustrated with the author's photographs. His expertise in firearms is particularly evident in the chapter Guns for the Last Pioneers, but a variety of other timely topics ranging from clothing to supplies to tools is also well covered in a manner that will be helpful to those seeking to successfully emulate his wilderness lifestyle. Readers expecting typical hunting stories will find, instead, that while Ordorica hunted and trapped as needed, he was far more involved in observing and learning from nature. Specifically, his affection for a cross fox he named Cookie is reminiscent of Gavin Maxwell's now-classic Ring of Bright Water (1961), though with a happy ending. Dedicated fans of Alaska reality-television shows will enjoy this look at real life in the forty-ninth state.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)