Eruption

Jonathan Yen lends a lively spirit to this account of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. His jauntiness contrasts with the dark violence of the volcano, but perhaps it is a suitable tribute to the 57 people who were killed while doing what they loved: studying geology, taking photos, hiking, and camping. As Yen narrates the extensive history of the Weyerhaeuser company and its role on the mountain, his occasionally cynical tone reflects the author's antibusiness perspective. Yen voices quotations from a half-dozen American presidents with mostly passable inflections and a couple of misses. Both Yen and the author truly shine in bringing to life the remarkable stories of those who witnessed the eruption at close range, some of whom survived to tell the tale. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

July 1, 2016

Fifty-seven people lost their lives on May 18, 1980, when Washington State's Mount St. Helens erupted with catastrophic force. National Book Award finalist (Mapping Human History) Olson tells the story of this tragic event using personal narratives of survivors and other primary documents. Olson solidly builds tension as he places the survivors and victims in their locations prior to the eruption. The actual eruption is brilliantly narrated; the listener is taken from one locale to another as events unfold and tragedy strikes some and others are saved by sheer luck and instinct. The environmental policies, scientific achievements, and geological knowledge gained complete the book. The ideology of environmental preservation and conservation is a major theme throughout, which adds another layer. The decision by Olson to spend nearly a quarter of the audiobook tracing the history of the lumber industry in general and the Weyerhaeuser Company in particular will likely disrupt the narrative flow for most listeners but will not ruin the experience. Jonathan Yen reads expertly. VERDICT Fans of Olson's previous work, geology, natural disasters, and the Pacific Northwest will find this audiobook worthy of their time.--Jason L. Steagall, Gateway Technical Coll. Lib., Elkhorn, WI

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.