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I'm a Barry Lopez first time reader and never had I imagined I would enjoy so much reading about the arctic. Barry has a poetic way to describing nature and all that I read amazed me. Bravo. I will start checking out his other titles.
However, as a history of arctic exploration it is sadly flawed. This book is a lyrical reflection on the oneness of nature and mankind's troubled relationship with it. It is recommended for anyone contemplating a journey to the higher latitudes. The two chapters on early journeys of discovery and the quest for the northwest passage are chronologically jumbled. Furthermore, the inexplicable and virtually complete neglect of Amundson - including his learning from Eskimos - leaves one wondering what other omissions may have tilted the balance of Lopez's otherwise thought-provoking writing.
I bought this book while in the tourist center at McKinley National Park in Alaska because of the chapter on Polar Bears (someone at the desk recommended it to me). And the writing is never mundane. There are enough facts to educate without being a burden, and enough of Lopez's voice to carry the imagination to remote arctic islands, or on an early expedition, or simply to a prarie to watch the arctic fox. This is one of the most rewarding books I've ever read. Arctic Dreams is a masterpiece that will educate the mind and the heart. It's one of very few books that I'll read more than once. I have found this book to be amazing. It reads as a narration, as though you were sitting around a campfire while Lopez talks of the arctic.
Lopez's writing creates a desire to know more, to research more, and to experience the arctic for oneself. Reading Arctic Dreams is like going on a journey to the Arctic in an airplane, equipped with a microscope, where in general you get a broad picture, but on certain topics (narwhals, polar bears, etc) you have a living speciman to study. And when a question arises about something in particular, Lopez address it, answering both the scientific and the introspective questions at the same time. I couldn't recommend it enough.
Arctic Dreams was published 20 years ago, and while the science needs updating (an Arctic scientist recently shared with me), the rest of the book is timeless. I have bought at least 20 copies over the years to give to friends and relatives. Arctic Dreams is the most extraordinary book I've ever read. He explores the language needs of the people who work to survive in their often harsh environment. B. Who knew there were so many kinds of ice. It took me a long time to read the whole book because often I would stop to ponder something I had just read.
Anyone interested in the Arctic would love this book. Lopez not only has the insights that make the Arctic come alive, but he expresses those insights in the most elegant prose. I still return to the book to reread passages or favorite chapters. Not only does the author describe the "land", but he describes the culture of the people whose lives are intertwined with the land, as well as the influences and politics that have changed their way of life forever. Those languages are primarily verb rich as opposed to English which is noun based. I would guess that someone with patience but not interested in the Arctic would become fascinated by the challenge to experience the Arctic in ways never imagined. Vesper 11/07
I would, sincerely, rather scrape linoleum tile off of a concrete slab than read any more Barry Lopez.
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