This was a nonfiction book/memoir about small town Alaskan politics, and I really enjoyed it. I rarely read/listen to nonfiction, but this made me think I should do it more often.

CW: sexual abuse, death, suicide, rape, car accident

I had a bit of trouble getting through the ebook, so I switched to the audiobook, which I quite enjoyed. This book is perfect for folks who want to learn more about the ups and downs of small town politics. It was interesting to see how being on the assembly impacted the author's relationships with other folks in her town, both politically and personally.

Heather Lende is a compassionate, insightful author, and this book is filled with the smarts and charm we've come to expect from this talented author. If we've learned anything since the disastrous 2016 election, it's that all of us need to be more involved and invested in politics at the local level — women get the job done. This is an encouraging, uplifting, and enjoyable read with lots of heart and just enough teeth.

I enjoyed Of Bears and Ballots - a glimpse of small town politics in Alaska. Heather Lende shares what it was like to run for and serve as assemblywoman in Haines - a town that is 4 hours from the closest city.

I read this the day after the vice presidential debate and a month out from the 2020 election. The national political scene was always at the top of my mind as I listened and was reminded of the critical importance for everyone voting for their local government as well. I also thought a lot about Kamala Harris’s wonderful performance in the debate last night and the extra challenges for female politicians.

There were times I was frustrated by Lende’s choices but I appreciate her honesty and self reflection - and a lot of moments when she could see how she would handle something differently in hindsight. I’m glad I heard her perspective and would just really urge every person reading this who is eligible to VOTE.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free reading copy.

This review was originally posted on the New York Journal of Books (https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com).

Heather Lende offers a down-to-earth account of life in local politics in her fourth book set in Haines, her small Alaska town. Lende decided to run for her borough assembly during the circus-like 2016 election, and she occasionally ties her experiences to the polarized national political climate. Mostly, though, this book stays hyper-local, focused on the mundane happenings of the Haines Borough Assembly.

Lende, a registered Democrat, defines Haines politics as a mixed bag that defies normal stereotypes. “Candidates don’t run on a party platform, and a so-called liberal may not want to pay more taxes for trash pickup because they recycle and compost everything, while a so-called conservative might because they are tired of illegal dumping near the river where they hunt moose.”

The six-member Haines Borough Assembly represents the small town of Haines and the surrounding area, home to roughly 2,500 people. Lende describes the thrill of winning the seat (with a grand total of 501 votes), and the painful process of finding her footing on the assembly, an eclectic group of strong personalities regulated by an archaic set of rules.

While Robert’s Rules initially confound Lende, she eventually learns to embrace them. As politics in the country and her small town become more volatile, Robert’s Rules enforce measured civility. Lende explains that “legislating comes down to actions made through motions, seconds, and votes. I know that sounds like wonky talk, but it’s true. Now more than ever it is important to have high standards for civil public engagement.”

In chapters that feel like diary entries, including both workaday details and the author’s emotional state, Of Bears and Ballots meanders through Lende’s three-year term without much of a story arc. The most dramatic event is the attempt to recall Lende and two other assembly members for allegedly breaking the assembly’s communication rules.

The recall is an example of a politically driven maneuver that accomplishes nothing but wastes plenty of time. For Lende in her small hometown, it was a brutally personal attack. She knew the people who voted for and against her recall. Though the recall failed, it left Lende worse for wear, hurt and confused about why long-time friends and acquaintances had turned on her.

At its best, the book showcases Lende’s folksy style and keen understanding of her small town’s culture. She writes, “In Haines, if you complain too much about anything, from the decorations at the high school prom to the timing of the annual spring trash cleanup, then you will be invited to organize it the following year.”

This book will likely appeal more to Lende’s existing fans than to new readers, who are better off starting with her earlier books that deal with more lively topics.

I have enjoyed all of the books Lende has written about life in rural Alaska but this one is extra special. This book has insight into politics in a small town. When so many of us are merely complaining about what is wrong with America, Lende sets out to do something. She runs for a seat on the town assembly board and wins! Then her education begins.

Civil discourse is so important and Lende shows what happens when it starts to break down and our neighbors begin to say things about us.

I recommend this highly. The book reminds us about how we are all interdependent; we are all in this together and we have to live and work with our neighbors.

From BookGems.co:
I appreciated that the entire book felt like a conversation with a friend – a bit of jumping around and a few rabbit holes, but completely relatable and real. Lende’s rural life leaps off the pages, and characters like Big Don, Pizza Joe, and others who make assembly meetings vibrant political events. But the lessons that Lende learns over her term as an assembly member are lessons from which we can call benefit.

While politics take center stage, and the turmoil that arises when individuals remove the individual from the political equation is emphasized, Lende consistently circles back to the power of human relationships. Yes, her stories from the assembly meetings show the progress of her political career and her continued growth as a community, but Lende’s keen awareness of the power of individual connections is at the heart of the book. Stories about whether a tour company contract should continue in spite of safety concerns, or how posthumous allegations of sexual assault by a town legend should be handled, carry with them introspective lessons to which we can all relate.

Given that Lende is a grandmother in a small town, her stories can be charming and relatable, but some younger readers may struggle to find themselves in the stories. Persisting through the moments that may seem irrelevant will allow for glimmers of the truly irreverent to emerge.

Tiny Haines Alaska, perhaps you’ve been there on a cruise? Quaint and beautiful, it might look like the ideal place to live. Heather Lende ran for office there, and in this recollection, you’ll learn even a tiny town political disputes cause tension. Here the debates range from expansion of the fishing boat harbor to controlling bears digging through the garbage. But most of all it shows how the polarizing of politics has impacted Haines. Lende has been on NPR, so you know this is a good book. She’s the obituary writer for the local paper and has a knack for letter readers know about her town through the stories she tells. Of course, the characters who live there are real characters in every sense of the word “character”.

The author's journey to an election victory with $1,000 is inspiring, but her whole journey to office and what she accomplishes is even more so. I love that she wrote such an honest look at how small-town politics work.

All government is local is the saying and Of Bears and Ballots perfectly captures the dynamics of local governance. You might think a small-town government is simple and quaint, but Heather Lende demonstrates that it can also be cutting, volatile, and toxically personal. Lende's style is conversational and engaging which nicely illustrates the town of Haines and all its character and character. As a PA major, I appreciated the administrative elements, and having grown up in a small PNW town I could identify with the environment.
Of Bears and Ballots is about politics, but focuses on the good and not so much on its negativity. This may be a bit too pollyannish in places, but if you love a feel-good story about good people then you will enjoy this story.

In the same year orange man was running for president, Lende was one of the many women wanting to take part in politics. Lende started a campaign for assembly woman in Haines, Alaska. A small populated town. Despite never running for politics and there being many others running as well. Lende was victorious after all Lende was a advocate for her community.

I will be honest this wasn't a story I normally read. Well, politics anyway. I think they're boring, but it was interesting to see her journey into politics. As we should see more women do (good ones anyway). Thank you to NetGalley and Algoquin books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Heather Lende lives in a small Alaskan town called Haines. She is the obituary writer for the town's newspaper and as such she gets to know most of the people she shares the town with. Her husband runs a lumber business and her children grew up to be in the education business, along with other occupations. In such a small town, everyone depends on others to help and everyone pretty much knows everyone else.

Lende feels the need to do more than write books and be interviewed on NPR. She decides to run for the position of being one of six people on the town assembly board. She didn't spend much on her campaign; she felt that after all her time living there, everyone pretty much knew her and her progressive policies. Much to her surprise, she won one of the seats up for election as did the owner of the newspaper.

This book talks about what governing is really like, how it is often better to listen than to be the first one speaking or the loudest one. For each issue, she has to balance her own position against what those who elected her feel is best. She was shocked to see that sometimes, people she had considered friends for years, were against what she honestly thought was best, and would say or do things that were hurtful to her.

The best example of this was the recall election. One of the biggest issues in Haines was the renovation of the town bay and port. There were those who were determined to push their idea through stating that it was good for business and there were others who were hesitant to make the changes wondering about the environmental effect. There was also the issue over hiring someone in the local government to oversee various construction projects. When Heather, her editor friend and a third member voted to hire someone other than the local favorite, they soon faced a recall election. It was heart-wrenching for her to realize that there were enough people who thought she had done a poor job to get the recall on the election cycle or that she had misused her position.

Lende has written a series of books about her life in Haines and I've enjoyed every one of them. The dependent nature of living in such an environment and needing to rely on those around you is clear in everything she writes. This book shows a naive and vulnerable side of Lende that her earlier books did not but the stories she tells are familiar to those of us who fought politics in jobs and on issues. Her ability to withstand the storms and learn a series of lessons from this time is interesting and informative. This book is recommended for memoir readers.

Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics is an autobiography you are going to want to read.

Heather Lende was so inspired to take on politics that she ran an entire campaign and won in less than $1,000 despite a stiff competition of 9 candidates for 3 open seats in Haines Borough, Alaska.

I enjoyed this non-fiction political autobiography of Lende, an obituary writer for a local newspaper. From small town issues to issues that reached nationwide attention like the seizure, and the legalization of marijuana, this book had it all that made this such an interesting read for me.

I loved learning about running the politics of this small Alaskan town with all the issues Lende was faced with.

This book was definitely a read that I learned a lot from and was also highly entertaining. I recommend this for a quick read that is most relevant and eye opening.

I really am glad to have had a chance to read this book.

Heather Lende, the author, has been a resident of Haines, a small town in Alaska, for most of her adult life. She’s written a few books about her life there.

Lende knew what she was getting into when she ran for a position as an assembly member. Her husband had been an assembly member years earlier, and she had friends who were assembly members. Her book wasn’t so much about being an assembly member as it was about her perspective. She speculates that the climate of politics has gotten nastier as poor behavior has become more acceptable at higher levels. While observing this, she doesn’t want the negativity to outweigh all her positive relationships with other citizens of Haines who may not share political viewpoints, but still have to share their small town.

The best part about this book was Lende’s positive, yet realistic outlook. She shared some of the notes she made to herself for dealing with opposition in the assembly meetings. ‘Think, wait, and be quiet.’ She learned quickly that things she said that felt totally right would be taken differently by someone with a different perspective. The way she told it all made patience and grace sound like something that could help everyone.

Overall, I’d give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I’d recommend it for anyone who wants to find a better view of the world through new eyes.

Heather Lende, with the style and wit of Erma Bombeck, gives an account of life and politics in Haines, Alaska in Of Bears and Ballots. Her normal job of writing the obituaries for the local newspaper does not quite prepare her for the controversial role of she will play as assembly member after she runs and is elected. The organization of her book has an essay on either one aspect of the community or her job followed by a few lines from the agenda of the assembly meeting.

A hint of her writing style comes from this line: “Sometimes, when I’m frustrated with a burly man in work boots and a pro-mining bumper sticker on his truck who says he’s against funding the library, I imagine trouncing him in a bike race. Will I ever grow up?”

A few of her interesting agenda topics were:
• Winterfest was a great success despite the storm-related road and ferry closures and the basketball games conflict.
• Further ways to fund an outhouse without state management will be researched. It was also agreed that if an outhouse is installed, there should be some bear-proof trash cans.
• Education has been cut, and they are asking the ferry system to generate more revenue. Tourism and seafood marketing have been funded to last year’s level.

The town is accessible to the nearest city, Juneau, only by boat or plane. The population is made up of what Heather refers to as natives and newcomers who now live together in Haines. She gives historical background of the abuse of the natives, Tlinglit people, whose children were taken from them into orphanages, where they were not allowed to speak their native tongue or observe their cultural patterns. She quotes Ernestine Hayes, who wrote a memoir about her own growing up in an old Juneau village, and was asked by a newcomer if he also was loved by this land. She replied, “Yes, the land loves those who love it back.” I particularly liked her analogy for the chapter called “Looking in a Broken Mirror” with a story of using only the small pieces of a broken mirror to find the truth of a long held community secret that needed to be seen.

Threaded through very definite political opinions, she keeps her relationships steady even with those who are politically opposite – lesson for the times. The city of Haines reflects the political polarization of the times with an exception that we might learn from. She says the city is like a large dysfunctional family that disagrees in the public hearing before sharing a pew at the funeral. The book is both enjoyable and informative.

I was excited to get a copy of this book, it sounded really good. However, it really fell short of my expectations. I felt what the author gave us was extremely superficial. It was short and easy to get through, but there was nothing special about this.

Thank you to @algonquinbooks for sending over an ebook arc!

Of Bears and Ballots follows newly elected Haines, Alaska Town Council Assemblywoman Heather Lende as she navigates small-town politics and the occasional run-in with Alaskan wildlife after years of writing for obituaries for the local newspaper. Effecting change is no easy task, even in tiny yet beautiful Haines, Alaska. With the ups and downs, Lende lends her voice, honesty, and vulnerability to a community of her family, friends, and neighbors that teeters on polarization as a byproduct of small-town life and national partisanship.

Quick, insightful, and at times funny with drama always close by, Of Bears and Ballots is not only a love letter to Haines, local politics, and public service, but a timely reminder of the importance of voting at all levels of government.

I kindly received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a review. I really enjoyed the previous book by this author, but I was not able to finish this one. It was too slow and I just did not love it. Such a small town and I normally love that setting, but this one just was not for me.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics

Author: Heather Lende

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: Political lovers, autobiography

Publication Date: June 30, 2020

Genre: Politics

Recommended Age: 17+ (politics, language)

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Pages: 288

Synopsis: In the same year that Donald Trump was elected president, Heather Lende was one of the thousands of women inspired to take a more active role in politics. Some of them, like Lende, had never run for office before but now felt called to serve. Lende’s entire campaign for assemblywoman in Haines, Alaska (pop. 2500) cost less than 1000 dollars. The competition was actually stiff—there were nine candidates for three open seats—but Heather prevailed.

Review: While this isn’t my normal genre to read I thought this was a really interesting read. I liked how Heather became interested in politics and I loved how we saw her journey throughout this book. The writing was really well done.

My only complaint is that the book was a bit slow in the beginning and in a few middle parts. However, the book sped up towards the end!

Verdict: Would recommend for non-fiction politics lovers.

Reminiscent of The American President, To A Point. This is a tale of a small town grandmother's one and only City Council run in a small rural Alaskan town that happens to have a couple of major connections: It is the home of Glacier Point -a major Alaskan cruise stop -and it is the hometown of Parker Schnabel of Discovery Channel's Gold Rush family of shows. Both of which actually play heavily into the narrative here, as they both came up repeatedly in Lende's singular three year term from 2016 - 2019.

Overall Lende is at times hopeful, at other times remorseful, and at still others a bit wistful. In both her politics and her overruling desire for basic decency, she even manages to evoke Michael Douglas' portrayal of President Andrew Shepherd in The American President, again, at least to a point. She manages to be seemingly honest about at least her thoughts and motivations during the various events and controversies of the three years, and in so doing provides an insight into what being on a small town City Council really can be like. Very much recommended.