As a long time Alaskan resident, I'm familiar with the ares in this book. The background, community and charcters are accurate and easily recognizable. The difficulties faced from within and from outside the tribes and remote villages set the scene for so many of the disagreements and discrepancies faced everyday. When the voices within you are too much to face, there are many places that will shelter you but finding the one that will calm the pressures of a society that does not respect the space of an individual is harder. Ward Serrill was lucky to find a place of solace and have a friend in his dog to provide the companionship everyone needs. This was a really good book that would find a welcome place in any library.

A memoir about the author's years he lived in Ketchikan, Alaska. His goal was to follow his heart and crack the world open and thought he could do that in Alaska away from his family. He worked for a logging company, started tourism in the area, and learned to stop running away from the anger and pain caused by his family.

This memoir was well-written but wasn't interesting enough to keep me fully engaged in reading. It was a very emotional read with some sad moments. I was happy that it ended on a positive note.

Thank you to NetGalley and Girl Friday Productions for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Ward Serrill moved from an office in Seattle to a remote Alaskan native village to work as an accountant. Seeking to escape people his experiment in self isolation allowed him to immerse himself in nature with a devoted Labrador puppy as his only companion. After ditching his job he devised a way for the Tlingit to pass on their native songs and dances and create an income. Along the way he discovered how much fear was ruling his life. I imagine the solitude gave him plenty of time to reflect on the past and created the opportunity to find himself.
I still can’t imagine what it would be like living somewhere it rains 27 days straight. At the same time it sounds an amazing area to live.
Also I love dogs and Woody was a huge part of Ward’s life. He sounds an amazing dog and my heart was in my mouth the day he went missing.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital advance reading copy of the book in return for an honest review.

A coming-of-age book, of sorts, in the wilderness around the remote town of Ketchikan, Alaska. A young man and his dog, Woody, spend years in relative isolation after his relationships with people in Ketchikan fray. Sixteen miles from town, he and Woody find a cabin and spend six years living alone - only travelling to town for supplies when necessary and for work - and coming to terms with himself.

Woody is a remarkable and constant companion, and this didn't have the ending I was expecting. The experience obviously had a profound impact on the author, writing decades after living it. Not a book I would normally read, but I couldn't resist that beautiful photo of Woody on the cover and, having limited experience of living (reasonably) remotely next door to Alaska in the Yukon, I was drawn to the northern experience.

A steady, enjoyable read over a few days.