This book surprised me in a good way! I must admit that title and cover drew me in at first 🐻 Kudos to this 🇨🇦 author that really poured her heart and soul into this book ❤️‍🩹

It's an interesting and clever telling. Claire explains about her Father's death and her own devastating cancer diagnosis. She's always had a love of the outdoors and wilderness and in particular bears. This time that love will help her grieve and empower her. There was a black bear attack in one of Canada's National Parks (Algonquin Park in Ontario) in 1991 that has always stayed with her. She goes on a quest to try to understand and find out what really happened. Also we have a third POV and that is of the bear and Claire's imaginings of what might have happened to provoke the attack.

I was lucky to receive both a digital and audiobook copy of this book. I enjoy camping to an extent but I've never been really outdoorsy so this book really surprised me. I couldn't put it down or stop listening to it. I even googled more about the bear attack in 1991 as the book had piqued my interest.

There's so much good research and information in this book. I learned the difference between a grizzly and black bear. I also didn't realize just how similar bears can be to humans. There's also a lot of information about other attacks all over North America. If you love the great parks of Yosemite, Yellowstone or Algonquin (or any other Great Wilderness area) you will most likely enjoy this story.

Publishes March 25, 2025

I'd like to Kindly thank Penguin Random House Canada for granting me access to the digital and audiobook Advanced copies.

Claire shares a wealth of fascinating information - bears, nature camping- and her descriptive writing creates wonderful visuals. The storyline, however, seemed disjointed and jumped around. Between the bear stories and the cancer stories there’s a lot going on.
I enjoyed learning so much about bears and Algonquin Park.
Although the pacing of the narration is uneven, and choppy at times, it is clear. I would recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys stories about nature and the great/wild outdoors.
(2.5 rounded up to 3/5)
Thank You to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada Audiobooks (Knopf Canada) for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of this ARC.

For nature lovers, hikers and campers this memoir is a comprehensive guide to bears and a love letter to the joys of the wilderness, interwoven with author Claire Cameron's own personal life experiences that threaten to end her enjoyment of the outdoors. An interesting twist on a memoir and full of Canadiana which was what first pulled me in. For me personally, it was a lot like a nature documentary and I am not an outdoor person. The perspective of the bear felt out of place in a memoir adding an element of fiction again bending the memoir genere. The audio, voiced by the author, felt conversational and was well done, at turns feeling personal and others documentarial.

Thank you to Net Galley for the audio version of How to Survive a Bear Attack. As I had previously read The Bear by Claire Cameron, and as an occasional off-season camper, I was intrigued to listen to her latest memoir/crime scene investigation novel. Narrated by the author, Claire delves into the bear attack in Algonquin Park years ago, while surviving her bout with cancer. I did learn quite a bit about black bears, and also, how to protect myself should I encounter one. The most important.. Always carry Bear Spray.

How to Survive a bear attack is a Memoir by Claire Cameron.
It focuses on a black bear attack of a Canadian couple in 1991 on the outskirts of Toronto Ontario In Algonquin park which is 3,000 square miles consisting of 2400 rivers and streams.

In the Book Cameron covers her diagnosis of genetic mutation that unfortunately gave her cancer.
which unfortunately out a stop to her outdoor activities, which as a outdoorswoman it really put a damper on her daily life.

She took an interest in the bear attacks because much like her genetic mutation were rare and unusual.
She found she was able to cope with her loss as well as diagnosis with the bears subsequent killings.

I love Claire Cameron’s writings and was able to relate to her as I myself have a love for camping and the outdoors.
I was blessed to be born and raised within the outdoors and too had my share of encounters with wild animals such as black bear, grizzly bear, wolves, coyotes, etc.

I hope you give her book a read or a listen, and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.

Thank you again to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to have an arc of “How to survive a bear attack”

3.25⭐️I picked this one up because I live in bear country and my family loves hiking (always with a bear spray), but to be honest I had no way what to expect and whatever it was it wasn’t it.

This book is told from 3 timelines which for the audiobook was a little confusing at first.

The book goes back between her own experiences with wild life, her battle with cancer and the true crime aspect following the couple who was attacked by a black bear. Some of it told from the bear’s point of view. The further I got into this book, the more I felt pulled in.

I really enjoyed the the book was narrated by the author. Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf Canada and the author Claire Cameron for the advanced listening copy, all my opinions are my own.

This memoir was so so good. As a lover of the great outdoors while also nein g equally cautious while in the outdoors, I loved all of the insight and history around bears and their behaviors, especially around their interactions with humans. But what really and truly left the biggest impact on me was Claire’s deeply personal journey around cancer after losing her dad to cancer. I have this exact same experience, but swap her melanoma for my breast cancer and truly I felt a kindred spirit. Her outlook on life and the limitations that continue post cancer (mental and how that can effect you physically) and relating that to her research in a bear attack really put into perspective how the things that we fear really might not be the things we should fear or prep for only. A stunning work of non-fiction and one that is entirely bingeable; I listened to the audiobook in one sitting! The author’s narration elevates her story and makes this memoir one that will be continually thought of as years pass by.

A moving memoir and story of a 1991 bear attack and the authors battle with cancer.
This is beautiful writing, lyrical and insightful. The history of the bears of Algonquin Park is fascinating and since I grew up in Toronto, I absolutely connected with this novel. It can be difficult to read as it documents bear attacks and the brutal killing of 2 campers but it's not done in a sensationalized way, it's necessary to ensure we get the whole picture.
The audiobook is wonderfully narrated by Claire Cameron herself. That the author tells her own story really brings emotion to the reading. i enjoyed it so much!
My rating is 4.5 rounded for GR
Thank you to #NetGalley and #KnopfCanada for the audiobook ARC in return for my honest review.

I did not expect to like this as much as I did.

I love reading books that are so close to home. This one takes place at Algonquin Park.

I found this to be so incredibly informative. There was so much I didn’t know about bears in general.

Not only does this cover the deadly bear attack in 1991, but Claire talks about so much more. At times it was a bit heavy but it was so well done.

I honestly can’t recommend this book enough.


Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada Audiobooks for an advanced audiobook. How to Survive a Bear Attack is available March 25.

I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, which I felt really lent itself to the subject matter.

“The most unknowable things are the ones that hold the attention over a lifetime. A mountain, ghosts, stars or bears. Mystery drives an endless curiosity.”

As soon as I saw what this book was about I knew I had to read it. Living near Algonquin (or at least in SW Ontario), I had heard about and also had a minor obsession with this bear attack (although not to the extent of the author; I kept my obsession to reading articles and watching videos and movies about it).

Claire’s description of a video of a black bear stalking a man is nightmare fodder. I’ve had nightmares of a bear hunting me before (inside my house) and now my brain has new content to fret over.

Claire’s story about the unlikely event of a predatory black bear attack seems like an allegory for her cancer diagnosis. It’s ironic and in a way tragic that she spent so much of her life focused on bears when the real danger eventually came from within her.

Her story about her diagnosis and the clarity with which she describes the human condition and inevitably of death brought me to tears.

“There can be a false sense of security in being human. My blue chair sat in a house made of brick.
When the winds blew, I didn’t feel them. Soon it would snow, and we’d stay warm inside the walls. The sun lowered and I summoned the light by flicking a switch. I could turn on a tap and watch clean water run. Our built environments feel so convincing, don’t they? But every now and then, something happens. A reminder. The mask of control slips to the side and there is a glimpse of what lies behind. We are subject to natural forces. We are delicate, vulnerable creatures no matter how much time we spend telling ourselves otherwise. Our teeth are blunt, our skin is thin, and our hearts flutter close to the surface. We are subject to the pull of the moon. We can be shifted by the tides and pushed by the wind. We burn under the sun. Time, people, love; they are fleeting. We are born, grow, and move across the land until we pass by.”

Her concern over a misused word in her novel The Bear (paddle vs. oar) and the proclivity to be concerned that it impacts the rest of the story, the snowball affect her thoughts take on, and the worry that there may be other things you were uninformed about felt so relatable to me. “I wondered if I knew anything at all.”

I also found extremely relatable (and probably to anyone who has lost a parent at a young age) the constant countdown to the moment where you are the age that they died. I haven’t made it there yet, but it’s always on my mind. I can only imagine the anxiety that comes with surpassing that age. “Every hour became urgent. By that time, I had lived three years longer than my dad. This felt like borrowed time.”

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

As Cameron reconstructs a tragic bear attack in Algonquin National Park she also pieces together her own story of life under the threat of cancer. With a beautiful mix of raw emotion and stark fact, a picture of the unpredictability of life and the importance of each moment becomes clear in her vulnerable voice but matter of fact telling.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada Audiobooks for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Claire Cameron's How to Survive a Bear Attack is a riveting blend of memoir, true crime, and nature writing that captures the reader from the very first page. Cameron expertly intertwines her personal journey of healing and discovery with the harrowing story of a rare bear attack, crafting a narrative that is both heart-wrenching and profoundly uplifting.

I dove into “How to Survive a Bear Attack” by Claire Cameron, like most books for me... not knowing much about story, with the exception of one or two minor details.

I noticed that this book had a large focus about a bear killing two people in Algonquin Park in 1991. This struck a personal note for me, I have memories of being in the park and it would have been close to that same year.

The story weaved a memoir and an investigation together. Trekking through the authors emotions, while diving into the details of bears and the outdoors. It felt like the perfect balance for those that love to learn about peoples lives and also learn new facts (obviously bears for this book) ;)

However, I would say that it leaned more towards a true crime investigation surrounding the bear attack, but I was ok with that. It was super interesting and made me ponder bears, parks, government, and so much more.

🎧 My brain consumed this book via my ears… so audiobook!

The book was narrated by the author, which is always so wonderful when it’s a memoir, the emotions really come through.

The pacing was good, maybe a bit on the slower side, but with the ability to speed up (or slow down) the audio, it’s never a real issue for me.

Personally I always listen on a faster speed. This book was played at x2 for the majority of the time (with the start being slower as I became accustomed to the authors voice).

Note:
Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC copy.

Claire Cameron's "How to Survive a Bear Attack" is a truly unique reading experience, blending memoir, true crime, and natural history into a compelling narrative that kept me turning the pages. It's not your typical "survival guide," but rather a thoughtful examination of the complex relationship between humans and bears, and, more profoundly, a meditation on survival itself.

Cameron's personal journey, interwoven with the harrowing stories of real-life bear encounters, provides a fascinating lens through which to understand these powerful animals. I particularly appreciated her nuanced approach to the subject, avoiding the common pitfall of demonizing the bear. Instead, she presents a balanced view, exploring the factors that contribute to conflict and highlighting the bear's inherent wildness.

What elevates this book beyond a simple exploration of bear encounters is Cameron's deeply personal connection to the subject. The bear attack she meticulously researches becomes a powerful metaphor for her own battle with cancer. Through the lens of the victims' struggles, she grapples with her own fear, vulnerability, and the primal instinct to survive. This introspective layer adds a profound emotional depth to the narrative, making it more than just a factual account; it's a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. The insights into bear behavior and ecology were illuminating, and I found myself pondering the delicate balance between human encroachment and wildlife preservation long after finishing the book.

I DNFed this book. Not because it was bad, but just that it was misrepresented and a bit all over the place.

This book is labelled as a memoir, which I guess it is, but the main story (and title of the book!) was about a bear attack that didn't happen to the author. It read more like a true crime novel that the author connected with based on her own story and experiences. And while there were memoir-esque parts of the book, it was more about the bear attack and treating that like a crime story.

I give it 2 stars and may come back to it one day, but it was not what I expected going into it.

As soon as I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read this book. I connected deeply with it as I too was obsessed with the bear attack in 1991 and I too was a counsellor in Algonquin Park in the early 90s. Additionally I also lost a parent to melanoma.

This book is so many things, it is the authors memoir as she grapples with the death of her dad when she was a very young child and her own cancer diagnosis. It is a true crime investigation into the attack on Lake Opeongo in Oct of 1991. It is also highly informative read educating us on bears in Canada. And lastly it is speculative fiction as we are sometimes in the head of the bear as he goes about his life in Algonquin Park and what could have led him to murdering the unsuspecting couple.

That sounds like a very hard list of different types of stories. Trust me they all connect, and they connect very well. Cameron's ability to switch between the various narratives is really impressive. And this was not hard to follow at all in the audio.

The common thread between all the different voices is bears, the bear as a metaphor for the effect cancer has had on her life, the actual bear and the informative information about bears.

The audio was excellent - I really liked the narration. It was easy to listen to.

While I feel that this book is a bit niche I have recommended it to all my camp friends and would also recommend it to anyone who feels connected to Algonquin Park and other wild lands of Canada.

This autobiography offers a fascinating blend of survival—both in the wild and through illness—alongside a deep love for bears and nature. I especially appreciated the wealth of knowledge about bears, including what may trigger them to attack. I learned a lot, and that aspect of the book was truly insightful.

However, while the author’s narration was decent, it didn’t fully draw me in. The emotional depth came through when she spoke about her father and family, but for the rest of the book, the delivery felt more like a straightforward reading rather than an engaging performance.

Additionally, I found the book’s flow somewhat disconnected. It didn’t have that gripping quality that made me eager to keep turning the pages. While the subject matter is compelling, the structure and pacing didn’t fully hold my attention.

Overall, this book offers valuable information and heartfelt moments, but it could have been more engaging in its storytelling.

Thank you to Claire Cameron, Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

5 FULL stars!

This book immediately had my full attention. The writing and narration was incredible and 1000% brought this book to life better than any book i've read recently. As a Canadian who lives only a few hours from Algonquin park it was easy enough to put myself in the authors shoes and understand exactly what she was describing.

highly recommend as a great Canadian author read.

I listen to this book while I was walking my dog and also while I was cooking.
The book is really good and I like the narrator. The speed of the story was just perfect.

I do recommend

Admittedly, yes. It was the title that drew me in and made me want to read Claire Cameron's How To Survive A Bear Attack.

Part memoir, part survival guide and part true crime (if nature is the criminal), this was a book I tore through. Breaking it down further, this is part Canadiana, part history, part heroism, and part acceptance. It is always, without a doubt, full fight.

I appreciated the comparison Cameron made between her own cancer struggles and those from individuals encountering bear attacks. The level of research put in comes across, as as does the love Cameron has for Algonquin Park and nature itself.

This audiobook is narrated by Cameron with notes read by Rachel Cairns; Cameron's narration had heart, depth, and emotion as she recounted both her own battles, and those of others, and I appreciated the sources sited within the notes.

I have purposefully not read many memoirs this part year, but this was one I couldn't pass up!

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada Audiobooks and Knopf Canada for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.