The Stars, The Snow, The Fire, by John Haines

Originally published in 1977. 182 p.

Rating: 4.2 stars

Summary: A collection of essays about Haines time in Alaska. The essays describe the hunting/trapping lifestyle, homesteading in the wilderness, local stories (legend and factual ones), and the surrounding environment.

Review: John Haines is a pretty impressive guy. He writes award winning poetry, and yet still manages to make a living in Alaska by trapping and selling furs. And then writes a book about it.

Haines is clearly an accomplished writer, which if you see the reviews for Into the Wild and One Man’s Wilderness (the other 2 books I read in preparation for my trip to Alaska in a week and a half,) I really care about. Haines doesn’t get the award for most interesting book (Into the Wild receives that award, thanks to Chris McCandless,) but it was the most enjoyable to read. When he waxes poetic (which he does often,) it is subdued and dreamy and is not overkill or badly done. He reflects quite often in his essays, generally for the last page or so of many of the essays, but sometimes the entire essay will be a reflection on something.

Haines is also really good at telling the local stories through the other Alaskan homesteaders that he comes across. He describes the storyteller’s personality and physicality, and the scene of a few guys telling stories over beer and ciggies at the local (read: only) roadhouse, and then moves right into the story. Some of them are creepy but very interesting, such as the “Sack of Bones” essay. That essay actually came right after the essay entitled “Lost” and follows the same theme. As you might surmise from the title, the essays are about people who got “lost” in Alaska, i.e. they died. In “Sack of Bones,” there is almost assuredly an unsolved murder. In the midst of all the snow and ice and slaughtering animals, it was a nice change of pace.

My biggest complaint about the book is the back cover. Those who wrote the pieces of text on the back mislead me into understanding what the book was going to be about. No where on the back cover does it say that this book is a collection of essays, unrelated to each other except for the Alaskan theme. Not only this, but the book was called a memoir. So, imagine my confusion when there is no linear story, just strung together thoughts. Had I known it was only supposed to be essays, I would not have looked for a specific connection between the stories, and I think I would have had an easier time of it. When I did realize that the book was unrelated essays, the reading became much nicer and easier.

Haines really does have a gift for beautiful writing. If you are at all interested in Alaskan adventures, this would be a good book to pick up. Or, if you are looking for something a bit different than the daily fare that the bookstores offer, this might be a good choice for you. I do have one disclaimer on my recommendation to read this book, though. Do not read it if you don’t have a strong stomach; he does graphically describe clubbing animals for their furs, and carving up animals for supper. Even if you do have a strong stomach, do not eat anything while reading this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who has even the slightest interest in the subject or just in good writing in general.