books

A copy of “Two Old Women” is held inside the Peninsula Clarion offices on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ahlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Athabascan legend enchants, informs

The two women, shocked that they’ve been left behind by their family and friends, resolve that they will not resign themselves to death

A copy of “Two Old Women” is held inside the Peninsula Clarion offices on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ahlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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Off the Shelf: ‘The bard of the Yukon’ lures with ghostly song

Jaunty tales and folksy rhymes bring the far north to life in Robert Service’s poetry

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Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Great Alone” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Thursday in Kenai.
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Great Alone” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Thursday in Kenai.
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “Swallowed by the Great Land” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Thursday in Kenai.

Off the Shelf: Kantner offers a slice of the Arctic way of life

Seth Kantner’s “Swallowed by the Great Land” shows a reverence for his community

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “Swallowed by the Great Land” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Thursday in Kenai.
A copy of Charlie Stephens' "Passion Over Pain" rests in grass on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: ‘Passion’ begets fulfillment in personal story by local author

When I talked to retired teacher and local author Charlie Stephens about his book, “Passion Over Pain,” in early May, he said he wanted it… Continue reading

A copy of Charlie Stephens' "Passion Over Pain" rests in grass on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Childhood photos of Chris and Carine McCandless are displayed in "The Wild Truth," which lays in the Peninsula Clarion office on Thursday, June 29, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Chris McCandless in a new light

I get a lot of podcast recommendations from my friends who work in public radio. Sometimes the recommendation comes as a texted link to a… Continue reading

Childhood photos of Chris and Carine McCandless are displayed in "The Wild Truth," which lays in the Peninsula Clarion office on Thursday, June 29, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Tom Walker’s “The Wanderer: An Alaska Wolf’s Final Journey” is held in The Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday, June 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Take a walk on the wolf side

“The Wanderer: An Alaska Wolf’s Final Journey,” is the latest book from Alaska writer and photographer Tom Walker

A copy of Tom Walker’s “The Wanderer: An Alaska Wolf’s Final Journey” is held in The Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday, June 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
“A Thousand Cabbages and other poems” by Mary Mullen. Published by Hardscratch Press, 2023. (Promotional photo)

Taking a wider view

‘A Thousand Cabbages and other poems’ sweeps across time and distance in Mullen’s second outing

“A Thousand Cabbages and other poems” by Mary Mullen. Published by Hardscratch Press, 2023. (Promotional photo)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of H Warren’s “Binded” is held in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday.

Off the Shelf: Political resistance bound to the personal

“Binded,” a new poetry anthology by Alaska author, confronts nonbinary, rural existence

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of H Warren’s “Binded” is held in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday.
Image via Amazon.com

Off the Shelf: A glimpse inside ‘One Man’s Wilderness’

Richard Proenneke first visited Twin Lakes, located in the park on the west side of Cook Inlet, in 1962

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A copy of Olga Ravn’s “The Employees” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday, May 4, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Surreal, subversive, succinct

“The Employees” explores more than space in science fiction novella

A copy of Olga Ravn’s “The Employees” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday, May 4, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Charlie Stephens sits with a copy of his book, "Passion Over Pain" on Monday, May 1, 2023, in the Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Telling his story

Local author looks back at cancer and recovery

Charlie Stephens sits with a copy of his book, "Passion Over Pain" on Monday, May 1, 2023, in the Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Daniel Sherrell’s “Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of our World” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Daniel Sherrell’s “Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of our World” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Samanta Schweblin’s “Fever Dream” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Horror novella rethinks presentation of environmental disasters

“Fever Dream” begs the question of what is the most effective way to communicate the implications of environmental harm

A copy of Samanta Schweblin’s “Fever Dream” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
John Messick’s “Compass Lines” is displayed at the Kenai Peninsula College Bookstore in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Messick reflects on path forward in ‘Compass Lines’

“Compass Lines,” a new book by John Messick, a local writer and Assistant Professor of Writing at Kenai Peninsula College, is something he describes as… Continue reading

John Messick’s “Compass Lines” is displayed at the Kenai Peninsula College Bookstore in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The author holds a copy of Greta Thunberg’s, “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference,” inside the Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Thunberg speeches pack a punch

“No One Is Too Small to Make A Difference” is a compilation of 16 essays given by the climate activist

The author holds a copy of Greta Thunberg’s, “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference,” inside the Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
A copy of Marie Aubert’s “Grown Ups” sits on a desk in The Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday in Kenai.

Off the Shelf: Good for her

Marie Aubert’s “Grown Ups” caught my attention with a flashy cover and a review from Independent Ireland on the cover

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
A copy of Marie Aubert’s “Grown Ups” sits on a desk in The Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday in Kenai.
Soldotna Elementary students check out with their books on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at River City Books in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Building ‘personal libraries’

Soldotna Elementary students take home reading from River City Books

Soldotna Elementary students check out with their books on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at River City Books in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
The column author holds a copy of “The Truths We Carry” on Wednesday near Soldotna.

Off the Shelf: Harris memoir rings hollow

As Black History Month prepares to give way to Women’s History Month, last week felt like a perfect time to pick up a book that’s… Continue reading

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
The column author holds a copy of “The Truths We Carry” on Wednesday near Soldotna.
Luke Karpic and Oscar Marcou smile as they write their response to a question posed during Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Middle School Battle of the Books competition on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at Kenai Middle School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Luke Karpic and Oscar Marcou smile as they write their response to a question posed during Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Middle School Battle of the Books competition on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at Kenai Middle School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)