John Meade Haines (1924–2011)

This is John Haines' memoir of his years homesteading in the Alaskan wilderness, chiefly during the 1950s and 60s, and with another stint in the 1980s. The book was pieced together from various essays, so it is less a straightforward chronological telling of his experiences, and more a series of impressions and anecdotes that share a common setting. Haines was chiefly a poet and so his prose is rich in imagery and not always directly to the point. That's okay, though, because the overall effect provides the reader with vivid snapshots of the pioneer life led by Haines and the men he came to know and learn from. It was a hard life, very much taken up with the business of survival: trapping, hunting, fishing, chopping wood. But it offered its own rewards, and Haines captures these beautifully.… (mere)

My only contact with John Haines was a obit in the New York Times. His obit fascinated me. The Cleveland Public Library had a selection of his books, but I chose this one as my first book connected with him. This is his last book before he passed away. I learned alot about the world of poetry and the poet by reading this. John is harsh on the current group of poets and professional poets. How he highlights what a good poet is and the current crop of poets is startling. His book covers talks, critical reviews, a interview and memoirs. After I finished reading the book, I felt that I just scratched the surface. If you are going to read John Haines work, start with this book first and work your way backward. You will be glad that you did.… (mere)