books

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

Image via Amazon.com
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)
A copy of “The Race Beat: the Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion office on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: The civil rights movement as told by journalists

The book is an extensive look at how coverage of the American civil rights movement changed public opinion

A copy of “The Race Beat: the Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion office on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Community Library children’s section is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Community Library children’s section is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Prince Harry’s “Spare” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Prince Harry’s “Spare” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Image via amazon.com

Off the Shelf: ‘Nature First’ and the simple life

The book is a collection of 25 essays about friluftsliv

Image via amazon.com
A copy of “The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family,” is photographed on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Slapstick comedy meets academic survey in novel ‘The Netanyahus’

While the work is presented as — largely — a work of fiction, there are elements of truth

A copy of “The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family,” is photographed on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Emily St. John Mandel's "Sea of Tranquility" rests in snow on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: ‘Sea of Tranquility’: An underwhelming and too soon look at the pandemic

I first added “Sea of Tranquility” to my to-read list after I saw Barack Obama post about it on Instagram. The former president has good… Continue reading

A copy of Emily St. John Mandel's "Sea of Tranquility" rests in snow on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)