Shana P. (girlinthemoon) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 17 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
I felt disappointed that the author kept coming back to her active Christianity... granted, it's a big part of her life and her place in her town, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I wanted to like this book much more than I did. The descriptions about Alaskan rural life were interesting, and her family was likable, but I didn't feel a connection.
Michelle J. (mlbish) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
A comfortable, homey set of stories about Heather Lende's life in small-town Alaska. Lovely vignettes about lovely people. It will put a smile on your face (and maybe a tear in your eye).
Rachel M. (songtoisis) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 16 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
My husband and I brought this book along on our Alaskan cruise this past fall in order to get a sense for small-town life in the state. The author's accounts of her family's life within the community is eye-opening and richly detailed. Fascinating reading!
Judy M. (menzrob) - , reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 80 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
What a fun and interesting read! You wouldn't think that would be the case as the author writes the obituary column for her local paper, but she tells about the people and locale in such lovely way it's had to put the book down. This one will be passed around my family for a while!
Susan R. (Sue-in-AZ) -
Helpful Score: 4
Well written true stories with a personal twist to each one. A great inside peek into life in small town Alaska.
Since the author wrote obituaries for the local paper, she knew everyone in town. She tells their stories with plenty of generosity and a great deal of love. The big down-side: someone passes away in almost every story. Bring your kleenex - definitely an enjoyable and heartwarming read.
Since the author wrote obituaries for the local paper, she knew everyone in town. She tells their stories with plenty of generosity and a great deal of love. The big down-side: someone passes away in almost every story. Bring your kleenex - definitely an enjoyable and heartwarming read.
Lisa R. (lisarichards) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I loved this book from cover to cover! Heather has a gift for welcoming you into her world and making you care deeply about the people who live there.
As the obituary writer for her local paper and columnist for other papers she has a knack for telling a story. I found myself in tears, grieving with parents over the loss at sea of a young son when his fishing vessel sank in the cold Alaska waters. She also has a talent for making you laugh and feel warmly toward the many characters who populate her small Alaskan village. This book is chock full of real people living real lives, and she can make it fascinating. I've bookmarked her website so I can read more of her writing.
A very intriguing inside look at life in a small and fairly untamed Alaskan town. I highly reoommend it!
As the obituary writer for her local paper and columnist for other papers she has a knack for telling a story. I found myself in tears, grieving with parents over the loss at sea of a young son when his fishing vessel sank in the cold Alaska waters. She also has a talent for making you laugh and feel warmly toward the many characters who populate her small Alaskan village. This book is chock full of real people living real lives, and she can make it fascinating. I've bookmarked her website so I can read more of her writing.
A very intriguing inside look at life in a small and fairly untamed Alaskan town. I highly reoommend it!
Helpful Score: 3
Absolutely loved this book. It gives you a real flavor of what life is like in small-town Alaska. I disagree with other reviewer who felt she focused too much on religion - that would have turned me off. It is very well-written and entertaining. This is the kind of book that I had to pass on to friends when I finished reading it.
Ronda -
Helpful Score: 3
I enjoyed this book very much. Lende's book is as welcoming as the title. She makes you feel right at home.
Bonnie S. (Bonnie) -
Helpful Score: 2
Another memoir of life in the country told through essays. What I liked most about this book was its celebration, of Alaska, their town, but mostly their people. And, oddly, but perfectly, these folks were generally celebrated through their obituaries. At first I thought it odd, until I realized the author was the town's obit writer. And she did every single one of them honor. This book did not remind me as much of Northern Exposure as one would be lead to believe, but still, a fine read.
Leigh reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 378 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is an interesting collection of short anecdotes centered around the small town of Haines, Alaska. Each has a homey feel, complete with eccentric townspeople and quirky events; for instance, parading a Dragon around at Christmastime. It somewhat reminded me of an indy movie, mixed with an episode of "Northern Exposure." Some of the author's insights are well-written and beautiful (the last story, especially, about her dog - it ripped my heart out). A good deal of this writing contains run-on sentences. For a professional writer, I was shocked that she didn't edit this better.
What I enjoyed most about this book was its depiction of life in a small town through obituaries. The writer effectively communicated the joy of living in Haines using a series of obituaries she writes for the paper there. She includes a "Duly Noted" page between short chapters to give the reader a flavor of the town news in Haines.
What I enjoyed most about this book was its depiction of life in a small town through obituaries. The writer effectively communicated the joy of living in Haines using a series of obituaries she writes for the paper there. She includes a "Duly Noted" page between short chapters to give the reader a flavor of the town news in Haines.
Cinthia S. (cindymama) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 69 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I loved every word, every page. Reminds me of my home, in another part of remote Alaska! Lende's town is woven into her heart -- wonderful read from the first word to the last.
Donald K. (NjoyBoatn) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
An enjoyable read. An interesting way to really get a sense of what small town Alaska is like.
Anne M. (RobbieM) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 71 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is a special book. It describes a place and its people with such affection that you wish you could live there. The writing is superb. A keeper.
Kathy P. (taffy) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 120 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This author covers the obituary and social columns for the local paper in her secluded Alaskan town. Her book introduces some of the real characters in this small town.
Cindy B. (cynb22) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
sorry folks, i couldn't finish this book, it didn't capture my attention.
Wendy H. (inthearctic) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 16 more book reviews
Great book, especially if you've ever lived in a small town in Alaska!
Sonja M. (meri) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 39 more book reviews
The book is all about a mom living in Alaska and just basically being an obituary writer and a wife and mother. There seemed to be a lot of death in it, but let's face it, she is an obituary writer. I kind of had to remind myself of that. My bad. I didn't finish the book because it was kind of boring in that she just detailed characters and friends of hers, and I have lots of characters and friends of my own who are even more interesting.
Rachel H. reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 317 more book reviews
A fun read. You feel like you are sitting at the kitchen table with the author as she describes happenings in her family and small town Alaska.
Kim G. (kimmery) reviewed If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name : News from Small-Town Alaska on + 40 more book reviews
Loved it!!!
This is a lovely book, full of the joy, grief, humor, tragedy and irony of small-town living, topped off with the challenges of living in Alaska. Little newspaper snippets start each chapter, which reminded me very much of the local newspaper of my South Carolina hometown. People are people, no matter where you live.
I was shocked by a reviewer who was bothered by the Christianity in the book. There is no proselytizing - simply a message that while you can't always like one another, tolerating one another is good, and loving one another is even better.
I was shocked by a reviewer who was bothered by the Christianity in the book. There is no proselytizing - simply a message that while you can't always like one another, tolerating one another is good, and loving one another is even better.
Kimberly N. (kimberlyrav) -
This is full of little stories and nuggets of info about Haines, Alaska. Has several heartfelt stories too.
