Customer Reviews

The Blue Bear: A True Story of Friendship and Discovery in the Alaskan Wild

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sprinkled with interesting forays into Alaskan biology, history, culture, oceanography, the ups and downs of running a guide service, and the challenges, rewards, and hardships inherent with living in a place like Alaska, "The Blue Bear" is a book that defies categorization in many ways because it seems to be about so many different things, but Lynn Schooler writes with a clarity and depth of perspective which prevents the book from seeming trivial or glossed over. Some people are not patient with books which plunge into a section or chapter that may or may not relate directly to the underlying narrative thread. I for one do not mind these "offshoot branches" in books, so long as they hold my interest, as is the case with this book. A casual reader might think for a moment that Schooler is merely grandstanding and showing off his vast knowledge of his subjects, flexing his outdoor experience and intellect....but look just a bit deeper.... it becomes readily apparent that this is a writer who is unafraid of questioning himself or freely admitting that he is not always correct, who openly acknowledges and discusses his own faults (and we all have them) in a candid and refreshing way.

Reading this book also made me wish that I had the opportunity to meet Michio Hoshino, the late wildlife photographer whose work is respected worldwide. This is another testament to Lynn Schooler's writing. In all probability, my trails may have intersected with Michio's at different times during my years in Fairbanks while attending UAF and working on photography symposiums as a volunteer, but sadly, I never had the chance to meet the man whose work I admire very much, and worse yet, I never will. Here again, Lynn Schooler succeeds in relating his personal accounts and anecdotes of his time spent with Michio, a man who seemingly befriended just about everyone he ever met while bringing out the best in people and setting an inspiring example of living life to the fullest.

If you are even remotely interested in any of the topics or issues I have touched upon in this review, don't hesitate to buy a copy of this book. I'm betting that something in "The Blue Bear" will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

I received this book from my husband for Xmas. I sat down to read and when I turned the last page a scant day and a half had passed.

It was a magical story about the wildlife in Alaska but moreso the love and friendship between two men searching/waiting for magical moments when the right light or animal would wander into their viewfinder. The elusive Blue Bear was the unseen elastic that kept bringing these two friends together over the time it took to finally capture the bear. Life's lessons are too true when Lynn was robbed of sharing his great moment with his friend.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to lose about a day and a half to time well spent. I lost myself in a very good read and now am feeling at a loss when the last page has been turned and I am wishing there was at least another 1000 pages to go.

An amazing story coupled with great writing makes for a great read. I've traveled to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest three times and have never read a book that does a better job of summing up the power and beauty of the region. Lynn Schooler adds such personal touches that I feel I was there with him and Michio. His feelings about nature, glaciers, and the grand scheme of life and death remind me of the book 'Freedom is the Highest Good' by Tim Hammell

I had this book recommended to me by a friend who has a deep interest in bears ,has travelled widely and seen and watched many up close in their natural habitat;including in Alaska.She has shown me photos of standing only a few feet from wild Grizzly bears.I could hardly believe it, when she told me how approachable they were for experts and the pictures convinced me.Not to say, that I wouldn't keep my distance and give them utmost respect.When she told me this was an excellent book,and that I would enjoy it,I knew I was in for a great read.In other words,since it impressed her so much,it was sure to be good.

I read a lot of "Nature" books and spend an awful lot of time outdoors birding and am very familiar with the enjoyment and spirituality one gets from that wonderous combination of people,animals, landscape,sounds and silence,weather and atmosphere,and all that is encompassed when one partakes in a relationship with nature.

The excitement one gets when finding something new or just observing something seen before, is undescribable; but Schooler does as good a job of it as any nature writer that I have come across.He writes from the soul and great love he gets from living.Yes,this book is about the Blue Bear,Alaska and his friend and soulmate Michio,along with many other things,but what he really is writing about is the great enjoyment life is if one really learns to appreciate it.From this book you should learn that it is not only in Alaska that such enjoyment can be found.It is in the desert looking at sunsets,cactii and Roadrunners,in the forest searching out a Barred Owl,on the ocean watching a Tropicbird,sitting at a campsite when a Moose appears,or watching and trying to identify up to 20 different species of Gulls around Niagara Falls in the winter when it is wet windy and bitterly cold;or any of the millions of things the Creator has provided.

I'd like to quote a few things that demonstrate the excellence of the author's writing skills:

"Everything always gets what it needs."

"Home is not always a door at the end of a sidewalk.

Sometimes it is a broader place that holds the shape of the

sky,the water we drink,and the food that becomes the minerals

of our bones,Sometimes it is the sum of our experiences and

memories,and sometimes it is wherever we happen to be-if

we are with the right companion."

"As a photographer,,"Michio taught me how to 'look' with

my eyes-- but as a friend,how to 'see' with my heart."

An excellent read for anyone who enjoys life,and a great eyeopener for anyone who thinks life is boring.

"The Blue Bear" by Lynn Schooler is a story of friends, of nature in all its raw and open forms, and of the possibilities of healing. The subject of this book -- just as photographer Michio Hoshino is quoted as saying about a Japanese documentary on him -- is actually Alaska itself. I enjoyed reading of the various journeys, both emotional and physical, that the author makes in his life, with the splendor of Alaska always providing a visual backdrop to the twists and turns in the plot.

It was good that the author chose a more humble approach to his narrative as opposed to, for example, arrogantly listing all his conquests of the natural world, as we see in much of nature-related writings these days.

I have to say, though, that after getting to know Japanese photographer Michio Hoshino better through the pages of this book, it was a bit difficult getting through the chapter in which he is literally taken away us. Of course, here in Japan, Hoshino is still considered something of a legend and his work lives on. Still, it was nice to be able to go behind the legend of a great photographer and human being, through such a gifted storyteller as author Schooler. A warm but tragic story that will leave you feeling much fuller inside than before.

The Blue Bear was not exactly what I expected. It was more. Written by a man who had a hard start as a child and teenage, he is a remarkable wordsmith, painting pictures on every page. The progression of the story is gradual and unencumbered by the unnecessary. I was interested and involved from beginning to end.

This book was probably the best book I have read in a long long time. It takes a LOT for me to say "I couldn't put it down" but I COULDN'T!!! It was written so well and so compellingly interesting, it was over before I knew it, and I wanted more. I do hope that Lynn Schooler writes again about ANYTHING ALASKA. A terrific find.

I rarely take time to read a novel preferring to use my time to find out how to grow something or understand a complex tool or program. I was encouraged to read the Blue Bear because it might relate to some of my background and interests. Lynn Schooler has an incredible and unique ability to describe his world and experiences. The rich use of vocabulary and perception literally paints the landscape on your mind. I had to have a copy of this book on my shelf to remind me of the Alaska I know and I have pre-ordered his new book based on his writing and introspective skills. I suspect his lonely life style gave him time to see a rich complex life that most of us rush by ignoring the relevance in our own heritage. There is something for every mind in this book.

I have been reading a lot of non-fiction Northern Frontier/Alaskan books and this was one of the better ones. A great read about a new friendship developing over something that was so rare and elusive. And yet such a sad and tragic end... Highly recommended. It's more about friendship than just that blue bear...

Thank you, Lynn, for giving me such a beautiful, meaningful journey through the Alaskan country that I love so and for giving me a personal, heartfelt introduction to yourself and Michio. This is the best book that I've read in a long, long time. I can't remember reading a better one. Your book left me wishing that you and Michio had been friends of mine and left me grieving for Michio. What a remarkable tribute your book is to the person that he was; the friend, the artist, the genius. It is a true reflection of your deep loyalty, commitment and affection for your friends, which never wanes even after they have long passed. I am sorry for your loss of Michio and "Kelly" and I give my deep regards to you, their friends and relatives. Especially Michio's son.