Customer Reviews

On the Edge of Nowhere

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great read. I read it in two sittings because I couldn't stop.

Jim Huntington's brother Sidney also wrote a book many years after this one called "Shadows on the Koyokuk" which was as good as this and in fact has a bit more details of their shared youth.

Jim Huntington's story was terrific. Lot's of bush adventures with attacking Bears, Wolves, Injuries, etc. Did you know that the Eskimos and Indians of Alaska hated each other so much prior to American Law and Order that they killed each other on site? I didn't.

I really liked the admission that sometimes he succumbed to his human desires. In his circumstance I might well have done the same. If this was written now, this sexy morsal would surely have been ommitted for the sake of political correctness.

If you are a stickler for chronological stories, this may try nyour patience. It's more like your Grand Dad sitting by the fire recounting the days of yore. The Dog Sledding adventures were very good too and kept me on the edge of my seat. His contributions to his village and eventually the state of Alaska are well worth knowing about (especially if you are an Alaskan).

If I was going to read this and his brothers book, I would read this first. However, if I were going to read one or the other, I would favor Sidney's book. Though they aren't the same story, many parts are.

I highly recommend this.

My dad read this book to me and my brother when I was 8 years old. We would come home from school and plead for him to read more about the Edge of Nowhere and adventures of Jimmy Huntington. We could have read it ourselves, but it was just that much more real when we heard the words aloud.

I now read "On the Edge of Nowhere" every couple years to remind myself of what it means to be a real Alaskan and a good human being. The reading is fast-paced and it's easy to get caught up in. I still smile, laugh, and cry right along with Jimmy when I read about his triumphs and losses.

People of all ages - whether Alaskan or not - will thoroughly enjoy this exciting and masterfully written account of the life of Jim Huntington.

Anyone who enjoys this book would do well to read "Shadows on the Koyukuk" by Jim's brother Sidney Huntington. There are some of the same stories with a different perspective, plus a lot of new stories from Sidney's own exciting life.

First I kind of feel like apologizing for only giving this four stars. I really did like this book, and I really did find it well written, but five stars is kind of where I put Brothers Kharmazov. Having said that, this is a great story of life growing up in the wilds of northern Alaska. It begins with the 1,000 mile overland survival walk of the author's Indian mother across the tundra to return home after testifying in the trial of the murderer of her first husband. From there the hard fought life of her trapper son gets chronicled as he and his brother virtually raise themselves in the wilds of the frozen country. The beauty and wildness come through, but more than that the spirit of the author and his family in not only pulling themselves up with the own bootstraps, but doing it time and time again after losing everything to floods, fire, disease, and even peculiar laws.

There was so much territory to cover, fitting in a way for a book about Alaska, that some stories such as his dogsled races (Iditarod precursors) that the author won could've filled a whole book but get only enough ink here to leave the reader wanting more. In any case, it's a great book, and well worth your time. The story of a miner, trapper, dogsled racer, merchant and eventually politician. To use a cliche, among the last of a fading breed.

I love this book. It was a very quick read and kept me interested at all times. As one reviewer noted, it is like listening to an elder relative recounting their life story. After spending 3 weeks around Alaska, it was just wonderful to hear about the author's experiences in the wilderness. I can't say enough about this book. It really brings home how the "simple" but not "easy" life can be more rewarding and enriching than our current fast-paced lives.... I highly recommend this for a weekend read!

Considering the few reviews this book has received, and the long wait to get the book if you order it (one-two months as of now), I have to say this is a very overlooked book. If it had the right marketing and promotions I could easily see it becoming a bestseller. If you like true life adventure, than this book is for you. The first chapter is about Jim's mother's 1000 mile trek on foot by herself from Nome to her home to be with her children. Her incredible spirit and drive is so inspiring--you have to keep reminding yourself this is a true story. If it wasn't, you would never believe it. Jim's story of his own life is just as captivating. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, true stories, tales of Alaska and frankly, anyone who likes to read!

Order the book now and even if it takes two months to arrive, it will be a treat when it does.

Jim is my uncle and unfortunately he passed away a several years ago; I didn't know him as well as I would have liked but heard much about him from my mother. Sidney, Jimmy's brother; wrote "Shadows on the Koyukuk" an Alaskan Native's Life along the River by Sidney Huntington as told to Jim Rearden (you'll note he also did Jimmy's book as well); Alaska Northwest Books. another 5 star book and not just because they are relatives; you'll find this when you read them yourself.

From the minute I opened it, this book took me on a wild ride. What a great storyteller!!!
I live north of Anchorage in a rural/urban area, so I don't completely know what it is like where he lived. I do, however, understand his personality better after knowing many sourdoughs like him.
What a great guy and loved by his family.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It is one that you will want to read over and over and you will never feel as though you have read it before. Full of real life adventure in the native bush. Wonderfully written.

I actually heard of this book shortly after it was written in 1969 when I was stationed in Galena Air Force Station, Alaska in 1971. However, I never did get a chance to read it then, forgot about it and eventually found an original copy of it in an old book store. It brought back memories of my one year at Galena and decided I had to buy it. Boy, I could not put this book down and read it every spare moment. I had even read it at stop lights (not recommended)while driving to work. The endurance and hardships Jim and the peoples of Alaska had at that time in history was incredible. Makes our silly problems seem so trivial. I did briefly meet Sydney Huntington dury my stay in Galena, I just wished I'd had a chance to meet his brother Jim. I too wonder if they are still around, they would be in their eightys by now. Great book, I highly recommend it.

I am a storyteller in Fort Worth Texas and found this book absolutely facinating. Wonderfully and simply written in the voice of Jim Huntington. I used the story recently at a Library that was focusing on Alaska of Jim's brush with the wolves and the kids loved it. I noticed in the other reviews that a relative of Mr. Huntington had left a review of the book, Martha S. Barker. I would love to talk to Mr.s Barker about Jim. If she would contact me at storymantales@hotmail.com I would be honored. It's an adventure from beginning to end and a wondrful personal story, Worth the time.