Customer Reviews

Last Stands: A Journey Through North America's Vanishing Ancient Rainforests

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I wouldn't normally post a review of a book but I stumbled across the previous reader's opinion and could not let it rest unchallenged. Mr. (or Mrs.) Kelowna leaves readers with the impression that Pynn is a neophyte writer who went straight from Journalism 101 to attempting the arduous task of researching and authoring a book. Nothing could be further from the truth. Already the author of The Forgotten Trail: One Man's Adventure's on the Canadian Route to the Klondike, Pynn has spent almost three decades as a prominent and award-winning BC writer. His prose is crisp, concise, laced with humour and a genuine, down-to-earth human feel. And all while tackling a subject that, admittedly, would normally be as dry as a Prince George winter. Had Pynn authored the biology and chemistry texts of my high school years I might have chosen not to drop those courses. There are few people who can take a reader on a journey through often incomprehensible scientific data and make that reader feel welcome. While Pynn's environmentally left-of-centre leanings are perhaps evident when he affords himself the luxury of editorializing (and why not, it's his book!), he nevertheless provides evidence for and against both sides of an extremely important issue on the Pacific Coast...allowing the reader to make up his or her own mind. Overall, an excellent book for anyone looking to explore the current state of our temperate rainforests; it will make you laugh, perhaps make you weep, but ultimately enlighten you.

This book manages to be both easy to read and to reveal important and complex insights about the rainforests of North America. Pynn is a natural storyteller who weaves his experiences travelling and talking with everyone from loggers to scientists to create a compelling read. Highly recommended.

Although the subject matter of Pynn's book is fascinating--the last old growth stands of forest left in North America, Pynn's writing leaves a lot to be desired. Pynn, who cut his teeth writing small pieces for newspapers, needs to gain experience in writing full-length books before tackling another major topic. He does, however, provide a quick glimpse into an important topic, and one hopes that a more seasoned writer will carry the banner from here.