Somehow, I missed one of Heather Lende’s books. Including Of Bears and Ballots, she’s written four nonfiction accounts of her life in Haines, Alaska. The first one, If You Lived Here, I’d Know I’d Know Your Name, introduces readers to small town life in the town ninety miles north of Juneau. For me, it was an introduction to my type of nonfiction writer, someone whose essays have heart and bring nods and, occasionally, tears. In her latest book, she confronts the divisive politics that has hit the country. Lende saw it firsthand, as a newly elected member of the borough assembly who faced a recall petition almost as soon as she was elected, along with the two other newly elected liberals on the assembly board.
Heather Lende writes the obituaries for the weekly newspaper, Chilkat Valley News. She’s invited into homes when surviving family members are at their lowest point so she can gather the stories and memories families want to share. She was once grand marshal in the local parade and named volunteer of the year by the Chamber of Commerce. She supports the public library, the senior services, the local pool. Her children grew up in Haines, and her grandchildren are now growing up there. Her husband, Chip, is a local businessman. She’s the town’s honored hometown author. So, it seemed like a personal insult, a slap in the face, when petitions started circulating to recall her and the other two newcomers. She didn’t want to go to the grocery store. She recognized names on the petition as people she knew well.
Lende was elected in 2016, a tumultuous time in Haines, and in the country. She suspects social media and dirty, divisive politics encouraged the actions in the town. The biggest issue was about the change in the local harbor. Lende’s opposition to the current plans was just one issue. The assembly hires a manager to run the city, and that becomes a divisive issue, with half the community wanting one candidate, and half the other. The night the assembly announced who they were hiring, one assembly member stood up, quit, and walked out.
Needless to say, it was a rough period. Lende, the only woman on the recall petition, took it much harder than the two men. She confronts that in her book. But, she also puts faces on the people in the town, and she explains the issues well enough that readers who don’t live in Haines understand the stories. Although this book discusses small town politics quite a bit, the reader cares because Lende cares so much.
That’s why I return to Heather Lende’s books and her writing. When asked what my favorite book is, I say Patricia Leimbach’s A Thread of Blue Denim. It’s a collection of essays by an Ohio farm wife and writer who understood the human heart. Lende is the same. Maybe it’s small town life. Maybe it’s writing obituaries, and listening to people talk about loved ones. She, like Leimbach, tries to portray the heart, the human connection in a story. Maybe Of Bears and Ballots is a book about politics in Haines, Alaska. Maybe it’s a book about learning to work with others, learning to listen. Maybe it’s a book about heart in a small town.
Heather Lende’s website is https://www.heatherlende.com/
Of Bears and Ballots by Heather Lende. Algonquin Books, 2020. ISBN 9781616208516 (hardcover), 288p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent a copy of the book, hoping I would review it.
This one sounds great too Lesa! I do really enjoy books about small town life, whether fictional or not. These places are such microcosms of interaction, but at the same time have their own issues, ones that probably would not occur in large cities with their increasingly transient populations. (Cities, of course, have other problems!) I imagine that there can be a lot of longstanding feuds under the surface, and as you say, far more of a need to co-operate and accept others' views than there is somewhere more anonymous.
And I find Alaska very interesting as a place – it seems so remote, and to live in a remote part of a remote state must be quite something. I do enjoy the Kate Shugak mysteries set in the national park there.
Your book from yesterday is not available in either of my 2 libraries, and on Amazon UK it is quite expensive, so I might have to wait a bit. I will put it on my list though.
And yes, sorry to have been 'absent' and thank you for your kind words. I don't know where the time goes when you don't really have very much to do! I've been reviewing away – most recently one of Rebecca Shaw's Turnham Malpas books – I don't know if you know them? She wrote 19 of them before she sadly died a few years ago. They are not always the best written books but they are strangely addictive and she has a huge and loyal fan-base – they are especially popular in libraries. The one I read most recently was 'Whispers in the Village' – which raised interesting questions including how much parents should help/interfere in their adult children's lives, how being educated 'out of your class' can cause problems (maybe that's a British thing?!), and whether it is right to take your (young) children with you if you choose to go to work in a volatile third world country.
Rosemary
Great to see that Heather Lende has a new book! DH and I really like her writing.
Are you familiar with Michael Perry? He writes about small-town life–in his case, northwestern Wisconsin. His latest, Million Billion, was published this summer.
My current "outstanding" is The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah. A Palestinian-American woman confronts a shooter at the school where she is principal-=but there's a lot more to the story than that.
Rosemary, While most of Lee Smith's books are with larger publishers, this one is a small press, which might make it even harder to get.
You're right about small towns as microcosms. It certainly is in this case. It's representative of all the political dissension and problems we've had here since 2016. Maybe it was there before, but Trump has just given everyone permission to blurt out all the hateful things they ever wanted to say. And, I think Haines, Alaska saw that happen.
It's a terrific book, though. If you can put your hands on any of Heather Lende's books, I think you'd enjoy them.
Review away! I just know I missed your comments on the blog. Although being educated "out of your class" might be more British than American, I think it happens here as well. It's reflected in people being sarcastically called "too good" for their family or the old neighborhood. Sometimes it comes from money, usually from education, as you said.
I'm not familiar with Rebecca Shaw at all. I'll have to see if we have any of her books here.
See, that's my problem. I keep discovering new (to me, at least) authors who sound really interesting and make me want to read their books! As soon as I finish something I am going to download her first book from the library. I got the Lee Smith yesterday.
Oh, Michael Perry wrote Truck! I looked him up when you mentioned him, Nann. I didn't read it, but I remember when it was out. I'm going to pick up his book Population, 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time. That sounds like one I'd appreciate. Darn. I'm reading a good mystery right now. I have Jenn McKinlay's book lined up. And, I still have Tim Cotton's book collection set in Bangor, Maine. So many good books!
Lee Smith's novella won't take you long, Jeff, when you get around to it. And, it's my problem as well, as you can tell by response to Nann about Michael Perry. I love the title of his book Population, 485. Reminds me of Craig Johnson saying he's form Ucross, Wyoming, population 25.
I didn't realize she had another book out. I have read two of hers and enjoyed them. I spent only two days in Hainesm but it is a great town.
Gram! You've been to Haines! That's really neat. You'll understand when Lende talks about locations in the town.
It was in 2007 when we took the road trip of a lifetime. Yes I do recognize places.
Aren't you glad you did that, Gram?