Going to Extremes

by Joe Mcginniss

Release Date: October, 1989

Edition: Paperback

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entertaining, accurate and gritty

McGinniss' picture of the Last Frontier definitely squares with the descriptions my wife (a sourdough, 32 years in Alaska) shares with me. Between her and Mr. Bane, below, I'm pretty confident in its accuracy.

But that isn't very important, because as you will see, telling tall tales to chichoccos (tenderfeet) is so Alaskan that if McGinniss had fabricated a good portion of the material, it would still retain its Alaskan character. What's most important is the close-up view you get of the people, the land, the weather, and the wildlife and the ways they all interact. I don't think McGinniss ate mucktuck in the book (smart man), but he immersed himself in Alaska pretty deeply nonetheless. A very easy read; that rare book that is light and deep at the same time.

Great Characterization!

I read this book in the early 90's, just before I moved to Alaska. After spending 9 years in the Last Frontier, I still loved this book. One of the things I like best about it is that McGinnis doesn't romanticize the state and its people, as so many seem wont to do. His characterization is right on, and his descriptions are accurate...a number of folks ARE quirky, eccentric, social misfits looking to escape the trappings of "down south", and not everything works the way it's supposed to. You never know what to expect in Alaska, and I think McGinniss paints a humorous and accurate story of our 49th state.