Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Bear Down, Bear North

We have just received the debut short story collection from Melinda Moustakis, a young writer who was born in Fairbanks to homesteader Alaskans.  Although she moved out of the state when she was young, she returned frequently for visits and grew up hearing family stories of life out in the Bush.  Her stories are grimly realistic, where the violence of nature in Alaska is overshadowed by human violence fueled by alcohol and desperation.  Families hold together out of necessity, but the relationships still have the spark of love buried down deep.
The writing is beautiful, and the stories are very powerful.  Although, between Moustakis and David Vann, it's a miracle anyone wants to move to Alaska.

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