Melinda MoustakisRecensioner

The setting is what drew me to this book as I've enjoyed other books about Alaska. Lawrence has left Minnesota after serving in the Korean War to find land to homestead. Marie comes to escape Texas and be with her sister. Homesteading in the 1950's apparently requires a "family" and crops to be grown. Almost on a whim, Lawrence and Marie are married and move to a converted bus on the land a distance from the nearest town. Lawrence is kind, but extremely distant; not what Marie wanted in a marriage. She becomes pregnant and gives birth at home to a boy who dies. Lawrence not wanting to spend the money for a hospital.

The writing is fine in places, but there is an awfully lot of description of trees, mountains, snow, etc. and at times I just had to reread a sentence to make sure it made sense.

Marie insists on having her name on the deed to the property, Lawrence, however, want to have the land all to himself. The ending involves a violent fight, but the feeling that all will be well.½

Just a beautifully written highly detailed book about life in Alaska just before it became a state....homesteading. Lawrence and Marie, with their almost instantaneous marriage, manage to survive the first couple of years trying to make a home and a life on their "homestead. The author has a terrific way of writing so that you see just what's happening as she provides colors and happenings. Moustakis provides a very realistic picture of fairly recent history.

[Homestead] is a confident first novel by a young author. It covers three years in the 1950s in Alaska - the time period when the territory becomes a state. Lawrence and Marie meet in a bar and quickly decide to get married. Lawrence has ambitions to claim a homestead and needs a wife and subsequent children to complete his dream. Marie is looking for escape and her sister already lives in Alaska.

The novel becomes a portrait of this new, inexperienced marriage. Lawrence is damaged from his time in the war, and even without that has a secretive, loner personality. Marie is more open and youthful and can't understand how or if she is supposed to really connect with Lawrence. They are lucky to have Marie's sister, Sheila, and her husband Sly nearby for support and company. While close, the four also deal with jealousy and keep secrets. Marie quickly gets pregnant and Sheila seems unable to get pregnant, despite years of trying. As time goes by, Lawrence and Marie begin to build a marriage, but Lawrence is keeping a secret that could easily destroy everything they've built.

All this is set against the backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness. The descriptions of the land and the people living there add a lot to the book.

My one complaint, though, was the writing style/tone. Moustakis uses short, clipped sentences and the description is sparse. I was actually so annoyed for the first 80 pages that I almost set the book aside. But I stuck with it, and about half way in I was fully invested and enjoying all of it.

I would definitely be interested in reading whatever Moustakis writes next.

This is the story of the early days of a marriage, set in Alaska in the late fifties, as Alaska becomes a state. Marie goes to Alaska to visit her sister, eager to get away from the grandmother resentful of having had to raise them. She wants to belong, to be part of a family and to own her own space. Lawrence grew up in poverty and views owning land as the factor that can save a family from ruin. He chooses his homestead with care, and then looks for a woman to marry, because a farm needs many children to help out. They are looking for the same thing, but the differences between them make the marriage difficult, even as they struggle to get a working farm going in the Alaskan wilderness.

As a picture of what life in Alaska was like seventy-five years ago, this novel illuminates the stark realities and the hopes and dreams of people who came to Alaska, and of the people that were displaced as a result. But it's in the portrait of a marriage that this book excels. It's understated, and both Lawrence and Marie are very much part of the time they live in and their approaches to the marriage reflect this. The writing is lovely, with a muted tone that suits this quiet story.½

Marie and Lawerence meet and are immediately drawn to each other. They marry within a few days of meeting. Marie wants land and Lawerence really wants a help mate. This is not actually the way to start off a marriage. Can they overcome and stay together through all the hardships Alaska homesteading has to offer?

Marie and Lawrence definitely had a rough go of it. They lived in an old bus for their first year, they lost a child and then there are so many secrets! Lawerence has a past he does not want to share and he does not want to put Marie’s name on his land. So, there are quite a few issues in their marriage. I did feel this plot is a little thin. I wanted a bit more to occur. But…I do I love this setting. This is what made this story for me. I loved reading about the landscape, the stars and of course, the bears!

I did enjoy this narrator. Ariel Blake did a wonderful job!

Need an atmospheric novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Homestead

Alaska became the 49th U.S. state on January 3, 1959.

Our story begins in June 1956 as Lawrence Beringer, 27 of Blackduck Minnesota, in the Bureau of Land Management, chooses lot 041180 in Point MacKenzie, in the territory of Alaska.
"...his land, his homestead...Where he will cut timber and till the ground and build a cabin of his own measure. He will claim what he is owed, And by the work of his hands this will all be his." (150 acres)

In July 1956, Marie 18yrs old from Conroe Texas visits sister Shelia in Anchorage, Alaska with the firm intent to never return home.

This debut explores beautifully the complexities of Lawrence and Marie as individuals and as a married couple and takes us on a heartrending journey as they work this land in an attempt to secure a deed.
The wilderness is both breathtaking and terrifying.
I highly recommend you take the time for this adventure.

Thank you to Flatiron Books for an advanced readers copy.

Quite staggering, these stories. I loved how most of them connected to one another; I loved the Alaskan setting for all its grit and independence; and most of all, I loved the crazy strong women, for all their flaws. Perfect reading for an icy weekend.

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Read Harder: Collection of stories by a woman

Bear Down, Bear North is a masterfully written collection of stories. Melinda Moustakis shows off her prowess of voice and perspective. These stories, which are connected to one another in person and place, are written in first person (both singular and plural), third person, and even (thrice) second person. Moustakis is able to write in each of these and through the eyes of each of her characters with smooth precision. While some of the perspectives are jarring, as a reader, to step into, they are done with great skill. Moustakis understands the voice of these characters and does her best to deliver them in a way the reader will understand.

The overall feel of each story is poetic. The language is sparse and musical, but the book's poetic nature does not end there. There is a resonance that reminds the reader of poetry. These pieces are economical, with every word chosen carefully; they paint a picture, not so much a story, that leaves the reader with thoughts and emotions, but little plot to hold onto.

Despite the book's poeticism and Moustakis' smooth style, these stories are gritty. You'll walk away with a feeling that there is dirt grinding away at your teeth. You'll check your fingernails for grime. You'll want to trample on the carcass of a dead animal, strip naked, and pray that the rain will come and drench your miserable soul. Part of you may wish you were in Alaska, roughing it yourself, but what would be the need? Moustakis has already taken you there.