4Sem2Iditarod

I finished Winterdance by Gary Paulsen a few days ago and was very sad to do so. It has been awhile since I found a book that made me sad to flip the last few pages. It wasn't a sad book at all, it was one of the most genuinely happy books I have ever read. It is about Paulsen's first experience running the infamous Iditarod race through Alaska's vast wilderness via sled dogs (if you haven't read my previous blogs which I presume you have not).

As his training before the race progressed, Paulsen begun to realize his internal evolution from man to dog. He began to think like a dog, spending all his time with his team. He even went through a period of time where he slept in the dog kennel with his dogs. I found out, after finishing Winterdance, that the whole book is about  Paulsen finding himself and what it means to be human. there was one part, towards the end of the race, where he is staying overnight with a villager way up north in Alaska. The villager asked him why he lives the way they do in civilization. Why does he act that way? Why doesn't he live this way with the dogs? Isn't living this (the villager's way) better?Paulsen told him that yes, the way up in Alaska is better. I think that that was the biggest turning point of the book. When he realized that real life is totally different than his actual life down in the lower 48 with his wife and son.

This turning point is super interesting yet also inspiring in a way. When I get the chance, I would love to take a long trip into some form of wilderness for a bit. I think that that is a great way to find oneself or to come to terms with other things in one's life. When I was 15, I went to Tanzania to do community service, and although I wasn't really in a wilderness setting, nor was I alone, I came back totally different. I think everyone should try to do a trip of some sort.

Anyways, I really loved Winterdance and am trying to find wildernessy books like. So I am very open to suggestions!!!!