Really more like 2.5 for me. An interesting story about gold prospecting on one level and desperate greed & perfect misery on the other. Nagook, the native, provides a dose of reasonable, experienced perspective along with the tribal beliefs of the area. He was my favorite character. Harky was the other character I enjoyed. He was drawn sparingly but effectively and I felt great empathy for him, maybe because I just finished a book set in World War 1 and had plenty of those descriptions alive while reading Heartbroke Bay. I liked this book ok. This is a story of the Gold Rush. It takes place in 1898 at Lituya Bay, which is in SE Alaska. It is based on a true story. No happy ending here, just a look at the Alaskan wilderness, and the search for gold as seen through the eyes of a Victorian Englishwoman, an old Tlinget man, and the author. It is a sad story of the deterioration of their situation as they dealt with nature and the hardships of the approaching winter, and finally, of their disaster.
What do You think about Heartbroke Bay (2010)?
Good solid story. Was astonished to learn this was based on an actual event.
—Katie
This is an excellent read. Well written with deep intregue.
—jphamphoreal
I wanted to like this book - but it was slow reading.
—SweetJessie
Amazing story - wanted to know more of Hannah.
—pbj
