Matt McAvoy Book Review

There’s something a little warm and wholesome about this slice-of-life memoir; it is full of love, faith and a family-friendly read.  Describing a year or so in the life of a young boy whose family moved to Alaska to build a log chapel, where his father would become a pastor, it is your usual fish-out-of-water story, the theme of so many memoirs by U.S. authors – a country so vast that moving home often means a massive culture shock.  And this is the same, as the Taylor family learns to fit in and become self-sustained in a part of the world which is as rustic as it gets, in the mid-20th century.  To their credit, they settle in well, quickly becoming part of the community (as pastors are wont to do) and using their life skills, learnt in the Louisiana wilds, to live.  Here I should warn you, though, animal lovers might find some scenes upsetting, as man’s dominion is clearly implied and portrayed with some indifference.  Other than this, though, the family takes to their decision with enthusiasm, hope and solidarity, and may serve as a lesson to anyone experiencing doubts over a life-changing move.

The first half of this book is primarily spent on the road to Alaska from the lower states – specifically the “Alcan”, which is portrayed vividly and beautifully.  Roy writes with exceptional eloquence and articulation, and I found myself able to picture the stunning scenery I’m sure his family passed on their way north.  It must have been a very daunting task, in the days before mobile telephones and breakdown recovery as a standard, in what would presumably present a challenging and at times highly inhospitable environment, yet the family faced their setbacks and problems along the way with typical humour, faith and a sense of adventure; you almost envy the innocent camaraderie of the time, and may find yourself yearning to return to it.

An enjoyable read which doesn’t start any narrative fires or need a gripping premise, this is just the journal of one man’s happy memories of a childhood adventure – a life-changing moment the likes of which we only experience a handful of times.  We know that the author went on to achieve professional success later in life, but this book is all about then – the move to a new culture.  But more than that, it is about a family all singing from the same songsheet (sometimes literally); a shared ambition and hope.  You find yourself wishing them all well, and wondering what happened next – yet at the same time, a part of you perhaps doesn’t want to delve any deeper than the happy time Roy has shared here.  The choice is yours, it would seem, for he signs this book off with the promise of a sequel.  I’m sure it will be every bit as warm, cozy and nostalgic as this one.