Islands Apart: A Year on the Edge of Civilization

by Ken McAlpine

Book Overview

Author Ken McAlpine stands in his front yard one night in Ventura, California, trying to see the stars. His view is diminished by light pollution, making it hard to see much of anything in the sky. Our fast-paced, technologically advanced society, he concludes, is not conducive to stargazing or soul-searching. Taking a page from Thoreau's Walden, he decides to get away from the clamor of everyday life, journeying alone through California's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590305302
• ISBN13: 9781590305300
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Trumpeter
• Length: 265 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Great local story

A great book that includes information about Santa Barbara, with people that I know featured.

Islands Apart

I listened to Ken McAlpine being interviewed on a National Public Radio "Fresh Air" segment and was immediately drawn to the topics of discussion: the Channel Islands, which are extraordinary in and of themselves, and also Ken McAlpine's intertwining chapters which offer slices of life most of us have not investigated in depth. I slowly read the chapters, savoring each word. At one point I discovered my eyes were welling with tears because I had to leave one of the islands. Ken writes with a delightful touch, tossing humor into the most unexpectedly terrain, yet watches man with a keen and knowing eye. I couldn't wait to read this book and now treasure it.

Savory

There are two authors whose work I pre-order; Pat Conroy and Ken McAlpine. Both write in a way that I LOVE to savor as I would a fine meal, or a good cold mug of root beer. Ken's words are as to literature as fresh herbs are to your favorite dish. If you love the nature and people and living a life of thoughtful introspection, buy this book YESTERDAY!