Aleksa's Book Review: Astoria

I was gifted this book by a very dear and very nameless friend. He said that it would mean very much to me, as he purported to understand my psyche quite well. To no surprise of mine, the prediction was bang-on. This book regards an expedition to the Pacific Northwest in the early 1800s.

Sometimes, though, what a book is about doesn't matter as much as what the book is: and what this book is, is an ode to daring, strength, wit, and the power that both genders wield. From planning, design and investment to sacrifice and courage in the wild - the book is one crazy ride.

I don't recall any of the names, years, or geographic points mentioned in the book, and I don't believe I need to. Barely any quotes from the characters (though I hesitate to call them that) are present, and they never run on for more than the length of this sentence. Purple prose and descriptions of the panorama are scarce, as is anything resembling a novel.

I massively appreciate that about the book, as it leaves more room for the important stuff: like how logistics, translation, and incorporation worked in the days of cholera. This book inspires businesspeople, family men, and innovators alike. Particularly inspiring is the character of a pregnant woman who ventured into the trek of a lifetime, and the Scottish lead who is as close to the archetypal frontiersman as you can get.

Thank you, friend, for this BANGER OF THE WEEK.
10/10