A few years back, Heather Lende wrote a memoir about life in small-town Alaska, If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name. Just before beginning the author tour for the book, Lende took her bike out for the second ride of the season (it was April). “The driver, Kevin from the grocery store, glanced both ways, and seeing no cars (or, apparently cyclists), pulled out and ran me over.” This wasn’t a figure of speech. Because she slid under the truck, Lende was literally run over breaking her pelvis in six places. This new memoir, Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs is about her physical and emotional recovery from that horrific accident.

Many people played a vital role during that first year, including her husband, children, parents and the community she calls home. We get to know those folks and begin to think, maybe small-town living isn’t really so bad. The bond of close-proximity offered shoulders to cry on as well as casseroles; and her Episcopalian faith offered a solid foundation to begin the long healing process.

My favorite chapters were those where she described the natural wonders of Alaska — the eagles in particular — and how she would be inspired by the grandness of the world to spontaneously burst out in song — show tunes and hymns being particular favorites. In fact, in the chapter “The Comfort of Eagles” she quotes Emerson: “This is what Emerson must have had in mind when he wrote that ‘the proper response to the world is applause.’”

We keep this book in our Travel Literature section because it is truly a homage to Alaska; however, it could equally be placed in our Philosophy section or maybe Inspiration since I was certainly thoughtfully inspired by the end of the book. ~Patti