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The Prospectors
A sweeping rags-to-riches story of survival and greed across American history following a family transformed by the Klondike Gold Rush
The middle daughter of struggling California fruit farmers, Alice Bush is accustomed to feeling inferior and destitute. But when her elder sister’s husband strikes a vein of gold in the Yukon Territory, Alice finally seizes control of her destiny by joining a wave of white settlers making the dangerous trek to the Klondike. What follows is an awakening of ambition for the quietly opportunistic Alice, who, by luck and circumstance, becomes tightly intertwined in her sister and brother-in-law’s newfound fortune, as well as the beginning of a generations-long family quest for wealth that unfolds against the icy Canadian wilderness and the booming oilfields of California. One hundred years later, in 2015, Alice’s great-great-granddaughter Anna must grapple with moral conflict and questions of justice as she travels to the Klondike to bequeath her would-be inheritance to the First Nations peoples who paid the price for its creation.
The middle daughter of struggling California fruit farmers, Alice Bush is accustomed to feeling inferior and destitute. But when her elder sister’s husband strikes a vein of gold in the Yukon Territory, Alice finally seizes control of her destiny by joining a wave of white settlers making the dangerous trek to the Klondike. What follows is an awakening of ambition for the quietly opportunistic Alice, who, by luck and circumstance, becomes tightly intertwined in her sister and brother-in-law’s newfound fortune, as well as the beginning of a generations-long family quest for wealth that unfolds against the icy Canadian wilderness and the booming oilfields of California. One hundred years later, in 2015, Alice’s great-great-granddaughter Anna must grapple with moral conflict and questions of justice as she travels to the Klondike to bequeath her would-be inheritance to the First Nations peoples who paid the price for its creation.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2023
About the author
Ariel Djanikian
3 books124 followersAriel Djanikian is the author of The Office of Mercy and The Prospectors. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Tin House, The Millions, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. Born in Philadelphia, she holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Michigan. She currently lives in the DC area with her husband, two kids, and puppy and teaches fiction writing at Georgetown University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
July 31, 2024
It’s very good read with historical fiction. The author creates fantastic visuals with his 'word paintings' and also meticulously researched history that allows you to see yourself out there panning for gold. I loved the way the story, in the past, is interwoven with the now. Separated by a span of 150 years, these parallel threads are being masterfully woven into an inviting mystery about legacy and reconciliation.
This is one audiobook that will stay with you for days, even weeks, after listening. You can find here: The Prospectors (Audiobook Version)
The story begins with the protagonist, Callie, who is a character whose journey the reader will want to make. Each character's motivations and burdens are meticulously drawn and explored making them intriguing and practically leap off the page. The historical setting is part of the story, both practical and a source of historical fascination, as much as the characters.
In the current, the characters are grappling with the actions of their ancestors and seeking a way to move forward. It is touching and interesting to see the grandfather reflect on his past actions and then pursue reconciliation. His granddaughter's journey from bystander to active participant is poignant and compelling, and a nice backdrop against, the theme of acknowledging one's history and learning from it.
The book is a grand example of how our experiences are passed along, and our own history is intricately woven into who we are today. The history of the grandfather’s past becomes the granddaughter’s history, and, in some ways, she has to acknowledge what came before in order to move on, regardless of how flawed or scary that history is. It is an ominous warning that history will repeat itself, and we can choose what that looks like, before it’s chosen for us.
This is one audiobook that will stay with you for days, even weeks, after listening. You can find here: The Prospectors (Audiobook Version)
The story begins with the protagonist, Callie, who is a character whose journey the reader will want to make. Each character's motivations and burdens are meticulously drawn and explored making them intriguing and practically leap off the page. The historical setting is part of the story, both practical and a source of historical fascination, as much as the characters.
In the current, the characters are grappling with the actions of their ancestors and seeking a way to move forward. It is touching and interesting to see the grandfather reflect on his past actions and then pursue reconciliation. His granddaughter's journey from bystander to active participant is poignant and compelling, and a nice backdrop against, the theme of acknowledging one's history and learning from it.
The book is a grand example of how our experiences are passed along, and our own history is intricately woven into who we are today. The history of the grandfather’s past becomes the granddaughter’s history, and, in some ways, she has to acknowledge what came before in order to move on, regardless of how flawed or scary that history is. It is an ominous warning that history will repeat itself, and we can choose what that looks like, before it’s chosen for us.
October 1, 2023
3.5 stars
I don’t remember reading about the Gold Rush in a novel and definitely not in the Klondike. This is a fascinating adventure story. I’m not very adventurous and perhaps that’s why I found it appealing. Gold, then later to oil, a man and his wife find their fortune in the Klondike and that fortune breeds greed, ambition, deceit, manipulation and some truly unlikeable characters .
I liked the writing especially the descriptions of the Klondike. This a family saga with dual time lines, the 1880’s and present. I found it interesting that the main characters are based on the author’s family and other real people. Even though I get the connections between the present and past stories, I felt removed from the present story. Maybe there wasn’t enough of it told to connect to the characters. I didn’t know much about them. Having said that, the recent story does put emphasis on the wrongs done to First Nations people which is an important take away of the novel.
This might have been 4 stars if the connection between the time lines was better executed. Still worth reading. It felt like an accurate reflection of the history. I found the Klondike sections fascinating and learned a lot.
This was my monthly read with Diane . We had been on a roll with 4 and 5 star books, but I guess we can’t love them all.
I received a copy of this book from William Morrow/HarperCollins through Edelweiss.
I don’t remember reading about the Gold Rush in a novel and definitely not in the Klondike. This is a fascinating adventure story. I’m not very adventurous and perhaps that’s why I found it appealing. Gold, then later to oil, a man and his wife find their fortune in the Klondike and that fortune breeds greed, ambition, deceit, manipulation and some truly unlikeable characters .
I liked the writing especially the descriptions of the Klondike. This a family saga with dual time lines, the 1880’s and present. I found it interesting that the main characters are based on the author’s family and other real people. Even though I get the connections between the present and past stories, I felt removed from the present story. Maybe there wasn’t enough of it told to connect to the characters. I didn’t know much about them. Having said that, the recent story does put emphasis on the wrongs done to First Nations people which is an important take away of the novel.
This might have been 4 stars if the connection between the time lines was better executed. Still worth reading. It felt like an accurate reflection of the history. I found the Klondike sections fascinating and learned a lot.
This was my monthly read with Diane . We had been on a roll with 4 and 5 star books, but I guess we can’t love them all.
I received a copy of this book from William Morrow/HarperCollins through Edelweiss.
July 24, 2023
The Prospectors is smart, surprising, and epic: the sort of adventure that brings to life both a nineteenth-century gold rush and a twenty-first century fight for the family riches that remain. It's more than a golden nugget of a novel. It's the motherlode and I absolutely loved it.
August 18, 2024
The grandfather’s attitude until the very end was laughable. I once heard people who’ve always had money are greedier than the people who’ve had to work for it. I think there’s some truth to this. At least it seems true for the grandfather’s children. Aside from the grandchildren trying to make things right and the wronged family, the only character I enjoyed to any degree was Alice’s husband. Ok, her sister seemed to have a moral compass as well, so I can say I liked her too. But for the most part, the whole book was frustrating in that no one really had the moral high ground to the extent they thought they did. No one deserved anything. Yet they all acted like it when the family fortunes were made. 3.5. Rounding up to 4z
November 1, 2023
The bad review is not because I hated the book. I didn’t. It just wasn’t good. The writing wasn’t good. The characters weren’t good. The plot wasn’t good. Just a boring book I had to trudge through.
November 13, 2023
I picked up this book for 2 reasons. 1) I knew nothing of the Klondike Gold Rush and I really enjoy historical fiction and 2) I think it's really important to learn about the injustices that Native peoples experienced during different time periods with the hopes that we won't continue to let things like that happen. The Prospectors is based on the actual historical Bush and Berry families who started out as struggling fruit farmers in Selma, California and then went on to strike gold in Canada. There were many struggles that the white settlers experienced in the wilderness but it also brings to light the effect that the gold rush had on the lives and traditions of the First Nations peoples. An interesting tidbit is that 2 of the main characters are actually the author's great-great grandparents and she remembered pieces of their stories that she heard in her childhood. Top that with extensive research and you have a very interesting read indeed!
September 13, 2023
The “Prospectors” by Ariel Djanikian was a fascinating adventure based on the author’s own family history. It is the story of what took place during the Alaska Yukon Gold Rush. The story involves two families whose struggle for adventure leads to great wealth at incredible odds. Its characters are well developed, and the strength of the two main characters who are women is inspiring. We are bounced back and forth from the late 1800s to present day. We learn how the greed that came from this wealth, precedes the injustice to the native people which comes full circle to affect the current generation. This a powerful and thought provoking book that was impossible to put down.
Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2023
This book was a slog. I hated the characters, and the plot was slow and clunky. It was a fantastic idea for a story, just wasn't executed correctly.
December 29, 2023
I would have preferred more story and information on the gold rush of Alaska and less on the present day drama of perceived guilt / responsibility. 3.5 Stars.
October 23, 2023
A big family saga that's largely focused on the Klondike gold rush. The story alternates from the story of the 1890s in the Alaska to the descendants in the present day. Clarence and Ethel Berry strike it rich and return to their claim with Ethel's sister Alice in tow. It's Alice who has the loudest voice and she's also got a secret. The characters are well developed and interesting You are also introduced to Clarence's brothers Henry and Frank, Jim the indigenous guide and his sister Jane who also has a secret and are entwined with the Berry and Bush clan in the Klondike. In the present day a descendant of Alice's wants to make amends for the wrongs he believes were done to the indigenous tribe during the gold rush and enlists is granddaughter and her husband with the task of righting a wrong. This also has it' own twists and turns.
I enjoyed the ride and was intrigued when I discovered that the story is actually based on the author's own family history. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend to someone looking for a historical fiction.
I enjoyed the ride and was intrigued when I discovered that the story is actually based on the author's own family history. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend to someone looking for a historical fiction.
November 7, 2023
I read as far as page 250. Couldn’t make myself finish it. I just didn’t care about any of the characters. Might have been me…going through stressful time. But, I needed a good book and this wasn’t it. 🤨
June 1, 2024
Step back in time, with Peter Bailey. Welcome to the Klondike gold rush of the 1890s.
In The Prospectors, author Ariel Djankikian borrows from her own family history to craft a novel that is one part history, one part mystery; an exploration of diaspora and a striking of pay dirt.
Beginning in present day, we join Anna and Owen as they set out on a mission at her grandfather’s request, to right a wrong from long ago. Faced with an acceptable alternative by the descendants of the aggrieved, the couple finds themselves in a race against time, age, and greed, only generations removed from a similar race to find gold during the short daylight months of the Yukon.
In the Nineteenth Century we travel with Alice Bush, her ailing sister and her brother-in-law from California to the far north, where Clarence Berry works to solidify his newfound fame and fortune by digging up more nuggets of wealth. In his employ are a brother and sister—native people whose lands have been invaded—to help care for his wife and secure their riches. After some gold goes missing, a tale unfolds that leaves the reader questioning who is friend and who is foe? Who is victim, and who is villain? Friendship, love, and bloodlines are tested. Underlying it all: A need for greater status, and more “stuff.”
A brilliant look at America’s “other” gold rush, and a noble acknowledgement of a cruel past, The Prospectors is fun, dark, and important. Who will survive the cold?
In The Prospectors, author Ariel Djankikian borrows from her own family history to craft a novel that is one part history, one part mystery; an exploration of diaspora and a striking of pay dirt.
Beginning in present day, we join Anna and Owen as they set out on a mission at her grandfather’s request, to right a wrong from long ago. Faced with an acceptable alternative by the descendants of the aggrieved, the couple finds themselves in a race against time, age, and greed, only generations removed from a similar race to find gold during the short daylight months of the Yukon.
In the Nineteenth Century we travel with Alice Bush, her ailing sister and her brother-in-law from California to the far north, where Clarence Berry works to solidify his newfound fame and fortune by digging up more nuggets of wealth. In his employ are a brother and sister—native people whose lands have been invaded—to help care for his wife and secure their riches. After some gold goes missing, a tale unfolds that leaves the reader questioning who is friend and who is foe? Who is victim, and who is villain? Friendship, love, and bloodlines are tested. Underlying it all: A need for greater status, and more “stuff.”
A brilliant look at America’s “other” gold rush, and a noble acknowledgement of a cruel past, The Prospectors is fun, dark, and important. Who will survive the cold?
January 13, 2024
I'm split on this one and it's because I felt so differently about the two timelines in the story. The largest chunk of the story takes place in the late 1890's way up in Western Canada during the Klondike Gold Rush and follows one family in their pursuit of wealth from mining gold. There is another chunk of the story that is set in present-day times featuring the same family that shows how they all deal with the legacy of their family's wealth and position.
I inhaled the Gold Rush chapters. The first person in the family discovers gold, and then one by one the rest of the family jumps on board with the mining in various ways. I loved watching the family start to have some hope and purpose after a string of setbacks, and it was nice to see them rise socially. There is a ton of greed and betrayal though, and once it rears its head, it really never lets up. I enjoyed the rise of the drama and watching it all unfold. It was interesting to try to put myself into the heads of these people. More than anything, I loved watching how this family adapted to traveling over the land back during the 1890's and how they adapted to living in the harsher climates and conditions up in the mining camps. The adaptation of people to their circumstances throughout different periods of history is my favorite part of historical fiction, and this really checked those boxes for me.
The present-day chapters were a slog for me. First of all, I don't think they were needed. Or at least, I don't feel like they progressed the story at all. I understand that this is the author's story to tell, and as it was about real humans that lived before us (and they were her family!), she probably had a reason for including both time POVs. But I did not enjoy the greed and betrayal in THIS part of the story one bit. There are a lot of layers to this greed and betrayal, and I don't think the resolution was worth the slog to get there. Unfortunately, THIS portion of the story is what pops into my head first when I think about this book.
So, for these two completely different feelings about the two portions of this book, I had to adjust my rating. The present-day ending overshadowed the very best part of this story, and it was what I was left with when I finished the book.
Many thanks to William Morrow for sending me a copy of this book for review via NetGalley. These thoughts are completely my own!
I inhaled the Gold Rush chapters. The first person in the family discovers gold, and then one by one the rest of the family jumps on board with the mining in various ways. I loved watching the family start to have some hope and purpose after a string of setbacks, and it was nice to see them rise socially. There is a ton of greed and betrayal though, and once it rears its head, it really never lets up. I enjoyed the rise of the drama and watching it all unfold. It was interesting to try to put myself into the heads of these people. More than anything, I loved watching how this family adapted to traveling over the land back during the 1890's and how they adapted to living in the harsher climates and conditions up in the mining camps. The adaptation of people to their circumstances throughout different periods of history is my favorite part of historical fiction, and this really checked those boxes for me.
The present-day chapters were a slog for me. First of all, I don't think they were needed. Or at least, I don't feel like they progressed the story at all. I understand that this is the author's story to tell, and as it was about real humans that lived before us (and they were her family!), she probably had a reason for including both time POVs. But I did not enjoy the greed and betrayal in THIS part of the story one bit. There are a lot of layers to this greed and betrayal, and I don't think the resolution was worth the slog to get there. Unfortunately, THIS portion of the story is what pops into my head first when I think about this book.
So, for these two completely different feelings about the two portions of this book, I had to adjust my rating. The present-day ending overshadowed the very best part of this story, and it was what I was left with when I finished the book.
Many thanks to William Morrow for sending me a copy of this book for review via NetGalley. These thoughts are completely my own!
June 11, 2024
I found myself completely swept away with this story. As an audio, this narrator was just wonderful and pulled me right into the story.
It's a dual timeline and I appreciated both. One, a great great granddaughter is trying to fulfill a grandfather's dying wish. In another, a young family is trying to strike it big in Alaska during the gold rush and then, eventually, oil. As with any big windfall of money, this family in Alaska encounters sickness, greed, envy and deceit.
I loved learning about this family. The note at the end that this is based on the author's real family was such a nice treat. I agree with others that said they wished they'd known in the beginning. It would have added such an interesting element, but adding it at the end worked too!
Such a fascinating story about survival, adventure, and taking a chance. I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
It's a dual timeline and I appreciated both. One, a great great granddaughter is trying to fulfill a grandfather's dying wish. In another, a young family is trying to strike it big in Alaska during the gold rush and then, eventually, oil. As with any big windfall of money, this family in Alaska encounters sickness, greed, envy and deceit.
I loved learning about this family. The note at the end that this is based on the author's real family was such a nice treat. I agree with others that said they wished they'd known in the beginning. It would have added such an interesting element, but adding it at the end worked too!
Such a fascinating story about survival, adventure, and taking a chance. I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
November 5, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed the storytelling this author supplied. I was deeply engrossed in the details, but didn’t find this book to be completely predictable. I had a love/hate relationship with Alice, as she was headstrong and courageous, but also furiously stubborn and at times very self serving.
It was interesting for me to ask my self at times who was the villain of this story. The natives to the Klondike or the Californians working the land - or something else like greed and wealth.
All over, an engaging historical fiction stacked with flawed characters that will drive you mad with their choices.
I enjoyed the storytelling this author supplied. I was deeply engrossed in the details, but didn’t find this book to be completely predictable. I had a love/hate relationship with Alice, as she was headstrong and courageous, but also furiously stubborn and at times very self serving.
It was interesting for me to ask my self at times who was the villain of this story. The natives to the Klondike or the Californians working the land - or something else like greed and wealth.
All over, an engaging historical fiction stacked with flawed characters that will drive you mad with their choices.
July 21, 2023
An exceptional book, based on the author’s own family.
The story of the Klondike gold rush was fascinating. Not knowing anything about this except that it had happened made this extra interesting. I learned so much.
Well written, well developed.
I received this through GoodReads First Reads.
The story of the Klondike gold rush was fascinating. Not knowing anything about this except that it had happened made this extra interesting. I learned so much.
Well written, well developed.
I received this through GoodReads First Reads.
April 12, 2024
The Prospectors is a beautifully written historical fiction based on true events and people. It follows Clarence Berry, his wife Ethel, and her sister Alice Bush as they travel to the Klondike during the Gold Rush in 1898. Clarence and Ethel had already staked a claim in the Yukon Territory and Alice wants to join them on their second trip to make her own fortune.
The story spans 1898-1904 and then flips to 2015 where we learn about the Berry/Bush descendants. Parts of the book are based on Alice’s memoir, and in the Acknowledgements section, we learn that the author is a descendant of Alice.
Alice is on the dangerous journey to help her sister Ethel who is in ailing health. When they finally make it to their claims, Alice’s true character emerges: she dislikes her brother-in-law and the helpers he hired: Jim, a First Nation person, who is their packer, and his sister Jane, who is hired as their housekeeper. Alice is a schemer and wants to make her own fortune in any way possible.
In 2015, Alice's great-great-granddaughter Anna, makes the trip to Yukon to help her grandfather make reparations to Jim and Jane’s descendants because he believes Clarence made his fortune by stealing land from the First Nation people.
I liked the parts of the book that took place in the Klondike but I could have done without the story in 2015 because it felt a little politically motivated. The story also jumps from 1898 to 1904 Los Angeles where Alice and Clarence are the best of friends (or fiends), without explanation.
The story spans 1898-1904 and then flips to 2015 where we learn about the Berry/Bush descendants. Parts of the book are based on Alice’s memoir, and in the Acknowledgements section, we learn that the author is a descendant of Alice.
Alice is on the dangerous journey to help her sister Ethel who is in ailing health. When they finally make it to their claims, Alice’s true character emerges: she dislikes her brother-in-law and the helpers he hired: Jim, a First Nation person, who is their packer, and his sister Jane, who is hired as their housekeeper. Alice is a schemer and wants to make her own fortune in any way possible.
In 2015, Alice's great-great-granddaughter Anna, makes the trip to Yukon to help her grandfather make reparations to Jim and Jane’s descendants because he believes Clarence made his fortune by stealing land from the First Nation people.
I liked the parts of the book that took place in the Klondike but I could have done without the story in 2015 because it felt a little politically motivated. The story also jumps from 1898 to 1904 Los Angeles where Alice and Clarence are the best of friends (or fiends), without explanation.
November 14, 2023
The Prospectors by Ariel Djanikian
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)
Genre: Historical Fiction
About 365 pages
The Bushes and the Berrys followed the masses to Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush. The families made millions off stolen land, and years later, one family member wants to share some of that wealth with those his ancestors neglected. But is it too late? And is that the right thing to do? The Prospectors follows the stories of the gold rush years and Anna and her grandfather trying to restore the scales that were long neglected.
I normally wouldn’t pick up this book on my own, but when it was picked as my book club book last month, I was intrigued. I won’t lie… I STRUGGLED for the first 1/3 of this book. This book is a slow burn, and it took me a while to get invested in the story, but once I did, I was fully in. The family drama was entertaining and convoluted. The characters were complex and not always likable. And it forced the reader to think about their morals and the extensive history of stolen land in America. I don’t think the present-day storyline was necessary since (1) the stories didn’t tie in closely/build off each other a lot and (2) we didn’t get a ton of pages of it anyways.
Favorite Quote: “You’re right,” Owen agreed, though in a way to make me realize that I’d talked myself into a trap. “It is too complicated. Which ends up being super convenient for us. The harm we do to other people is so obfuscated by all these layers of economic transactions that it’s almost totally hidden. It makes it perfectly rational to give up trying to figure out how our actions affect other people.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)
Genre: Historical Fiction
About 365 pages
The Bushes and the Berrys followed the masses to Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush. The families made millions off stolen land, and years later, one family member wants to share some of that wealth with those his ancestors neglected. But is it too late? And is that the right thing to do? The Prospectors follows the stories of the gold rush years and Anna and her grandfather trying to restore the scales that were long neglected.
I normally wouldn’t pick up this book on my own, but when it was picked as my book club book last month, I was intrigued. I won’t lie… I STRUGGLED for the first 1/3 of this book. This book is a slow burn, and it took me a while to get invested in the story, but once I did, I was fully in. The family drama was entertaining and convoluted. The characters were complex and not always likable. And it forced the reader to think about their morals and the extensive history of stolen land in America. I don’t think the present-day storyline was necessary since (1) the stories didn’t tie in closely/build off each other a lot and (2) we didn’t get a ton of pages of it anyways.
Favorite Quote: “You’re right,” Owen agreed, though in a way to make me realize that I’d talked myself into a trap. “It is too complicated. Which ends up being super convenient for us. The harm we do to other people is so obfuscated by all these layers of economic transactions that it’s almost totally hidden. It makes it perfectly rational to give up trying to figure out how our actions affect other people.”
August 26, 2024
I was hoping to read a book all about mining for gold. Not the case. They had two different years 1890s and the 1990s that they wrote and read about. They had two different readers read about the 1890s and the 1990s. They alternated between those years. Because of this I felt as if it was hard to follow and relate to any character. I felt it was scattered too much to stay with the story line and the characters.
October 28, 2023
4.5..powerful and thought provoking story of the Klondike Gold Rush...I got so engaged in the past that when the story came back to the present day, I had forgotten we started there.
December 12, 2023
3.5
I loved the story of the Berry Bush Family and their discovery of gold in the Klondike. The fearlessness and sense of adventure are admirable.
The dual time line from the late 1800’s to 2015 was not necessary. It was distracting and did not add to the story. As far as I can tell from limited research, the events of 2015 were fictional.
I would have liked some author notes at the end. To explain what was factual and what was not would have been helpful. What happened to the characters? What does the family tree look like today?
The story was based on the author’s own family. What branch is she descended from?
I loved the story of the Berry Bush Family and their discovery of gold in the Klondike. The fearlessness and sense of adventure are admirable.
The dual time line from the late 1800’s to 2015 was not necessary. It was distracting and did not add to the story. As far as I can tell from limited research, the events of 2015 were fictional.
I would have liked some author notes at the end. To explain what was factual and what was not would have been helpful. What happened to the characters? What does the family tree look like today?
The story was based on the author’s own family. What branch is she descended from?
November 5, 2023
Slow and poorly written
November 1, 2023
1.5 -- an insomniacs wet dream,, a miracle cure for the sleepless
December 10, 2023
I disliked this a lot lol
The most staggering thing for me was how //structurally// weak it was. In addition for being the last straw in ushering in my feral hatred for a dual narrative framework (seemingly a fixture in every single historical fiction book actively published), the timeline of the characters’ decisions and //when// things were revealed made ZERO sense to me.
The most staggering thing for me was how //structurally// weak it was. In addition for being the last straw in ushering in my feral hatred for a dual narrative framework (seemingly a fixture in every single historical fiction book actively published), the timeline of the characters’ decisions and //when// things were revealed made ZERO sense to me.
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December 16, 2023I couldn't designate the format on the app, but I listened to this on audiobook while driving.
I'm not sure quite what I think about this yet, or what to rate it, so no rating for now. I'll need to process it a bit. I do wish we had gotten more of the present perspective of the granddaughter seeking out the land her grandfather's inheritance was from in lieu of him, instead of sparsely just the first chapter from each section. I liked the narration of the women, in their voices and tones, and I liked the inclusion of social commentary of the past from a contemporary perspective on race, quasi-colonisation or at least bulldozing use of native land, the experience and perspective of the natives on the gold rush ventures, ethics, fair treatment, consideration of the female experience, &c.---I wish we got a little more of that kind of discussion from the couple and among the residents and extended family in the chapters set in the present. The main male was murky and morally grey and could've been defined more clearly, as I often wasn't sure where he stood or what his character/ethics consisted of, even though our perspective is mostly seen through the experience and eyes of his wife's younger sister, who voluntarily accompanied the couple to assist, as she felt was necessary. I also wish we had more context and history of the characters involved in both the past and present, though there were some plot-driven revelations told through further past lens more than halfway into the story. I wanted to hear more of the grandfather's history and the history of the gold inheritance in the intervening century regarding his family and his family's treatment of the two family's involved and connected to the Barrys, about the grandfather's life and affairs (6 wives), and some more on whetting little details sprinkled in. I guess there wasn't supposed to be much happening there, though some seemed hinted at. A lot of expectations that came along as I was listening were disappointed and not addressed, but I guess I just imagined the story playing out and being narrated differently than the author did, which is fine. Heavy on the family drama and being character-driven than plot-driven, as I experienced it. This is something I usually go for, but it didn't seemed to work this time around for me. I couldn't say if it would have better if it were more plot-driven or not. My theme I was looking for was adventurous for Sagittarius season, and so this suited.
I'm not sure quite what I think about this yet, or what to rate it, so no rating for now. I'll need to process it a bit. I do wish we had gotten more of the present perspective of the granddaughter seeking out the land her grandfather's inheritance was from in lieu of him, instead of sparsely just the first chapter from each section. I liked the narration of the women, in their voices and tones, and I liked the inclusion of social commentary of the past from a contemporary perspective on race, quasi-colonisation or at least bulldozing use of native land, the experience and perspective of the natives on the gold rush ventures, ethics, fair treatment, consideration of the female experience, &c.---I wish we got a little more of that kind of discussion from the couple and among the residents and extended family in the chapters set in the present. The main male was murky and morally grey and could've been defined more clearly, as I often wasn't sure where he stood or what his character/ethics consisted of, even though our perspective is mostly seen through the experience and eyes of his wife's younger sister, who voluntarily accompanied the couple to assist, as she felt was necessary. I also wish we had more context and history of the characters involved in both the past and present, though there were some plot-driven revelations told through further past lens more than halfway into the story. I wanted to hear more of the grandfather's history and the history of the gold inheritance in the intervening century regarding his family and his family's treatment of the two family's involved and connected to the Barrys, about the grandfather's life and affairs (6 wives), and some more on whetting little details sprinkled in. I guess there wasn't supposed to be much happening there, though some seemed hinted at. A lot of expectations that came along as I was listening were disappointed and not addressed, but I guess I just imagined the story playing out and being narrated differently than the author did, which is fine. Heavy on the family drama and being character-driven than plot-driven, as I experienced it. This is something I usually go for, but it didn't seemed to work this time around for me. I couldn't say if it would have better if it were more plot-driven or not. My theme I was looking for was adventurous for Sagittarius season, and so this suited.
June 9, 2024
Like others, I picked up this book because of the premise around the Klondike gold rush. Based on the author's maternal relatives, the Berrys and the Bushes, the author loosely created a story around their history. You knew the present day characters were connected to the overall gold rush plot, but I'll agree that there was a disconnect to push through the author's main point of view to make reparations for the First Nation indigenous people of Alaska. Eeh.
Charlie Bush has struck gold in Alaska, and brings his wife, Ethel, on a few of his trips. Ethel, not really wanting her sister, Alice, to be a part of the dangerous trek, invites her along . Ensue drama! Everyone wants to get rich, no one cares about the land, and those who get lucky are despised by the rest.
"It isn't fair that Clarence is so filthy rich."
Alice Bush seems to be the central protagonist of the novel. And while I found myself wanting to root for her rise, she quickly becomes the anti-hero . In fact, the author does a really good job of making the right seem wrong. Huh.
"Truly you wear your mosquito bites with more class than any lady I've seen."
It's interesting the author chooses to write her family into this history. It doesn't seem complimentary to me. It made me wish that I knew the true story to compare.
3.5 stars for me. Would be great for discussion.
Charlie Bush has struck gold in Alaska, and brings his wife, Ethel, on a few of his trips. Ethel, not really wanting her sister, Alice, to be a part of the dangerous trek, invites her along . Ensue drama! Everyone wants to get rich, no one cares about the land, and those who get lucky are despised by the rest.
"It isn't fair that Clarence is so filthy rich."
Alice Bush seems to be the central protagonist of the novel. And while I found myself wanting to root for her rise, she quickly becomes the anti-hero . In fact, the author does a really good job of making the right seem wrong. Huh.
"Truly you wear your mosquito bites with more class than any lady I've seen."
It's interesting the author chooses to write her family into this history. It doesn't seem complimentary to me. It made me wish that I knew the true story to compare.
3.5 stars for me. Would be great for discussion.
February 5, 2024
I've never read a book about the gold rush (either western or Canadian) but I really enjoyed this story. It does start a little bit slow, and honestly the dual timelines really aren't necessary (more on that later.)
The primary narrator in this book, Alice, grows to be a bit unlikeable, in my opinion. In the beginning of the story, she is the little sister, who attaches herself to her best friend/older sister in an effort to add some excitement to her life and establish her own voice. She is outspoken, and not afraid of confrontation, a not surprising trait in a family of four sisters. As she ages and becomes more comfortable with herself, she manipulates the people around her in an effort to control the outcome of some pretty major decisions. I never doubted that she loved her family, but her actions were at times cruel and her treatment of some rather ugly. I appreciated that her leadership reigned in her family's unnecessary spending, but it definitely felt like she was written as a "bitch" instead of a "boss" if you know what I mean. ;)
The dual timeline in this novel was my primary complaint. I don't feel like it contributed much to the story and felt like a heavy handed way of acknowledging that the invasion of native land and the stealing of resources is regrettable. I feel like the author felt it necessary to include this due to her own personal relationship to the story, as she is related to the people who she based the story on, but I felt like that could have been handled in a preface/epilogue and we still would have had a great novel. The good news is that the modern time line is abotu 15-20% of the book so it didn't take away too much.
The primary narrator in this book, Alice, grows to be a bit unlikeable, in my opinion. In the beginning of the story, she is the little sister, who attaches herself to her best friend/older sister in an effort to add some excitement to her life and establish her own voice. She is outspoken, and not afraid of confrontation, a not surprising trait in a family of four sisters. As she ages and becomes more comfortable with herself, she manipulates the people around her in an effort to control the outcome of some pretty major decisions. I never doubted that she loved her family, but her actions were at times cruel and her treatment of some rather ugly. I appreciated that her leadership reigned in her family's unnecessary spending, but it definitely felt like she was written as a "bitch" instead of a "boss" if you know what I mean. ;)
The dual timeline in this novel was my primary complaint. I don't feel like it contributed much to the story and felt like a heavy handed way of acknowledging that the invasion of native land and the stealing of resources is regrettable. I feel like the author felt it necessary to include this due to her own personal relationship to the story, as she is related to the people who she based the story on, but I felt like that could have been handled in a preface/epilogue and we still would have had a great novel. The good news is that the modern time line is abotu 15-20% of the book so it didn't take away too much.
November 6, 2023
I don’t know if I’ve read any books set in the Yukon before, during the gold rush in the late 1800s, but it’s fascinating and heartbreaking. Both because of the indigenous people who are pushed out and the people who sold everything for a small chance at making it big.
Alice joins her already wealthy sister and brother-in-law up north, in a time where few women made the trek and none were listened to with respect. She’s a complex character, loyal to her family but also ambitious and prejudiced. I never really liked her, or many of the other characters in the past. She began to seem more and more greedy, unsatisfied with whatever her current situation was.
The counterpoint is set in 2015, with Alice’s great-great-granddaughter traveling to the Klondike to try to make amends with the First Nations people who were wronged.
This is a Barnes and Noble book club pick for October, and I can see why! It's slower paced, but there’s so much to discuss, from the sometimes questionable decisions made to the repercussions of the settlers’ actions. The ending left things in an unexpected place, too. 3.5 stars
Thank you Bibliolifestyle and William Morrow for my gifted copy!
Alice joins her already wealthy sister and brother-in-law up north, in a time where few women made the trek and none were listened to with respect. She’s a complex character, loyal to her family but also ambitious and prejudiced. I never really liked her, or many of the other characters in the past. She began to seem more and more greedy, unsatisfied with whatever her current situation was.
The counterpoint is set in 2015, with Alice’s great-great-granddaughter traveling to the Klondike to try to make amends with the First Nations people who were wronged.
This is a Barnes and Noble book club pick for October, and I can see why! It's slower paced, but there’s so much to discuss, from the sometimes questionable decisions made to the repercussions of the settlers’ actions. The ending left things in an unexpected place, too. 3.5 stars
Thank you Bibliolifestyle and William Morrow for my gifted copy!
September 22, 2024
I’m not quite sure how I stumbled on this novel, but a happy stumble it was! I love historical fiction that takes me back in time, grips me with its plot and characters, and teaches me about history at the same time. In my opinion, the Prospectors delivered it all.
I’m afraid the largest source of my knowledge ofthe Klondike gold rush is derived from the Yosemite Sam cartoons of my youth and some very bad westerns. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a novel set in that time period, and I feel I learned a great deal in these pages. Djanikian’s writing carried me on an adventure I can’t even imagine experiencing. The pure bravery that drove people to put themselves through such duress to pursue a dream few of them would have materialized was both admirable and appalling. I was on the edge of my seat on that initial journey to the Klondike.
I can honestly say it never occurred to me that the area had native people who were displaced for the sake of other’s success. I’m so grateful that Djanikian placed such focus on the other side of the story.
The characters are SO real and, in the case of Alice, the character development was expert and shocking!
I loved this novel. You might, too.
I’m afraid the largest source of my knowledge ofthe Klondike gold rush is derived from the Yosemite Sam cartoons of my youth and some very bad westerns. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a novel set in that time period, and I feel I learned a great deal in these pages. Djanikian’s writing carried me on an adventure I can’t even imagine experiencing. The pure bravery that drove people to put themselves through such duress to pursue a dream few of them would have materialized was both admirable and appalling. I was on the edge of my seat on that initial journey to the Klondike.
I can honestly say it never occurred to me that the area had native people who were displaced for the sake of other’s success. I’m so grateful that Djanikian placed such focus on the other side of the story.
The characters are SO real and, in the case of Alice, the character development was expert and shocking!
I loved this novel. You might, too.
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