Magnificent.
Dave
Eggers presents a grand, heroic look at the threatening frontier of Alaska that
is ironically both frozen and constantly fraught with forest fires.
Simultaneously, he presents within Josie, a single-mother perpetually on edge
of either a nervous breakdown or looking to succumb to rampant alcoholism, the
heroic, and all-too human, qualities of running away while running towards. All
throughout Heroes Of The Frontier,
Josie, along with her two young children, Paul and Ana, completely, and even
triumphantly, does both.
Eggers manifests
within the novel a philosophy of life, marriage, the tediousness of parenting,
and, most importantly, the need to grab hold of that golden ring. Through
Josie, we get quirky, and often times hysterical, looks at the insanity of a
grade school event schedule, the requisite stupidity of musicals, the glaring
monotony of dentistry - perhaps the daily professional grind we all must endure
- and the absolute joy of singing, dancing, and communing with live music.
Josie embarks on her hero’s quest, destination unknown, hoping to find herself
while going off the grid, discovering unabashed kindness and typical American
anger. She loves her children, but maybe isn’t the best of parents. She wishes
to remove herself from society, but seeks out companionship. She drinks, too
much and too easily, but she also laughs, and smiles, and, eventually, does her
best to forgive.
Like all
great stories, the finale comes sooner than expected. However, the ultimate
ending escapes complete fulfillment as earlier steps in the journey might have
been more resolute in the closing of the circle. Then again, maybe I did not
want this tale to finish. I wanted the fierce mystery of Alaska to unwrap and
unveil as Josie continues her eternal quest for resolution and her well-deserved
happy ending, as do we all; all of us heroes in this unending frontier.
As
Always,
theJOE
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