The Alaskan Laundry

By: Brendan Jones

Narrated by: Rebecca Gibel

The Alaskan Laundry is beautiful evocation of a place and a testament to the unshakable lure of home. It also offers an unforgettable story of one woman's journey from isolation back to the possibility of love.

©2016 Brendan Jones. Recorded by arrangement with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (P)2016 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"This is a truly towering debut novel. Brendan Jones charts new novelistic territory and sends back moving dispatches from the frontiers of the human heart." (Adam Johnson, author of The Orphan Master's Son)

"There are the easy journeys, the ones that take us where we mean to travel, and there are those we shy from, the dark and uncertain treks of the soul. Without flinching, nineteen-year-old Tara ventures from South Philly to the male-dominated "Rock," an island off the coast of Alaska. True to her boxer instincts, Tara comes out swinging, unsure what the island will make of her. As layers of her former life wash away, she proves as raw and tender as the landscape, as striking and unforgettable. A promising debut, true to the core - a novel of grit and redemption." (Deb Vanasse, author of Cold Spell and Out of the Wilderness)

" The Alaskan Laundry is a novel of bracing air that gets deep into your lungs. As Tara Marconi reinvents herself in Alaska, we see all facets of the American dream of self-reliance and boundless possibility play out on the stage of the Last Frontier. A strong, singular person grows in these pages. Like a protagonist in a Daniel Woodrell novel, she is stubborn, heroic, and capable of anything." (Will Chancellor, author of A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall)

Excellent first novel

From start to finish, this story is full of beautifully described landscapes, exciting scenes in unexpected places ( I don't want to give any thing away), and unusual, sympathetically written characters.
The writing style is mature and fluid, the scenes flow easily from one to the next. The main characters were easy to like. Especially for a first novel, I would highly recommend this book. My only problem is that the story ended abruptly. One important relationship was left hanging, which I believe is unfair to the reader. Perhaps a sequel would resolve this, and other questions that aren't answered at the end of the book. In this reader's opinion, an enjoyable novel that doesn't quite feel finished.

Wonderful

I really enjoyed listening to this story. I did not want to stop, at every free minute I had, I would try to listen to the book.

Super interesting story!

Great story. Learned a lot about Alaska and fisheries. I would recommend reading or listening to this book!

Different and very interesting

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I definitely would recommend this book to anyone that will listen. Brendan Jones did a very good job describing the fishing industry in Alaska. Also, the young woman shows bravery as well as frailties. She was amazing. I'm hoping the author will write more just like it. I'll be first in line.

What does Rebecca Gibel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice describes audibly Tara's youth, vulnerabilities, and courage.

If you could rename The Alaskan Laundry, what would you call it?

I think it's perfect the way it is. The title is what drew me in.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait for a sequel.

Coming of age in Alaska's fishing industry

What did you like best about The Alaskan Laundry? What did you like least?

Fascination with the fishing industry is what hooked me on this book.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Deeper character development for the protagonist and key characters. It takes a long time to learn why she's made the choices that led her to Alaska, but even then the answers aren't very satisfying. It's enjoyable, if light.

Do you think The Alaskan Laundry needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Without giving a spoiler alert, I'd say the end is crafted for a sequel.

Any additional comments?

To me, this reads like a YA coming of age story - and I read a fair amount of YA material. A decent debut novel, but I wouldn't rush to buy the author's next book.