Waltz with Me, Alaska

Rating:
Summary: A Story of a Tenacious Family Living Their Dream
Review: A "dream life" desired by a young family from Anchorage, Alaska becomes a story of survival, love, and a frontier spirit for the Bernhardt family in this remarkable book. Would you and I be able to complete this dream? Not I!

The hardships Donna, Dick, Ricky and Katherine endured are an inspiration. The book is impossible to put down once you have embarked on their journey. A book to be read and re-read, enjoyed and applauded!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read
Review: Beautifully written. A great buy and would recommend to others.

Rating:
Summary: Now I understand
Review: I've had the privilage of meeting Donna Bernhardt, her daughter, Katherine married my son, Chris, in 1995. I also had the time of my life when I first went to Tok and got to experience the wood stove, outhouse,and staying in one of Donna's cabins, "Toms Cabin", to be pricise. I didn't get to meet Dick, but feel like I know alot more about him after reading "Waltz With Me, Alaska".This book is written so vividly, you can feel the cold, the pain and the love. I fell in love with Alaska at the begining of the book and cried at the ending. Good job, Donna North, can't wait to see the movie. Donna south

Rating:
Summary: Incredible Woman
Review: Lady Alaska, you are one incredible woman to endure it all in the name of pursuit of your dreams, to hold your family together, to see the injuries to your loved ones and get them through with only meager facilities. It was a story that painted a real picture. I have been there, as you know dearest high school classmate, to see the beautiful dancing lights at night, to see the beauty of winter, to drive the roads heaved from frost, and to feel the strong pull Alaska has on your heart forever. As we did in our youth, your children also did....had a unique experience that few will ever witness. Your written words made me laugh when you laughed, cry when you cried, felt pain when you were injured, and mourn when you lost your "Grizz"--the love of your life and your soulmate. I am so glad I bought this book and am so appreciative you shared your life with us readers. I hope to see this as a movie.....it certainly is deserving.

Rating:
Summary: We've All Dreamed of Running Away
Review: On any given Monday morning it crosses the minds of millions of Americans to just "tell the boss to keep his job, go home and sell everything absolutely unessential...then take the money and strike out for the adventure of a lifetime". That's exactly what Dick, Donna and their two children did...into the cold of interior Alaska. "Waltz With Me Alaska" is the story of their love for each other and their love for the most beautiful and unforgiving land God has created. It's also the story of struggles, heartbreak and the triumph of watching your dreams come true.
The story centers around their search for land and then their struggle to get a cabin constructed before winter began. They didn't make it. I sat in my home, 80 degrees outside, and felt like I was freezing to death with them (...)as the temperatures plumeted to 60, 70 and 80 below zero in Tok. Alaska. Food was running out, it looked like they might starve. Is this the 1800's? No, it's the 1970's!!!
"Waltz With Me Alaska" is a story of love, determination, good luck, bad luck and what it's REALLY like to leave the warm confines of our mundane lives....and strike out for the unknown to build a life and a dream.
I encourage you to read the book. Even if you decide to continue getting up on Monday morning and stare at the boss's smiling face, you'll know what it's like to break free, find your own corner of the world and then build a new life one log at a time.

Rating:
Summary: We've All Dreamed of Running Away
Review: On any given Monday morning it crosses the minds of millions of Americans to just "tell the boss to keep his job, go home and sell everything absolutely unessential...then take the money and strike out for the adventure of a lifetime". That's exactly what Dick, Donna and their two children did...into the cold of interior Alaska. "Waltz With Me Alaska" is the story of their love for each other and their love for the most beautiful and unforgiving land God has created. It's also the story of struggles, heartbreak and the triumph of watching your dreams come true.
The story centers around their search for land and then their struggle to get a cabin constructed before winter began. They didn't make it. I sat in my home, 80 degrees outside, and felt like I was freezing to death with them (...)as the temperatures plumeted to 60, 70 and 80 below zero in Tok. Alaska. Food was running out, it looked like they might starve. Is this the 1800's? No, it's the 1970's!!!
"Waltz With Me Alaska" is a story of love, determination, good luck, bad luck and what it's REALLY like to leave the warm confines of our mundane lives....and strike out for the unknown to build a life and a dream.
I encourage you to read the book. Even if you decide to continue getting up on Monday morning and stare at the boss's smiling face, you'll know what it's like to break free, find your own corner of the world and then build a new life one log at a time.

Rating:
Summary: Waltz With Me Alaska, a story of a family's survival
Review: This is an incredible story of one family's true story of survival in an old M.A.S.H. type army tent during 13 months of the Alaskan winter, while they build their log cabin.

Donna is still in the cabin today and runs her Summer season Winter Cabin, a bed & breakfast, where guests stay in additional log cabins. She has been on TV and has had numerous books, poetry, children's books published, and also has written several screenplays, including one from this book.

I can't stress how much I enjoyed reading this book. It has many lessons on family love and bonding during adversity.

Rating:
Summary: pioneer family of the North
Review: This story will leave you wondering why you ever complained about anything in the first place!!!Donna a true pioneer and inspiration of the North will make you cry when she cries,and laugh when she laughs. A story about a couragious family with enough love and strength to accomplish anything!! A love and survival story of how a family survived a cruel winter in Bush Alaska building their dreams and their home in the sometimes -69 degrees below zero. You can do anything when you put your mind and heart into it!!! Thankyou for such a GREAT read!! Hope to see this story in lights!!

Rating:
Summary: pioneer family of the North
Review: This story will leave you wondering why you ever complained about anything in the first place!!!Donna a true pioneer and inspiration of the North will make you cry when she cries,and laugh when she laughs. A story about a couragious family with enough love and strength to accomplish anything!! A love and survival story of how a family survived a cruel winter in Bush Alaska building their dreams and their home in the sometimes -69 degrees below zero. You can do anything when you put your mind and heart into it!!! Thankyou for such a GREAT read!! Hope to see this story in lights!!