Rating: 
Summary: More than A Passage
Review: "Passage to Juneau" is more than a simple journey by sea. It is a passage through the psychology of a place and the emotions surrounding loss - loss of a father and loss of a marital relationship, made more poignant by the comparison with the marriage of his parents. Time in this text has many dimensions. I enjoyed them all.
Rating:
Summary: A multi-faceted journey into life itself
Review: A wonderful mix of a well documented journey of the Northwest passage,history of English exploration,an explanation of the intricasies of N.W Indian art( a very astute and imaginative view) and personal crisies all written in an engrossing fashion laced with humor.Everyone should be able to relate to something in this book.I enjoyed the author as a real person going through life as best he can.I will be reading his other books,thanks Mr.Raban for taking me into your world.
Rating: 
Summary: "I meant to go fishing for reflections...
Review: and come back with a glittering haul."So plans Jonathan Raban, when he begins fitting out his small boat, well-stocked with both supplies and literary works, for a trip up the inner passage from Seattle to Juneau. Raban soon gets on his way to Alaska, the last frontier of North America. The exploration that Raban undertakes on this voyage occurs both in the outer environment and inside himself. He explores, and describes in lush detail, the spectacular and stunning scenery of the coast. To Raban, these outposts of America and British Columbia represent the best of the sublime - a romantic concept which reveres the fantastic and unexplored in nature. Raban docks at many undiscovered ports, and shares these journeys with the reader. In addition to his travel, however, Raban learns a great deal about himself, particularly about his dual roles as son and father, in the course of the journey. Also woven into the text is a good deal of material about earlier inhabitants of the Inner Passage; both Native Americans and early European explorers of the coastline. This is a beautiful book about the landscape, the sea, and its meaning to one individual. It is beautifully written and will not easily be forgotten.
Rating:
Summary: "I meant to go fishing for reflections...
Review: and come back with a glittering haul." So plans Jonathan Raban, when he begins fitting out his small boat, well-stocked with both supplies and literary works, for a trip up the inner passage from Seattle to Juneau. Raban soon gets on his way to Alaska, the last frontier of North America. The exploration that Raban undertakes on this voyage occurs both in the outer environment and inside himself. He explores, and describes in lush detail, the spectacular and stunning scenery of the coast. To Raban, these outposts of America and British Columbia represent the best of the sublime - a romantic concept which reveres the fantastic and unexplored in nature. Raban docks at many undiscovered ports, and shares these journeys with the reader. In addition to his travel, however, Raban learns a great deal about himself, particularly about his dual roles as son and father, in the course of the journey. Also woven into the text is a good deal of material about earlier inhabitants of the Inner Passage; both Native Americans and early European explorers of the coastline. This is a beautiful book about the landscape, the sea, and its meaning to one individual. It is beautifully written and will not easily be forgotten.
Rating:
Summary: An intense look at the wilderness within and without.
Review: As in his earlier "Coasting", Raban weaves his inner and outer journeys in his classic self-revelatory style. His portrayal of Vancouver's struggles makes a great sub-plot. His descriptive powers zero right in. I've never read a better passage on the fundamental difference between the US and Canada. Raban evokes the spirit of the place and the people in ways that are surprising for just one trip North. His passages about his relationship with his father and daughter Julia are heartfelt and moving. Having spent some years in Southeast Alaska in the early 70's working on the water, it's great to read something other than the typical gushing travel writer's fiction. Raban gives us a very personal glimpse into a unique world. Ranks with McPhee's "Coming into the Country" and Edward Hoagland's "Notes from the Century Before" as one of the best books about the Alaskan experience as well as a very personal voyage of discovery.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow Boat to Alaska
Review: British author Raban is definitely overrated if this book is typical for him. While his descriptive abilities are superb,his need to impress everyone with his erudition and literary background create too many obstacles in his troubled passage through life. No wonder his wife left him, he has trouble with his siblings and couldn't get along with his father. While he understands what happened to him as a child (being the only child for three years while his dad was at war), he doesn't seem to benefit from this knowledge. Perhaps a visit to a psychologist rather than a trip to Alaska would be in order.
Rating:
Summary: An Inside Passage in many ways
Review: For me, reading Passage to Juneau was a little like cruising in a sailboat. When I step onboard the boat and leave land behind there is an adjustment period where my brain shifts from the hectic 'rat race' pace of every day life to a slower, more reflective pace. For the first several pages I found myself at odds with the seemingly slow and plodding style of the book. Gradually, my mind reached an equilibrium with the pace of the book and I began to savor every new page. I remember reading a novel about the sea by Joseph Conrad and going through the same difficult adjustment period. I think it's safe to say the problem lies not with the writer, but with this reader! As beautifully written as I think this book was, I also thought it a rather painful book to read sometimes...painful in the sense that I was experiencing this trip through the eyes and mind of a man who was living through a bad set of circumstances in his life. This book was truly about an Inside Passage in many ways. I sometimes found myself wishing that he could see things through glasses with even just the slightest rose-colored tint. All in all, I thought Passage to Juneau was a wonderful mix of travel, history, sailing, science, cultures, and a little Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. This book had sat on my shelf for a very, very long while before I finally read it. I think I knew that I would need to be in the right frame of mind to try and tackle it. It was a book and trip that I'll never forget. I think he's one of the best writers today.
Rating:
Summary: landlocked reader
Review: For this landlocked reader I was immediately disappointed to discover that what I supposed would be a journey into the nether regions to be actually a trip along a much traveled sea route. And in truthfullness, for the first hundred pages, the subject matter of the sea, of little interest to me, was very boring. However, as the tale progressed, I admit to becoming more interested, and thanks to the author, more knowledgable. I perceived Raban to be intelligent and entertaining with high marks for being very well read and insighful. On the other, was a collection of ad hoc meanderings, united only by the journey, suffering just a tiny bit from less than totally clear thought process.. I enjoyed the book and would have to call the last chapter memorable.
Rating:
Summary: Sometimes difficult passage
Review: For those interested in the Inside Passage and the shore of the Northwest (West for Canadians), this book is worth the read. It is chuck full of the ocean's hydrology, the native cultures that used to exist, their disappearance, and the history of the white man's first incursion in these waters. Raban's sharp eye gives the reader an outstanding sense of place. However, the book too often digresses into the evolution of English literature and then into Raban himself. He leaves the boat and then takes a tack all the way to England, to his father's funeral, his father's experiences, and his relationship with his father. He could have recounted how the ghost of his father may have visited him during his Passage to Juneau, but the chapter-long digressions are a bit too self-indulgent for a readership ostensibly interested in the Inside Passage and the oceans. The end of the book is also a bit desultory, making the return trip to Seattle in a matter of a few pages. Better to have skipped the attempt altogether and ended it with the drama that met him in Juneau. Passage to Juneau is a good book written by a master of the language. A little stronger editing would have made it a great work.
Rating: 
Summary: Misleading Title
Review: Having lived in Ketchikan, Ak. for 20 years, the title immediately caught my attention. I purchased the book online, having read so many wonderful reviews. The problem I found was that Mr. Raban seemed to have gotten tired by the time he reached Alaska, or perhaps he so looked forward to his daughter's arrival (which makes convenient tension for his story), he no longer took the time to fully research this part of his journey. While his journey was full of historical accounts to the north end of Vancouver Island, there were only a couple token references for the rest of the journey. So much more could have been done concerning rhe complex problems of the native community, the people who live there, and yes, even the "tourons", then the superficial treatment he gave it. He admits he would not care to live in Alaska and his writing shows it. There are errors that should have been corrected, including: Its the Mendenhall Glacier (not the Mildenhall). I seriously doubt he spotted grey whales, most likely they were humpbacks. And it is confusing to mention Metlakatla near Prince Rupert without at least explaining that most people are more familiar with the Metlakatla located in Alaska (not far from Ketchikan).
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