Surviving the Island of Grace: Life on the Wild Edge of America

Surviving the Island of Grace tells the story of Leslie Layland Field's struggle as a new bride unfamiliar with the life she has married into and how she fought to make that life her own. It's a life most people can't begin to imagine--isolated a good part of the year at a remote fishing camp under fairly primitive conditions, with no guarantees of a prosperous outcome. Her writing brings alive the hardships and rewards of this difficult life. It's a story of a journey--from her difficult childhood, her adventures in college, travels around the world, building a home on an isolated Alaskan island bereft of what most people consider the necessities of life, and finally embracing this life of her choosing. It's also a book about Alaska and it's harsh, unforgiving, and spectacular landscape, told from the perspective of a person living in this environment for the first time. The book covers the first fifteen years of this harsh, not always rewarding, life in an honest, forthright manner. Her writing draws you into her story--bringing to life her trials and triumphs.

"Surviving the Island of Grace" is, in effect, two books in one. It is a gripping picture of an adventurous and unique lifestyle. Complete with Triumph, tragedy, danger, suspense, sorrow and joy. Well written and well paced it is an enjoyable read. But Leslie Leyland Fields also opens her heart and shares the inner turmoil of her experiences. Both the baggage she brings to the Island and the struggles she encounters there. Although we may not be able to relate to her circumstances we can all relate to times in our lives of isolation and confusion. Islands in our lives that tore at the very fabric of our being. Leslies' openness and transparency through extreme circumstances and hardship bring hope for those island time in our lives.

Surviving the Island of Grace: Life on the Wild Edge of America I have no experience with boats, fishing, island life and the sea except for the occasional Carnival cruise vacation. So, it was fascinating to imagine living a life like Leslie's on a small Alaskan island. She tells both of the personal details of the day-to-day life on an island (how do you get a gallon of milk without a Walmart down the street?) and also of the adventures. What drew me in to this book was Leslie's transparency. It was as though I could really try on her life. She writes of the dynamic period of when she is completing college through starting her young family. The time she was sailing her skiff alone back to her home and was caught in a snowstorm and couldn't see land was especially captivating. Poor Leslie! How can you put down the book until you find out how she going to get out of that one?! I met Leslie in Hatcher's Pass, Alaska this fall before ever reading her book. She was the speaker at our women's retreat. You could not tell by looking at this beautiful petite young lady that she had lived for years as a fisherwoman. Her life-long love for words has paid off as she unfolds her life to us. I became even better friends with her after reading her story.