Itemize Books Concering Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

Original Title:	Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod
ISBN:	0156001454 (ISBN13: 9780156001458)
Edition Language:	English

Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod Paperback | Pages: 272 pages

Mention Containing Books Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

Title	:	Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod
Author	:	Gary Paulsen
Book Format	:	Paperback
Book Edition	:	Special Edition
Pages	:	Pages: 272 pages
Published	:	February 17th 1995 by Mariner Books (first published January 1st 1994)
Categories	:	Nonfiction. Autobiography. Memoir. Adventure. Animals

Explanation To Books Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

The funniest book I have ever read. This stands among the rare books that will get you looks for laughing out loud in the middle of the airport. This is the true story of the author who, in "dangerous ignorance," just up and decides to run the Iditarod. Its a story of essentially self discovery, but really, its completely and totally insane. The adventures are hilarious, and the journey is amazing. There is only one way for a story about a full team of Iditarod -class sled dogs raring to go with nothing but a guy on a Schwinn behind them to end. That way is friggin funny. Well, and a little dangerous.

Rating Containing Books Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

Ratings: 4.26 From 5729 Users | 897 Reviews

Write-Up Containing Books Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

Gary Paulsen is crazy. Im not making this up or being pejorative. He describes himself as a crazy s.o.b. His craziness comes out in his telling of his journey to and through the Iditarod in his book Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod. The book details his beginning love of dogs and sledding, his mad desire to run the Iditarod, and the surreal experiences he encountered in his first running of that iconic race. Paulsens book is well written, clear, and often self-effacing. He

A wonderful book. There is exactly one word in this book that bugs me (view spoiler)[if you're the type of person who thinks that the word rape shouldn't be used unless you're referring to sexual assault, as I am, then you too might take issue with Paulsen when he says his Iditarod funds are "raped" as he makes his way to Alaska (hide spoiler)]; otherwise this is by turns shocking, laugh-out-loud funny, stirring, amazing, utterly insane & all of that good stuff.

Award-winning children's author, Gary Paulsen, has another life besides just being a children's author. He draws on his experience as an avid outdoors man to write his amazing books, i.e., Hatchet, Brian's Winter. Within the first couple pages of Winterdance, Paulsen is careening around in the Minnesota back woods on a sled that is being pulled by a pack of dogs. The book could end right then and there as he goes off the edge of a cliff, but he manages to survive and so do all his dogs. That

The book was okay. The author had some pretty neat experiences that were interesting to read about. The writing, however, was mediocre and reminiscent of 80's YA. It's like he's trying to hard to pound into our heads about how meaningful his experience was, instead of just telling us the story and letting us figure it out on our own. Plus every two pages there was some variation of, "I was arrogant and thought it couldn't possibly get any harder. Little did I know, it would." It got old quick.

Having a passion for running sled dogs, Gary Paulsen decided to enter the Iditarod. It seemed a good idea at the time--after all, the race is only 1180 miles long--in the winter--in Alaska. In Paulsen's case, ignorance was bliss. After, in his view, adequate training, Paulsen and his 15 dog team began the Iditarod which turned out to be seventeen days of Hell. He and his dogs suffered blinding snowstorms, frostbite, moose attacks, dog fights, roaring winds, and a host of other challenges. This

I am not one for reading the nonfiction genre, but I really got into this book. Not only did I learn so much about the things involved in running and preparing for the Iditarod, but I also found myself laughing outloud at the most inappropriate times! Paulsen's style of writing made me smile in one chapter and want to cry in the next one. I found my "teacher" side coming out quite often as I read. There was more than one chapter that caught my eye for various reasons, but the chapter called

There are moments in our life when we realize we are mere mortals. Some things we will never get a chance to do. After reading this book, I am now aware that I will never enter a dog sled team into the Iditarod race. Ah! Mortality!