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Last Days in Hunting Camp
Each year of their long marriage, Walt and Millie have spent a month apart, as Walt heads out to hunt bear and moose in the pristine Alaskan wilderness, and Millie takes to the concert stage to perform. Their letters, picked up and delivered by a bush pilot each week, keep them close.
Now in his seventy-sixth year, Walt realises his hunting days may soon be over, and there is a black bear prowling around his camp. Will Millie ever receive the crumpled letter Walt keeps in his pocket?
Now in his seventy-sixth year, Walt realises his hunting days may soon be over, and there is a black bear prowling around his camp. Will Millie ever receive the crumpled letter Walt keeps in his pocket?
29 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2014
About the author
Eowyn Ivey
8 books3,594 followersEowyn Ivey's first novel, The Snow Child, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction and an international bestseller. To the Bright Edge of the World was a Library Journal Top Ten Book of the Year, a BookPage Best Book of the year, and a Washington Post Notable Book. Eowyn was raised in Alaska and continues to live there with her husband and two daughters.
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Blog: Letters from Alaska
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Blog: Letters from Alaska
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 12 reviews
April 21, 2019
A sweet little short story, I definitely need to read more from this author as she has a way with words 😊
October 12, 2014
Review Taken From The Pewter Wolf
Every year in their long marriage, Walt and Millie spend a month apart. Walt goes hunting for bear and moose while Millie takes to the concert stage with her violin. Throughout this month, they write letters to each other every week. But Walt begins to realise that this might be his last camping trip, and with a black bear prowling round the camp site, Walt begins to wonder if the letter he's written in his pocket will ever react Millie...
Ok, I am going to admit this here and now. I had my expectations of this short story REALLY HIGH because I loved The Snow Child. Because of this, Last Days in Hunting Camp didn't live up to my expectation. I'm not sure if it is because I had high expectations, if the story felt different compared to my memory of The Snow Child or if it's because there was the use of swear words (only twice, if I remember right) whereas I'm certain The Snow Child didn't.
But I did like it. It was interesting to have more insight into these characters's world before the events of The Snow Child and I did enjoy Eowyn's writing.
While this might not live up to the memory of the quietly beautiful Snow Child, it does get me excited for Eowyn's next novel, Shadows on the Wolverine, which should be out sometime next year (hopefully)...
Every year in their long marriage, Walt and Millie spend a month apart. Walt goes hunting for bear and moose while Millie takes to the concert stage with her violin. Throughout this month, they write letters to each other every week. But Walt begins to realise that this might be his last camping trip, and with a black bear prowling round the camp site, Walt begins to wonder if the letter he's written in his pocket will ever react Millie...
Ok, I am going to admit this here and now. I had my expectations of this short story REALLY HIGH because I loved The Snow Child. Because of this, Last Days in Hunting Camp didn't live up to my expectation. I'm not sure if it is because I had high expectations, if the story felt different compared to my memory of The Snow Child or if it's because there was the use of swear words (only twice, if I remember right) whereas I'm certain The Snow Child didn't.
But I did like it. It was interesting to have more insight into these characters's world before the events of The Snow Child and I did enjoy Eowyn's writing.
While this might not live up to the memory of the quietly beautiful Snow Child, it does get me excited for Eowyn's next novel, Shadows on the Wolverine, which should be out sometime next year (hopefully)...
December 26, 2017
I bought this knowing it was a short story but, having loved The Snow Child I figured it would be good and also an indication of whether Eowyn Ivey was going to be able to pull me into her other novels.
Well, it is good.....but it is extra short. The voice that comes through in these few pages is strong and wonderful. Yet, this reads as the first chapter of a really good book - I'm not convinced it is actually a short story in its own right. Also, the blurb is a little misleading as to the actual plot of the story.
Honestly, I wish this had been one of the first chapters you get in the ends of books for the author's latest book rather than a 'short story' in its own right. To me, shorts shouldn't be just beginning to open up into a story at the end.
Well, it is good.....but it is extra short. The voice that comes through in these few pages is strong and wonderful. Yet, this reads as the first chapter of a really good book - I'm not convinced it is actually a short story in its own right. Also, the blurb is a little misleading as to the actual plot of the story.
Honestly, I wish this had been one of the first chapters you get in the ends of books for the author's latest book rather than a 'short story' in its own right. To me, shorts shouldn't be just beginning to open up into a story at the end.
December 24, 2018
I loved this but it is so very short, I became so involved with the characters immediately and was left wanting more!
May 1, 2022
Disappointed
I bought this knowing it was a short story, but was not expecting it to be only 50% of the content. I love the author’s previous books and had hoped for more of the same, only to find it was so short it was hardly a story at all, and ended very abruptly and disappointingly.
The other half of the content was just the author’s notes, followed by the first chapter of The Snow Child - which I already have. Overall I feel ripped off at having paid for it, and cheated out of what I thought would be a good read.
I bought this knowing it was a short story, but was not expecting it to be only 50% of the content. I love the author’s previous books and had hoped for more of the same, only to find it was so short it was hardly a story at all, and ended very abruptly and disappointingly.
The other half of the content was just the author’s notes, followed by the first chapter of The Snow Child - which I already have. Overall I feel ripped off at having paid for it, and cheated out of what I thought would be a good read.
February 17, 2022
Just a very short story I had my sister-in-law in England track down for me. Can’t wait for Ivey’s next novel.
June 26, 2018
Second effort from Ivey is basically a short story and it is over really before it begins. Pretty forgettable and not that interesting.
April 14, 2019
Could have been beautiful but then it ended
Five stars for what I read but why why did it end??? Wish this was a whole book was lovely
Five stars for what I read but why why did it end??? Wish this was a whole book was lovely
August 14, 2021
I didnt enjoy the second half of this book. It dragged on. Disappointed.
July 28, 2016
Disappointed it was only a short story. Wished I'd read the reviews before buying on kindle.
Only a short story, but had promise of so much more. Relied on the reputation of the author after enjoying The Snow Child .
Only a short story, but had promise of so much more. Relied on the reputation of the author after enjoying The Snow Child .
September 28, 2015
Really disappointed at this being a short story. I feel as though it was mis-sold.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 12 reviews