Starting out in the Afternoon - Book Review

Starting Out in the Afternoon
by Jill Frayne
Random House 2002
(picture is a LRGE file)

In 1989, writer Jill Frayne, was hit by a motorist while cycling. At first it was thought she wouldn't live, then never walk and then the prognosis was amended to always needing a cane. Frayne proved them all wrong.

In 1990 Jill Frayne's long-term relationship broke up, (probably over her injuries and recovery) and Jill decided she needed to rediscover herself. So she packed up her car and drove (from Ontario) to British Columbia. She went on a canoe trip around the Haida Islands off the coast of BC at Piince Rupert.

After the canoeing, Jill travelled up through the panhandle of Alaska to Juneau, taking the ferry boats that ply between Seattle and Juneau on a regular basis. After a brief trip across the border at Skagway to Yukon and White Horse, Jill then travelled to a remote town in northern BC called ATLIN. After spending some time in Atlin, Jill then went back down to Vancouver, and then visited Granville Island where she participated in a yoga workshop.

The last few chapters are updated to the "present day" covering the years between 1990 and 2002 when the book was published. Jill fell in love with Atlin and has continued to visit this town over the last 12 years. She also has a new relationahip.

Jills' daughter Bree was born in the early 1970s and was 17 years old when Jill left for BC. In 2002, Bree would be 29. In 2009 she would be turning 36 years old.
Jill Frayne's mother June Callwood was a well known writer and activist who died in 2007.

This was an interesting book. Written in the first person. Some details do get quite personal and other parts of this diary do wander a bit.

But otherwise I enjoyed it. I certainly enjoyed reading about the Haida Islands and the panhandle of Alaska.

I read this book for the 2nd Canadian challnge - ABM genre.