Letters from Side Lake: A Chronicle of Life in the North Woods

It takes character to live in the sparsely populated, boggy North Woods wilderness of Minnesota, where the snows come in October, and winter temperatures dip to -50 F, where a sure sign of spring is an insect-splattered windshield. Leschak and his wife built a log cabin on their 40 acres of logged-over land, clearing stumps by hand. Here he gives an engaging and affectionate portrait of friendly isolation in the township of Side Lake (by comparison, Lake Wobegon is a metropolis). He writes about the limits of self-reliance, noting that wood heat is de rigueur, calling for a chain saw. He conjures up a mouth-watering, ideal blueberry patch, goes hiking on an abandoned trail, attempts white-water canoeing in flood stage. Other topics include the local volunteer fire company, moose hunting, saunas, firewood rustlers, social hours at the tavern, the pleasure of watching sunsets. Readers will be captivated by Side Lake. (May 13)