And the River Still Sings: A Wilderness Dweller's Journey by Chris Czajkowski, Caitlin Press, 256 pages, $21.95.
Many people feel the call of the wilderness but very few actually follow it. Chris Czajkowski is one of the few. For the past 25 years she has made her home in the wild landscape of the Chilcotin region of British Columbia. Her first cabin was on a shared property then a couple of years later she staked her claim to her own land and built another home, which she named Nuk Tessli.
What began as a correspondence with then CBC broadcaster Peter Gzowski grew into a regular inclusion to his program and then in 1980 she published her first book, Cabin at Singing River. Finding a receptive audience for her tales of wilderness life, Czajkowski went on to publish eleven books. In this latest release she brings a broader perspective to her journey from the young girl leaving England looking for adventure all the way to the end of her time at Nuk Tessli.
Her easy-going writing draws you into her unique life and feels as familiar as a letter from a friend. She tells of the joy of the solitary life without metaphor and speaks of the hardships without remorse. Through hard work and a clear vision she developed her own wilderness resort and guiding business until 2012 when she completed the sale of her property and left to start her next adventure.
Chris Czajkowski will be speaking on Oct. 4 at the Lynn Valley Ecology Centre at 2 p.m.
