I was so pleased at the beginning of this book--it was not what I was expecting. I wasn't expecting the funny moments. Josie is a great character. But I found myself getting frustrated with her, maybe only because she is so different than me. I am a rule-follower. And Josie kept on doing these things that made me think, "who do you think you are?! Why do you think you can get away with that!" 
 The book was problematic, although enjoyable. Josie's actions prove her to be an unintelligent person. But she is a dentist, which makes me think she's not someone who would do these mindless things. Why did she think she could take her children away with no problems. And how could there have not been more problems? I almost wanted something to come of Josie's stupid actions. I was looking for actual horror to unfold. Whether it be because she abandoned her children or trusted the wrong stranger or put them in physical harm. 
 Oh, and I don't know where to put this but: the music scene at the end was stupid and boring and I disliked it a ton. 
 I did love her children, though. So, so much. It was interesting to see Paul as a mini adult. It made me think of my dad, who had a teenage, single mother. I can see how a single mother with a child not much younger than she is would depend on her child, looking to them for someone to lean on more than a child should be leaned on, for counsel, for someone to take on a bigger weight than they can handle. Paul adapted. But I felt mad at Josie that he had to. 
 I do like the idea, expressed on page 307, that Josie wanted to do this to make her children better and more pure. I could probably stand to strand myself in Alaska, to shed all the things I rely on and find myself. I felt this way when I lived abroad in Italy and had none of my belongings with me and no ties to anyone in my everyday. It was the proudest of myself I've ever been. My life was stripped down and easy and slow. 
 The scene at the end in the Alaskan wilderness is terrifying. Eggers does an amazing job of making the reader's heart race and feel the wind whipping etc etc. I was so worried about what would happen to Josie, Ana, and Paul. So angry at Josie for putting her innocent children in danger. So angry that they had to take care of her and trust her when she proved herself to be completely untrustworthy. 
 In the end I'm not sure how I feel about Josie. I'm probably being too judgmental. But I enjoyed the story and the writing, despite all the problems and questions I had about the plot.