With what has been happening in our world today, it felt appropriate to read about a city coming together during a crisis. This Is Chance!: The Shaking of an All-American City, a Voice That Held It Together tells the true story of the earthquake that shook Anchorage, Alaska in 1964, and what it took for this still-growing community to work through tragedy and uncertainty over one Easter weekend.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that mostly follows the actions of Genie Chance, a part-time radio reporter and working mother in Anchorage, Alaska in 1964. This was a time in history when Alaska was still seen as the step-child of the USA. Having been a state for only five years, it was viewed as the place to go for those who were looking for a fresh start, or even their first one. Genie and her husband Winston had taken the opportunity to start again, moving to Anchorage from Texas. It is while she was out with her oldest son on Good Friday that an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2 moved the ground underneath the city. What would follow is three days of intense activity: Ad hoc rescue and recovery teams would form to search the city for survivors, while also reporting back the extent of the damage. City officials would rope off entire sections of the city to encourage people to stay home (if their home was still standing) and not contribute to the traffic jams, helping to keep streets clear for emergency vehicles. And Genie would somehow end up being the voice that was heard through it all. Once the station she worked for was up and running, it would be her voice that would broadcast vital information to the city, as well as the names of those who were okay, of those who were missing, and even those who simply wanted to reach out to the lower 48 states. Her broadcasts would be heard and transmitted across America, with some crossing the ocean, earning her fame and recognition under unusual circumstances.
My Verdict: Earthquakes are terrifying, and they can strike at any time. I wish there was slightly more focus on the moment when the ground began to move, and what that realization was like. There is some information about that here, but as someone who has never experienced an earthquake - and I never hope to - I was wanting a somewhat bigger window into what that is like. Even so, the information on what comes next is impressive in its detail, as well as encouraging. Yes, there is some panic, and the occasional temper flares as people rush to save the city and its residents. But mostly, people simply do their best to help. As one sociologist notes, it is something that is seen in events of this nature around the world. The fear is there that the worst will come out of everyone, but the reality is different. Mooallem's decision to relay the events almost in the style of the Thornton Wilder play Our Town, which was set to be performed by the community theater before the earthquake hit, makes for an interesting narrative. It is one that introduces key individuals and gives their life story in a few short, though engaging sentences. It is a short enjoyable read for any lover of nonfiction.
Favorite Moment: I love that Genie was able to move past every barrier that would have kept her from being a major figure in broadcasting, mostly because she was a woman, and became a famous voice that mobilized a community.
Recommended Reading: Boom Town by Sam Anderson tells the incredible story of how Oklahoma City came to be.
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