KB Country in a Book

Jo here with a little book review for you.  You know  when you find a book you really love, you just yearn to tell everyone you know about it, and this is that kind of book!

This is Animal Dialogues: Uncommon Encounters in the Wild

written by Craig Childs.  I'll bet many of you know Craig Childs from his contributions to NPR's Morning Edition.  Mr. Childs is a naturalist and adventurer, who lives somewhere in KB Country, western Colorado.

In this book he has written about 35 of his adventures in essay form,

from interrupting Ravens in a ceremony, to a face off with a mountain lion at a desert water hole.  He has traveled most of the western USA and has a mystical attitude to most every animal he meets on his way.

This book is as exciting as any book of fiction I have ever read.  Childs says "I have written this book to share nuances that I have witnessed, to cultivate a familiarity with animals in their most original of contexts.  At times I have been blasphemously arrogant and then learned from them to be quiet.  There is, of course, an instant drama to an encounter, but remember beyond the single moment is the long and ornate process of living. The life of an animal lies outside of conjecture.  It is far beyond the scientific papers and the campfire stories.  It is as true as breath. It is important as the words of children." 

Childs is a poetic and eloquent writer.  You won't be sorry if you find this book and read it.  For me, I want to read it again, especially the essay on Ravens.  Childs has also written several other books and has an interesting website as well.

Happy Weekend to you all.