8.18.2012

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.

20 comments:

  1. Thanks Jo for this enticing book review. One to add to my 'random book recommendations' for sure.
    Cheers, Gail.

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  2. Oh Jo! This looks fascinating. Thanks for this post!

    -Lisa

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  3. Sounds like a great read, Jo. Mom says she will add it to her list of hope-to-get-to-read books.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  4. Great review. Have a great Saturday Jo.
    Best wishes Molly

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  5. Ma's put it on her Kindle list (it's becomin' awfully looong!) Thanks for the heads up!

    Kisses,

    Ruby

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  6. That sounds like a good one, better than the one I'm reporting on today.
    Sue

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  7. hello stella its dennis the vizsla dog oh hay wow faysing off with a mowntin lion??? that sownds skarry!!! hay speeking of childs i askd dada ware to find a littel girl like the wun wot wuz fluffing my pillo and throwing my toy and he sed i wood hav to go to riverside kownty so apparently that is ware nice littel girls come frum!!! but i hav no ideea ware that is dada left owt that krooshul peese of informayshun he can be so literal sumtimes!!! ok bye

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  8. Hi Jo,
    Thanks for the book review - am adding it to the list. If only KB could pair up with Childs, we'd have a super excellent essay/photo book!!

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  9. My husband got this book at a gift exchange last Christmas. He and I both read this book slowly and savored each and every paragraph and story. I really thought the author showed such respect and a healthy fear of the animals and told the stories so well!

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    1. I got my copy from the library but after a few pages in, I knew I wanted my own copy so I ordered a used one from Amazon!

      Jo

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  10. It's now on my list.

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  11. Oh, this sounds like a wonderful book. We will definitely check it out!

    Your pal, Pip

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  12. What a great review! Now that I see the cover and have read your description, I know that I've read it before. However, I think that I should read it again!

    I'm flattered that this area is known as "KB Country"!!!! :)

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  13. Hum.. looks like we have to keep more of an eye open :-) than usual for you.. beautiful review :-) X X X

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  14. That sounds like a great book, thanks for telling us about it!

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  15. Was just thinking my "to read" stack is getting down toward the end. Sounds like a good one...thanks for the review (I know we share tastes).

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  16. Now this looks like a book I'd like! So I put it on my to-read list, and then decided I'd better check my local library's website to see if they have it. Where I go for the library is only about 35,000 population but they really do have a first-class library and are also affiliated with the state university library in town and have interlibrary lending. But I was pleasantly surprised to find it's at my library so on my list it goes. Unfortunately, that is the only selection by this author, however. I'm always looking for a good book recommendation! (Do I need to use the word "library" one more time in this comment?)

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  17. Hi Jo-
    That book sounds like a good read,we will get it.
    Licks Bobby

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  18. Great review. I'll look for it. Thanks....

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