Robert DeMott

Beautiful writing by all the contributors. I am not a hunter, but have no problem with those who do. Books like these make me want to get a bird dog and go hunting with them, but probably with a camera instead of a shotgun. I think for dog lovers it is still a great book to enjoy the partnership between dogs and their owners, and the amazing skills of dogs.

I like to collect quotes or excerpts to save when the writing is good. I saved quite a few from this book. Too often the writing is good show more but wouldn't hold so well outside of the context of the story, which just means instead of saving an excerpt, you just save the book to read again.

What I also found interesting in this book was how great the Introduction was and then how good the foreward was, even though it is several pages of how he didn't like dog stories. I don't think I have ever read a book with an introduction that I liked as much or more as the stories in the book.

With a book on bird dogs and hunting with them, there of course is that common theme to all the stories. There is the part when they get them, and train them, and their good points and bad points, and especially the perfect and memorable days spent with them, and of course how all must come to an end. Each contributor has their own spin on it though, and I always enjoy learning of a great dog that will now live forever in the words captured between the covers of a book.

I saved some quotes from the book in GR, but here is one that is a good example:

“Over the past two seasons, we have become teammates. Jake knows his range and when he pushes it and I call "Here" he turns and reels in without challenge. When I change direction, he races back to get out in front of me without word or whistle. I know better than to try to convince him to investigate a birdy looking spot that he's already passed through - it is barren no matter what I think. If Jake remains on point after a flush, it is no false point - there is another bird in there (and yet, I will always be unready for the rise). When he is out of sight and his brass bell goes silent, I know he will hold the bird until I can get there, at which time their tenuous connection, like a fuse, ignites and the bird breaks free. Jake freezes solid when he has a maybe-bird, except his eyes are loose and follow me worriedly and uncertainly as he waits for me to kick through the brush. Although Jake retrieved to hand the first bird ever shot over him, our compromise is that he does that only when he wants to: he finds birds dead or alive, but he's nobody's delivery boy. That's fine, Jake and I understand each other.” ― Jeddie Smith in the story 'A good Southern Name' show less

Beautiful writing by all the contributors. I am not a hunter, but have no problem with those who do. Books like these make me want to get a bird dog and go hunting with them, but probably with a camera instead of a shotgun. I think for dog lovers it is still a great book to enjoy the partnership between dogs and their owners, and the amazing skills of dogs.

I like to collect quotes or excerpts to save when the writing is good. I saved quite a few from this book. Too often the writing is good show more but wouldn't hold so well outside of the context of the story, which just means instead of saving an excerpt, you just save the book to read again.

What I also found interesting in this book was how great the Introduction was and then how good the foreward was, even though it is several pages of how he didn't like dog stories. I don't think I have ever read a book with an introduction that I liked as much or more as the stories in the book.

With a book on bird dogs and hunting with them, there of course is that common theme to all the stories. There is the part when they get them, and train them, and their good points and bad points, and especially the perfect and memorable days spent with them, and of course how all must come to an end. Each contributor has their own spin on it though, and I always enjoy learning of a great dog that will now live forever in the words captured between the covers of a book.

I saved some quotes from the book in GR, but here is one that is a good example:

“Over the past two seasons, we have become teammates. Jake knows his range and when he pushes it and I call "Here" he turns and reels in without challenge. When I change direction, he races back to get out in front of me without word or whistle. I know better than to try to convince him to investigate a birdy looking spot that he's already passed through - it is barren no matter what I think. If Jake remains on point after a flush, it is no false point - there is another bird in there (and yet, I will always be unready for the rise). When he is out of sight and his brass bell goes silent, I know he will hold the bird until I can get there, at which time their tenuous connection, like a fuse, ignites and the bird breaks free. Jake freezes solid when he has a maybe-bird, except his eyes are loose and follow me worriedly and uncertainly as he waits for me to kick through the brush. Although Jake retrieved to hand the first bird ever shot over him, our compromise is that he does that only when he wants to: he finds birds dead or alive, but he's nobody's delivery boy. That's fine, Jake and I understand each other.” ― Jeddie Smith in the story 'A good Southern Name' show less

from James:

Not just for fishing folks, DeMott weaves his journal narrative through seasons of fly fishing in Ohio, West Virginia, Montana, the Southwest, and more. It's a little about geography, a little about literature and writing, a little about nature and fishing, and a lot about finding one's way in the world through experience and exposure. Pick it up anywhere and read a few pages and if it inspires you to write your own diary, I think the author would be okay with that.

These interviews with Jim Harrison are marvelous. It's a premise of his that you must be well read to write anything that might be called literature and it seems he has read everything--- poetry to novels to anthropological and psychological books and studies. And his replies to questions are replete with quotes from Yeats, Faulkner, DH Lawrence, McGuane, the zen master Dogen and on and on. And he hasknown so many people in the arts---actors, artists and writers. You become well acquainted show more with Morrison and his life with these interviews. show less