Shreve Stockton

I know so much more about cows now and although I won't go visiting any at our wonderful nearby farms, I do have a new respect for them. This book was wonderful, a little too much science in the middle, but I recommend it for anyone who wants to know learn more animals souls.

Shreve Stockton is a strong-willed, determined non-conformist who loves rural life in the wide open spaces of Wyoming. She is a survivor and a wise young woman. In her book, [The Daily Coyote], Stockton shares with us an often painfully honest journey inside her heart and mind on a quest to find a life in balance. This adventure finds her struggling with dreams of personal freedom, beliefs and values not always shared by others, a desire to embrace the love of a man and coyote, what can be show more controlled, and bottom line... uncompromising reality.

The fun part of this book is the story of how Stockton raises a new-born coyote, Charlie, and how the two of them build a loving, respectful relationship. There are so many joyful days and nights together. They work hard; they play hard. The beauty of Wyoming, human and animal relationships, and a growing wild pup are shared in well written descriptions and wonderful expressive photography. I had to add a half star in my rating because of the many impressive pictures in this book. If you can't read the book, at least look at the pictures!

There are tense moments of dealing with the wild nature of Charlie as well as protecting him from the surrounding populace that wants to kill all coyotes to protect their livestock. I had a very hard time, personally, with Mike's (a romantic interest)livelihood of killing coyotes and their young. His goal was to do it with skill - causing less pain and disruption in the natural order - rather than allow a free-for-all attitude of irresponsibility found in many hunters. I understand the logic, but I still struggle with this. Although hunting is discussed with sensitivity, I imagine other readers will cringe or find it downright upsetting, too.

I love the straight forward approach in this book. Examining her own life, the author understands that each person has their own opinions and life experiences. As Stockton encounters judgemental views about her chosen lifestyle raising a wild coyote, she comments in her book... "It's so egotistical to believe that we know more about someone else's reality than they do, and such a waste of time." I agree and I recommend this book. show less

As I follow The Daily Coyote blog, this book was a must read for me. Shreve is a fasinating person and her devotion to Charlie the coyote is amazing. It was so interesting to read about the progression of her relationship with Charlie from pup to full grown coyote.I love the way she writes, with such honesty and deep thought.I would recommend this book highly, whether you love animals or not!

When Shreve Stockton decided to ride her Vespa from San Francisco to New York she figured she'd have one last wild adventure before settling down in New York. Instead, she fell in love with Wyoming and shocked her family and friends by moving to a town of 300 people in the middle of nowhere. The Daily Coyote is about Shreve's process of learning how to be true to herself, whether that comes through in raising the coyote, in her relationship with Mike (a cowboy who kills coyotes for a show more living), or in finding a career. Of course Charlie (the coyote) is the star of the book and he has an uncanny way of making the people around him re-examine their priorities.
I really enjoyed this book despite the reservations I had in the beginning about a coyote being raised as a pet. I was very impressed with Shreve's willingness to tackle the tough issues. She openly shares with the reader the moral struggles she has grappled with and how she reached her conclusions. Charlie is a delightful character throughout adding plenty of humor and love to the story. His relationship with Eli the tomcat is especially entertaining!
What really makes the book special are the many gorgeous photographs. Pictures of both the amazing Wyoming landscape and of Charlie at every age give the reader the feeling of being there to experience the desolation, wildness, and gloriousness of Shreve's experience. show less