by Hal Borland
Who doesn't love a dog story? And in this case, it's a human story too--two humans, to be specific, and two dogs who come into their lives on a rural Connecticut farm. The dogs stir up their already complex routines and bring them out into the sunshine. And rain. And snow. Usually when they didn't really want to. Isn't that why we get dogs, to make our lives difficult?
He writes poetically when describing the countryside, the farm and the gorgeous days--winter, spring or lazy summer, there's something lovely to be said of all. But I'll add a quick warning for the fearful of heart--there is a chapter about hunters and poachers and the anger that ensues when hunters find out that although Connecticut issues hunting licenses, the entire state appears to consist of private property where the owner's permission is required to take a deer. Or anything else. He sympathizes with the hunters, but he's learned to say no...just as we have with fishermen. For every nine people who do their thing, pick up after themselves, and leave quietly, there has to be that one person who tears down fences, leaves gates open, and brings his friends Joe Bob, Bubba and Dickhead with a case of Budweiser and a bad attitude.
All that bellyaching aside, Hal Borland writes a great book.
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