While an intriguing premise, the book could have benefitted from a secondary writer and better editing. The subtitle, “The Dogs Trained To Protect WilWhile an intriguing premise, the book could have benefitted from a secondary writer and better editing. The subtitle, “The Dogs Trained To Protect Wildlife,” makes it sound like the book is all about dogs. It’s not. It’s really a memoir of Conraad de Rosener that includes his work with dogs. This book does provide an interesting on-the-ground insight into one man’s efforts to stop poachers and other illegal activities at wildlife preserves in South Africa, but it’s not well laid out nor organized. 2.5 stars rounded up....more
I first started this book at the beginning of October. The premise was intriguing and the beginning showed promise. However, as the story progressed, I first started this book at the beginning of October. The premise was intriguing and the beginning showed promise. However, as the story progressed, I lost interest and found that I was forcing myself to go on—not a good sign, and so I put the book aside.
I came back to this book today, January 6, 2025, and restarted it. I only got 2 chapters further than the last time. I simply am not enjoying this, nor do I understand the hype.
First, the good. I do love that this book is primarily from the perspective of a crow, but also involves other animal perspectives (and I understand even a tree POV at some point). I appreciate the message that Buxton attempts to communicate, that everything is connected and that nature communicates on its own wavelengths (Aura). The main protagonist, S.T. isn't really likable (apparently like his former human), but he does have a distinct and unique personality, which includes cheesy catch phrases and a disturbing sense of loyalty to humanity.
However, the good is heavily outweighed starting with how overwritten it is with soooo many metaphors. While metaphors can aid descriptions, their overuse partnered with lines like “crumble-cheese turd burger” or “yard demolishing fuck trolls” or “pubic badger” or “you could have heard a dust mite queef in there” or “fuck off, you douche flute” or “butt-splosion of information” or “cheese cups, ass clubs” or “scrotum-sanitizing mouth” became a bit much. Descriptions heavy with verbiage became exhausting to read.
Second, I found the random POVs of a variety of minor characters, like Genghis cat, Winnie the Poodle, a polar bear, a highland cow etc., disrupted the story. I flipped through the two-thirds of the book to finish reading these POVS, and we only get any kind of conclusion on Genghis cat, Winnie the Poodle, the polar bear. They rest simply came nowhere throughout the book, breaking up the flow of the story. These short bursts of personalities don't add much to the plot other than to further symbolize that this plague has affected everyone in the world, or at least all the countries who rely heavily on tech. Plus, the animal alliances seem arbitrary and contradictory, especially considering Buxton's heavy moralizing on the connection of the natural world. Her optimism about the natural world feels slightly naïve and preachy as it attempts be a not-so-subtle morality tale on every injustice and environmental crisis (e.g., the polar bear wandering on shrinking ice).
Which leads to the next issue. The plague doesn't make sense.
it was a virus. . . . mans creation [from] the internet. . . . it started with the addiction. Technology was an intangible seductress, a siren calling for ships to meet her jagged rocks. It was a virus that spread through the systems, through the network, chips, watches, phones, tablets. Through eyes, skin, and synapses.
W.T.F.? Why? Moreover, this tech addiction virus apparently seeped into the skin and changed everyone into Cassowaries and giant spiders. Um? Again, why? In short, the science is messy and seems to attempt to add another not-so-subtle morality tale on the overuse of tech.
I stopped fully reading this at page 84 (chapter 12) and skimmed through the rest of the book. I'm marking this as a DNF....more
DNF at 17%. Despite the interesting subject matter, the writing is too dry and academic. I just couldn't force myself to continue.DNF at 17%. Despite the interesting subject matter, the writing is too dry and academic. I just couldn't force myself to continue....more
Without even having read the blurb, which starts "For fans of A Man Called Ove," Tova immediately reminded me of Ove. Both Swedes, both set in their pWithout even having read the blurb, which starts "For fans of A Man Called Ove," Tova immediately reminded me of Ove. Both Swedes, both set in their particular way of doing things, both resistant to other people, it's hard not to compare.
As for the story, it's a sweet and, with the addition of Marcellus, unique, albeit a bit predictable. This portrayal of a close-knit small-town community, set in the Pacific Northwest, deals with loss and grief, abandonment and loneliness, and aging and coming of age. The setting and character development were good. Although both Tova and particularly Cameron made me grit my teeth at times, both were endearing in the end, although Tova more so than Cameron.
Cameron was the one character I had a hard time with. Although he's supposed to be 30, he came across as a sullen 16-year-old. This wasn't helped by the narrator's voice. While she did a good job with different voices for the characters, her portrayal of Cameron even sounded like a much younger person. I tried to be sympathetic as I can't imagine the devastation of being abandoned by one's mother at such a tender age. I have experienced and witnessed people in real life who have dealt with similar issues and I get that responses do run the gamut. So I don't think the author's portrayal of Cameron is a stretch. That being said, I really wanted to slap him, even late in the book (view spoiler)[when he basically throws a temper tantrum after meeting Brinks and like a spoiled child, blames everyone else and then runs away (hide spoiler)]. I almost DNF'd the book early on because of his childish responses to everything. But it was Marcellus that kept me reading.
Of course, my favorite parts are Marcellus. Michael Urie was the perfect narrator for Marcellus. In addition to the topics above, the story also makes one consider the plight of animals in captivity. Even though he had been captured to be rehabilitated after an injury, it's still heartbreaking to consider a wild animal in captivity. Even with climate change greatly impacting native habitats, and knowing that some animals will only be able to survive through facilities like zoos and aquariums, it's still difficult. A creature, like octopus, lions, or elephants, who's native habitats are vast expanses, confined to an area a mere fraction—how heartbreaking. Especially when we really don't understand them. Oh, humans are arrogant to think we know, to believe we understand animals. But we really don't. These communication buttons that cats, dogs, and even horses are using across social media demonstrate how little we actually understand about animals' intelligence and their understanding of their own world.
Overall, despite it's predictableness, (view spoiler)[for example, the woman Aubrey talked off the ledge was clearly going to be Cameron's mother (hide spoiler)], I still enjoyed the book. It didn't give me the all.the.feels that Ove or The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry did. So not a 5 star read, but definitely 3.75 stars rounded up. Had there been more Marcellus, I probably would have given it 4 or even 4.25 stars....more
I struggled with how to rate this book. On the one hand, there is some excellent information about octopuses. I knew some, but not a lot about octopusI struggled with how to rate this book. On the one hand, there is some excellent information about octopuses. I knew some, but not a lot about octopuses. For example, I did not realize how short their lives are.
On the other, there’s a lot of filler and little substantive discussion on the subtitle, “A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness.” What was “surprising” is that there’s actually little exploration. And there were what I feel was a lot of filler pages. For example, where the author discusses getting her scuba certification. Okay, I get that you wanted to be able to scuba in order to see these creatures in their natural habitats. But did you really need to go in detail about you experience getting the certification? I felt like there was quite a bit of filler to make the book longer. Because if the book only focused on octopuses, as written, it would’ve been at least 50% shorter.
I thought the author missed out to more fully exploring consciousness. She drops some names and quotes of philosophers and other academics and scientists (like Jane Goodall), but spends little time adequately exploring the subject other than her personal observations interacting with octopuses.
Overall, I was disappointed. This book was not really what I was expecting and fell short of what it proclaimed to be. 2 stars for the book. But 5 stars for octopuses, which are awesome....more
Beautifully illustrated story of Spot, the cat & his adventures. The book needs no words - it's fun to find Spot and create your own story of his adveBeautifully illustrated story of Spot, the cat & his adventures. The book needs no words - it's fun to find Spot and create your own story of his adventures based on the incredible detailed illustrations. Highly recommend for all ages....more
I just finished Crenshaw and I'm a bit torn. On the one hand, it's a beautiful story about an imaginary friend and growing up. On the other, it dealt I just finished Crenshaw and I'm a bit torn. On the one hand, it's a beautiful story about an imaginary friend and growing up. On the other, it dealt with some harsh life realities—poverty, homelessness, hunger, joblessness/working poor, disabling disease, and anxiety and stress of a child who has to grow up too fast. So in some ways, this really doesn't feel like a children's book.
I think my main problem with the book was that I had a hard time relating to Jackson. Jackson, a fifth grader, is all about facts. He doesn't want to believe in the magic or anything that can't be explained by science (because he believes everything can be explained by science). It was this passage about did me in:
Facts are much better than stories. You can't see a story. You can't hold it in your hand and measure it. . . . Stories are lies, when you get right down to it.
As an avid reader of mostly fiction (and primarily fantasy), this about made me weep. What child doesn't love stories? Doesn't love make-believe? I'm sure there are children who don't. But I wasn't one of them. And even as an adult, I prefer stories over facts most days. So to read about a child who is so dismissive of anything magic, of stories, I just couldn't quite feel him. The above passage, and a couple other passages, made Jackson feel a bit too flat, almost one-dimensional. I get that he's dealing with some heavy life realities, but still, if I can't relate to a character, then I have a hard time caring.
And on the subject of heavy life realities. While I think it is important for children to understand that many people struggle and have hard times or difficulties, I'm not sure this book adequately deals with these terrible things. In fact, I'm not clear on what message the author is trying to convey—that magic is real, that it's okay to ask for help, that sometimes we all feel helpless, that life isn't fair, that sometimes we just need to believe? Maybe all of these and I think that's the problem for me. This story goes in too many directions without really committing to any of them. And maybe it's a bit too Disney, happily-ever-after of me, but it would've been nice to have some happy closure instead of how it actually ended (view spoiler)[with the one-month apartment and dad's part-time job that's probably not going to have that big of an impact on a family where the dad is dealing with MS. (hide spoiler)]
Then again, I'm a middle-aged adult who's not reading/interpreting this as a child would. But if I had children, I might really consider my child and her personality before allowing her to read this. It may deal too much with difficult topics for a highly sensitive child.
I also thought the story was a bit disjointed. It starts off in present day then goes back and forth between present day and flashback to when Jackson first met Crenshaw. Those transitions didn't work for me. They got a bit muddled. I also felt that the story felt rushed. We read very little about Marisol, then all of the sudden she becomes a rather important part of the story.
What I did like was the concept of the imaginary friend who's always there when you need him. That magic does exist if we only believe. And sometimes it's okay not knowing. But the harder topics—hunger, poverty, homelessness—added a darkness to it that I felt was a bit much for the late elementary/middle school age group (age 8-12).
P.S. Total props to the author for including the Harvey passage. Harvey is one of my favorite plays and movies....more
As an HSP and animal lover, I had a hard time with this book, although I understand why it's a classic.
The cruelty of the men, the land, and the timeAs an HSP and animal lover, I had a hard time with this book, although I understand why it's a classic.
The cruelty of the men, the land, and the times (the 1890s gold rush) poignantly shone through London's writing. London certainly captured the feel and the harshness of life on the Yukon during the days of the gold rush. Writing from the POV of Buck was masterfully done. It felt at times that London could actually communicate with dogs to so eloquently express Buck's POV. London also did a fantastic job illustrating the various personalities of the "masters" that Buck had from the inept to the cruel to the efficient to the loving.
While I appreciate that the book is a classic and admire the writing, I still had a hard time with this book. I despise any type of cruelty, especially to animals, and this book is rife with animal cruelty so much so, it was hard for me to read. So 3.5 stars for the writing....more
Kate DiCamillo has created a wonderful story about love, friendship, and finding community in acceptance.
The story is told from the POV of the ten-yeKate DiCamillo has created a wonderful story about love, friendship, and finding community in acceptance.
The story is told from the POV of the ten-year-old protagonist, Opal. Ms. DiCamillo did a wonderful job capturing the feel, spunk, and curiosity of a ten-year-old. And each of the small cast of characters was charming. The character development was nicely done, and we learn, as Opal learns, that everyone's story has some sadness and grief. I found Ms. DiCamillo balanced the characters nicely so that nothing in their stories would be too dark or bleak for a child to read or understand, but not so upbeat and happy to make the characters unrealistic. I also loved that Winn Dixie, the dog, was the confidante and facilitator.
Overall, a fantastic story, well written with a beautiful message. Highly recommend for children and adults alike....more
A heartfelt, charming fairy tale about a boy named Peter. Kate DiCamillo has a rather magical way of seeing the world and it reflects in her writing—tA heartfelt, charming fairy tale about a boy named Peter. Kate DiCamillo has a rather magical way of seeing the world and it reflects in her writing—the prose was lovely. At its heart, the Magician's Elephant is a story of love, hope, and magic. I cried at the end because it was so beautiful, so perfect. And the illustrations by Yoko Tanaka were, in a word, charming. I would love to see the originals.
Two of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Do you think," she said, "that elephants have names?" "Oh yes," said Sister Marie. "All of God's creatures have names, every last one of them Of that I am sure; of that I have no doubts at all." Sister Marie was right, of course: everyone has a name.
"Magic is always impossible . . . It begins with the impossible and ends with the impossible and is impossible in between."
As I am owned by a rescue mutt and a cat, I immensely enjoyed this book. It is a sweet, easy-to-read, novella about Dog (a mutt). The story is told frAs I am owned by a rescue mutt and a cat, I immensely enjoyed this book. It is a sweet, easy-to-read, novella about Dog (a mutt). The story is told from the POV of Dog and the author does a good job depicting how a dog might think and feel. It's clear the author cares a great deal for animals. And the plot was well done—the story was touching, funny in parts and even a bit sad. Any dog lover will enjoy this book.
The only issue I had was a minor one in which Plum gives Dog hot chocolate. Anyone who is a dog lover knows to never give a dog chocolate, as chocolate is poisonous to dogs. So since it seems the author is a dog lover, I'm hoping this was a translation problem (since the original is in French)....more
As an animal lover and dog owner, I really wanted to like this book. The cover is very appealing, but the story simply lacks. I honestly had to make mAs an animal lover and dog owner, I really wanted to like this book. The cover is very appealing, but the story simply lacks. I honestly had to make myself finish reading it, after picking it up and putting it down several times. It's not a difficult read, but the author spends a lot of time whining about her life, which quite frankly, sounds pretty darn good. I get it, she's not an animal person, never owned a dog. And total kudos to her for adopting a dog who would otherwise become a shelter statistic. But as I kept reading, I had more and more sympathy for Libro who had to live with this self-important, arrogant woman. Overall, I say read it if you're absolutely bored and have nothing else to do, but there are much better dog stories out there....more