What are you reading?

[memaquay]

Not sure if there are any Robert F Jones fans out there. The first book I read of his was Blood Sport, the story of a boy and his dad who make a journey on the imaginary river called the Hassyampa, where they encounter Wooly Mammoths, bandits and a rebel band led by the the infamous Ratnose. The book ends with a fly fishing duel, using flies dipped in poison, over a swirling pool in the river. It's a book of intense imagination, non-politically correct humour and tons of guns and outdoor adventures.

Got thinking about that book today, so downloaded another one of his called The Run to Gitchee Gumee. Starts off with a fantasical canoe trip of two young pals in 1950. One is slated to head off to war with the marines in Korea, the other one is studying to be a doctor. The canoe trip is nothing short of epic, with gun battles, giant Brown Trout, Muskies and 1950's style fornicating. Then it switches to the experience of the one guy fighting in Korea, some very excellent battle descriptions. I'm currently on the backstory of the doctor. After that, I think they re-unite to do another canoe trip down the Flintsteel river. Hope to finish it today. Very male, muscular style of writing.

 

[Philtrum]

Reading "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling" by Henry Fielding (1749), 1,000 pages in 2 volumes (vol. 1 & 2 of the Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction, pub. 1917)

 

[BWCA66]

Been reading Woodcraft by Nessmuk - fun read. As spring approaches I found his bug juice interesting, pretty sure it would keep more than bugs away.

 

[smallworks]

Right now I'm reading maps....... I don't go anywhere without one- I'll pull it out at the laundromat to keep me company.
I loved reading Thomas Hardy when camping. My tent was in harmony with his lyricism.
I highly recommend The Worst Journey in the World", an amazing account by Apsley Cherry-Garrard of the 1910-1913 British expedition to the Arctic. They go though heck to collect these penguin eggs for the goldang Queen, and when they show up, it's oh.. how nice. I believe he was so traumatized by the entire experience it took him 12 years to set it down. It's really incredible. Just when you thought it couldn't get worse... but they made it.

 

[snapper]

I just finished reading The Hemmings of Monticello and have turned to a new book on Custer. Most of my reading tends toward the historical side of things due to my being, as my grandson would say, a history geek . I've got a few others in line waiting to go but until the school year ends in mid-May I won't have much time for recreational reading.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[Philtrum]

Working my way through the Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction, 1917. Just finished "The Scarlet Letter," soon to start "Rappaccini's Daughter," both by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Started "David Copperfield" (Charles Dickens) but set it aside for a while due to being affected by the descriptions of child abuse.

 

[Mihun09]

For a change I read something that didn't involve this site. The past 3 weeks involved, in this order, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, The Wild Truth by Carine McCandless and The Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden.

 

[Thatsapaddlin]

I just finished Through the Brazilian Wilderness by Theodore Roosevelt. Despite some unnecessary hunting, wow, what a journey down the 'River of Doubt'

 

[Seeker]

Finally bought a hard-copy (has been public domain for years) of Josef Brunner's "Tracks and Tracking"... it's pretty good for being 100+ years old... the way he classifies animals is more by leg-length/proportion, and interesting (though I'm used to canine, feline, ungulate, rodent family, weasel family, bear/raccoon/badger family, etc.) Some of his animal behavior observations are interesting... he considers squirrels and outdoor domestic cats vermin to be shot on sight due to songbird depredation... skunks should be left alone. bobcats and cougars should be shot on sight due to fawn/turkey depredation. wolves should be left alone to prey on the weak ungulates, strengthening both wild and domestic populations (interesting idea).

I consider Tom Brown Jr's "Nature Observation and Tracking" and "Science and Art of Tracking" to be better technically, and of more use in learning this art for myself, but Brunner's was worth reading for it's historical/social commentary value.

 

[DuctTape]

I just finished reading, "The White Woman and Her Valley" by Arch Merrill.

 

[sweeper]

Just pick up an interest in WT Sherman with the "Fierce Patriot" by Robert O'Connell, Now I'm reading the series by Jeff Shaara on the Army of the West starting with "A Blaze of Glory" to be followed by a reread of 'Soldiering' by Rice Bull.

I get what he had to do marching thru the South, but his planned extinction of the American Bison to drive the Plains Indians away from the construction of the Transcontinental RR is a bit tough to justify.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Through the Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden. Time to pass it on

 

[southcove]

'Crossing Antarctica", by Steger and Bowermaster. Many weeks of heavy hauling, skiing and dog sledding under extreme conditions...just the thing when its 90 and humid! Had to get out my Steger Mukluks and wonder how my feet get cold at Zero F and his apparently didn't.

 

[Guest]

I am still on an inter-library loan North Korea and Middle East kick. There have been several good books on North Korea. That is one whacky place.

I don’t buy many books, or at least many new books. But I have an Amazon pre-order due to arrive in a week and I am counting the days.

http://www.amazon.com/Gulf-Stream-C...867386&sr=1-2&keywords=gulf+stream+chronicles

 

[Odyssey]

We're early into a two week trip visiting family, and couldn't pass up the chance for a long drive in the country. Seeing the foothills of the Rockies for the first time has been a thrill! While on a drive we stopped off in a little town and got to wandering through antique shops. The rest of the family scour the dusty shelves for lost treasures, while I scan the hidden corners for books. Here in cowboy country I find mostly cowboy titles, but I happened across my own dusty treasure yesterday. With a dust jacket illustration like this, how could I pass it up?

"This is a story of one man's experience with the wilderness. Not today's wilderness of aluminum canoes, motorized rubber rafts, freeze- dried steaks and prepackaged survival kits, but the early -nineteenth-century wilderness - untouched and untamed..
Archibald McDonald was not an explorer, although he explored lands and waterways unknown to any but the Indians among his contemporaries...
...I have attempted as much as possible to let McDonald tell the tale. Hundreds of his letters survive and many daily journals record his views and reactions to people and events throughout his life. His own words say it best, and in putting together his story I have quoted extensively...to convey the real flavor of the man - his warmth, his insight, his humor, his bite."
This biography follows McDonald from the Selkirk Settlement through the Red River and Athabasca District (1813-1820) to the Columbia District and approaches (1821-1844), and covers his employ as an administrator and fur trader while he traded, mapped and explored the Canadian wilderness.

 

[BWCA66]

For my upcoming road trip I picked up a copy of Canoeing the Adirondacks with Nessmuk - the Adirondack Letters of George Washington Sears. Looks like a fun read.

 

[ppine]

"Alone in the Fortress of Bears" by Buck Nelson. I met this guy on another outdoor forum. He sent me a copy of his book describing his 75 day solo trip on Admiralty Island in SE Alaska. He was dropped off by float plane with no food, and spent the whole time hunting, fishing and foraging his way in 2014. I would recommend this book to anyone. I am right there with Buck as he catches salmon, halibut, Dungeness crabs, and venison. He collects lots of berries, sea asparagus, and goats tongue. He is a retired smokejumper from Fairbanks, with a ton of outdoor experience.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Canoe Country: the Making of Canada. Lots of insights I never knew before. A real celebration of the canoe for transportation and also for play.. Recognizes the versatility of the craft.

 

[Alan Gage]

I am still on an inter-library loan North Korea and Middle East kick.

You and my dad both. He keeps grabbing these tomes on the Middle East so every morning when I get to work I get a short education. The only thing clear to me is just how screwed up and confusing it is over there and that it's nothing new.

Alan

 

[yellowcanoe]

You and my dad both. He keeps grabbing these tomes on the Middle East so every morning when I get to work I get a short education. The only thing clear to me is just how screwed up and confusing it is over there and that it's nothing new.

Alan

For sure not new. My father worked in Saudi Arabia for many years. When he finally came home for good he told me ( as I was now old enough to understand) that the Middle East had been in conflict for centuries and that we would probably fight a destructive war over it with no resolution.
The year he told me that.. 1956.