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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
This is my year to get out of my "reading only mysteries" rut and get back to reading literature. I reserved this through our library. I'm sure I read a review somewhere along the way. It's a short book - only 223 pages. It's chock full of daily banality and wonder at the same time. We meet a (mostly) large animal veterinarian in Vermont who describes his calls. One of his clients is a sheep who is a family pet and lives in the house. Then there's the farmer who keeps his cows in a warm basement for the winter! The vet's son, 12 yrs old, is excited about his first hunt. His mother is less enthusiastic. Father and son go out on their land where they have set up a hunting platform. Suddenly a shot rings out, and the son goes tumbling down. At first glance, it doesn't seem serious. For some reason though, the boy falls into a coma that lasts a long time. The police have no way to figure out who shot the boy, so the father becomes obsessed with finding the shooter. Meanwhile, someone is calling, but hangs up. The vet sees something that looks like a spaceship over his house. He wonders if they are going to be visited. They do get a visitor who changes their lives. This is really wonderful - and no, it's not science fiction. It's just a beautifully well-written novel.
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2011/08/2011-book-206.html
This was written in a very interesting way, almost as if in note form from a diary or journal of a veterinarian. I really enjoyed this form, as intrigued the proccesses he went through after his son goes into a coma from a hunting accident.
Original, quirky, clever, funny, heartwarming. Lovable characters, adorable animals. Sly hints of magical realism. Beautiful writing.
So this was an overall pleasant little read, but I suspect a forgettable one. The appeal is in the style. The first-person narrator is a large-animal vet in Vermont whose life is disrupted by his son’s serious injury in a hunting accident. He tells the story in a series of concise reports.
Especially at the beginning, the reports start with The Call, that is whatever veterinary calamity summons the doctor, followed by the Action, which is what the vet does for the animal, and then the Result, which is self-explanatory. However, the narration applies this reporting style to all aspects of the vet’s life. The story really is more about his family life than about his job, though his job continues to be an important throughline of the narrative.
A sample:
WHAT THE CHILDREN SAID TO MET WHEN I GOT HOME: Pop, you smell like manure, and what’s that on your upper arm?
WHAT I SAID: Why, that’s horse saliva.
WHAT THE WIFE COOKED FOR DINNER: Pizza.
WHAT KEPT ME AWAKE AT NIGHT: Pizza.
As I hope the above excerpt shows, the style was very conducive to “brevity is the soul of wit” moments. And yet, sometimes the narrator had trains of thought that I did not follow or didn’t find interesting; there were these random observations that I think are meant to be profound or quietly beautiful but just did nothing for me.
So, I’m not sorry that I read the book because the novelty of the style was engaging and doesn’t wear out its welcome, thanks to the short length of the book. But it didn’t have a whole bunch to offer beyond the style, in my opinion.
Especially at the beginning, the reports start with The Call, that is whatever veterinary calamity summons the doctor, followed by the Action, which is what the vet does for the animal, and then the Result, which is self-explanatory. However, the narration applies this reporting style to all aspects of the vet’s life. The story really is more about his family life than about his job, though his job continues to be an important throughline of the narrative.
A sample:
WHAT THE CHILDREN SAID TO MET WHEN I GOT HOME: Pop, you smell like manure, and what’s that on your upper arm?
WHAT I SAID: Why, that’s horse saliva.
WHAT THE WIFE COOKED FOR DINNER: Pizza.
WHAT KEPT ME AWAKE AT NIGHT: Pizza.
As I hope the above excerpt shows, the style was very conducive to “brevity is the soul of wit” moments. And yet, sometimes the narrator had trains of thought that I did not follow or didn’t find interesting; there were these random observations that I think are meant to be profound or quietly beautiful but just did nothing for me.
So, I’m not sorry that I read the book because the novelty of the style was engaging and doesn’t wear out its welcome, thanks to the short length of the book. But it didn’t have a whole bunch to offer beyond the style, in my opinion.
I wasn't sure if I would like the format of this novel, but I found it remarkably readable. Ostensibly the story of a country vet whose son is injured in a hunting accident, this novel goes in many directions. I don't want to spoil it. I'm glad no one spoiled it for me. Quite worth reading. It lost a star for the somewhat abrupt ending -- I wouldn't have minded if it kept going for another hundred pages or so.
This is a quick read, despite the unusual format. It's written as journal entries in a rural veterinarian's logbook. He records what calls he had, his encounters with his clients - animals and their people - his random musings along the way, and interactions with his own family. As the book goes on, and his 12-year-old son ends up in a coma from a hunting accident, these entries grow more lengthy.
He also receives mysterious calls - a hanger-upper who finally starts to speak a few words after several weeks.
I enjoyed the book and found the characters well-drawn. I don't know that it's one I would re-read in the future. I don't feel there were a lot of layers or sussing out of details. But I would recommend it as a nice window on the life of a father and husband doing what he can to keep going when things get difficult.
He also receives mysterious calls - a hanger-upper who finally starts to speak a few words after several weeks.
I enjoyed the book and found the characters well-drawn. I don't know that it's one I would re-read in the future. I don't feel there were a lot of layers or sussing out of details. But I would recommend it as a nice window on the life of a father and husband doing what he can to keep going when things get difficult.
Innovative format, interesting subject - but I just couldn't get into it. Read half, then read the last few pages to find out the resolution.
Originally I was going to rate this 5 stars. But the more I think about this book the more I find that certain parts really bothered me: what was left unsaid and unresolved at the end, mostly.