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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Black Fox Running is a recently-republished nature story, primarily revolving around the animosity between the black fox Wulfgar and the trapper Scoble, an alcoholic that obsesses over catching Wulfgar and other foxes on the moor.
The animals of the landscape are anthropomorphised, though this tends to extend only to predators - the prey and domestic animals (rabbits, sheep, horses) are nameless and speechless. Foxes have a hierarchy, religion, and culture that all serve as reasons they don't use the intelligence ascribed to them to solve the problem of the trapper or hunger (foxes won't kill humans because of the hunt it would bring; they don't attack horses because it would require a team effort and it's not their way to hunt in packs).
The most obvious draw of this book is the beautiful way Carter describes the Devon countryside and the animals that reside in it. The descriptions are so vivid it's obvious they come from someone who has not just lived near, but has been a part of and has a lot of passion for the landscape.
Beyond being a story about nature, the book also explores themes such as the relationship between man and wildlife, grief, and PTSD. Some of my favourite passages were towards the end of the book, when these threads converge to bring forth the novel's climax.
I struggled with how to rate this - whether to give it 3 or 4. While I admired its descriptions and the care with which difficult subjects were handled, the pacing sometimes felt off, particularly in the latter third. There is conflict and climax, followed by conflict... then further conflict with a resolution, but the need for further resolution... None the less, it was an entertaining and detailed exploration of British wildlife and part of the world it inhabits.
Disclaimer: I actually despise foxes. Living in London, I'm surrounded by urban foxes, which are significantly less noble than their woodland counterparts. After one too many foxes breaking into my flat during the night and ruining the garden, I perhaps had a little less sympathy for the foxes in this novel than someone who hasn't had to deal with them would have...
The animals of the landscape are anthropomorphised, though this tends to extend only to predators - the prey and domestic animals (rabbits, sheep, horses) are nameless and speechless. Foxes have a hierarchy, religion, and culture that all serve as reasons they don't use the intelligence ascribed to them to solve the problem of the trapper or hunger (foxes won't kill humans because of the hunt it would bring; they don't attack horses because it would require a team effort and it's not their way to hunt in packs).
The most obvious draw of this book is the beautiful way Carter describes the Devon countryside and the animals that reside in it. The descriptions are so vivid it's obvious they come from someone who has not just lived near, but has been a part of and has a lot of passion for the landscape.
Beyond being a story about nature, the book also explores themes such as the relationship between man and wildlife, grief, and PTSD. Some of my favourite passages were towards the end of the book, when these threads converge to bring forth the novel's climax.
I struggled with how to rate this - whether to give it 3 or 4. While I admired its descriptions and the care with which difficult subjects were handled, the pacing sometimes felt off, particularly in the latter third. There is conflict and climax, followed by conflict... then further conflict with a resolution, but the need for further resolution... None the less, it was an entertaining and detailed exploration of British wildlife and part of the world it inhabits.
Disclaimer: I actually despise foxes. Living in London, I'm surrounded by urban foxes, which are significantly less noble than their woodland counterparts. After one too many foxes breaking into my flat during the night and ruining the garden, I perhaps had a little less sympathy for the foxes in this novel than someone who hasn't had to deal with them would have...
Wulfgar, the dark-furred fox roamed far and wide over the wilds of Dartmoor. He spoke with other foxes, conversed with otters by the rivers and exchanged greetings with the badgers at dusk. He was happy with his lot, had managed to escape the relentless pursuit of the hunt, and had now found the love of his life, Teg. But life was not going to be easy for the pair. The man trying to catch him was Scoble, an ex-veteran from the war with a drink problem. His streak of cruelness and with the assistance of his dog, Jacko, they had it in for the foxes in particular, as well as wildlife in general with their traps, gins and snares.
The talking animals makes this feel like a children's book, but the scenes within are not. The is as much about death as it is about living life and is as full of the tangled emotions that go to make this up. Carter's lyrical writing has an intensity to it, you feel the wind ruffle the fur, understand the smells of the night as they track their prey and share the euphoria of being alive racing across the Tors. The writing is firmly grounded in the granite bedrock of Dartmoor and he brings the natural world alive to the reader. This re-published edition has a stunning cover, with a beautiful introduction by Melissa Harrison on how it inspired her to become a writer. 3.5 stars
The talking animals makes this feel like a children's book, but the scenes within are not. The is as much about death as it is about living life and is as full of the tangled emotions that go to make this up. Carter's lyrical writing has an intensity to it, you feel the wind ruffle the fur, understand the smells of the night as they track their prey and share the euphoria of being alive racing across the Tors. The writing is firmly grounded in the granite bedrock of Dartmoor and he brings the natural world alive to the reader. This re-published edition has a stunning cover, with a beautiful introduction by Melissa Harrison on how it inspired her to become a writer. 3.5 stars