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155 reviews for:
Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship
Tom Ryan
3.95 AVERAGE
155 reviews for:
Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship
Tom Ryan
3.95 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
Book club pick, meh. Guy goes hiking with his dog. Bit lengthy of a story (though apparently true).
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Tom Ryan chronicles the relationship between himself and his Miniature Schnauzer, Atticus, as they follow a quest to summit all the 4,000 footers in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Tom shares, "I believe that each mountain has lessons to teach, stories to tell." And he is on this quest with Atticus in search of these lessons, which may shed light on his complicated relationship with his father, help him cope with the loss of his first canine love, Max, and be a fitting way raise money for cancer research.
The author is unconventional in his approach to life, career, and most certainly dog training. His methods and outcomes are most likely unique to his circumstances, and yet even though I find his life difficult to relate to, I find his philosophical epiphanies and lessons from the White Mountains extremely relatable. The mountains, and his quest, become necessary to his spiritual well being. He looks for the face of God, he refers to Atticus as his little Buddha (and takes him to see a great monk). In his own words, "I was not a religious man, but if I were, the woods would be my church, the mountain tops my alter." This sentiment is understandable to people who find solace, spirituality, and serenity in the woods or nature.
What happens to Tom and Atticus at the end of his story is, again, most likely unique to their circumstances. But if you love hiking, the mountains, and/or dogs, this memoir may be just the thing.
The author is unconventional in his approach to life, career, and most certainly dog training. His methods and outcomes are most likely unique to his circumstances, and yet even though I find his life difficult to relate to, I find his philosophical epiphanies and lessons from the White Mountains extremely relatable. The mountains, and his quest, become necessary to his spiritual well being. He looks for the face of God, he refers to Atticus as his little Buddha (and takes him to see a great monk). In his own words, "I was not a religious man, but if I were, the woods would be my church, the mountain tops my alter." This sentiment is understandable to people who find solace, spirituality, and serenity in the woods or nature.
What happens to Tom and Atticus at the end of his story is, again, most likely unique to their circumstances. But if you love hiking, the mountains, and/or dogs, this memoir may be just the thing.
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I enjoyed the first half, when Tom had his first dog and then met Atticus - his antics and them getting to know each other was funny and engaging. I also liked reading about Tom and his newspaper, their relationship with townspeople, and the beginning of their hiking journey. But after a while the chapters began to run together with more of the same - hiking, lots of snow and dangerous conditions, an injury (sad) here and there. The author continually pointed out that his life was about to change. I found this memoir to be a bit inflated and repetitive.
Probably not a fair book for me to review since I really am not a fan of animal stories, nor a big pet person. It was chosen for my non-fiction book group, and I am curious to hear what others in the group will have to say about this book.
I felt there was so much more that was interesting about the author that was only vaguely alluded to, the space instead being taken up with similar stories about the dog and the mountains. I would not be surprised to learn that this was a set of columns strung together to make a book because that's what it read like. The tantalizing bits about his family (father a widower left with 9 kids!!!!), Newburyport, the author's relationship with Paige, were what I wanted to learn more about. I guess I am just more interested in people than nature.
I grew up in Greater Boston, have often hiked in the White Mountains (although not in winter), had relatives in Medway, where the author grew up, and worked in the Kennedy Library, so those bits of local flavor were fun for me.
I felt there was so much more that was interesting about the author that was only vaguely alluded to, the space instead being taken up with similar stories about the dog and the mountains. I would not be surprised to learn that this was a set of columns strung together to make a book because that's what it read like. The tantalizing bits about his family (father a widower left with 9 kids!!!!), Newburyport, the author's relationship with Paige, were what I wanted to learn more about. I guess I am just more interested in people than nature.
I grew up in Greater Boston, have often hiked in the White Mountains (although not in winter), had relatives in Medway, where the author grew up, and worked in the Kennedy Library, so those bits of local flavor were fun for me.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
If you ever had a dog who was your best friend, this book is for you.