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A review by brontherun
Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan
3.0
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.