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marlenarw's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
minechatz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
drudeger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A story from the perspective of a mysterious black fox in the British countryside during the 1940s, focusing on themes of spirituality and the relationship between humankind and the wild.
Author Brian Carter takes much pleasure in meandering in nature, consistently describing the setting in great detail throughout the book, working to immerse the reader in the mundanities of the wild. In contrast, action is relatively scarce, spread throughout the story and described sparingly.
If you're a fan of naturalist-animal xenofiction or stories that bask in the affections of nature, you will love this classic of the genre.
Author Brian Carter takes much pleasure in meandering in nature, consistently describing the setting in great detail throughout the book, working to immerse the reader in the mundanities of the wild. In contrast, action is relatively scarce, spread throughout the story and described sparingly.
If you're a fan of naturalist-animal xenofiction or stories that bask in the affections of nature, you will love this classic of the genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Animal cruelty
swanfrost's review against another edition
5.0
a++++ nature writing. i liked this book a lot -- i was enamored with the author's imagery and mastery of describing both the beauty of nature and also the stark realities of what animal survival looks like. i really liked wulfgar and the other foxes and other animals he meets. i liked how the book doesn't shy away from death, and explores so many aspects of man's relationship with nature. i would not rec this book easily, but as a warrior cats kid who also took some turns into books like redwall and wolves of the beyond i immensely enjoyed the animal pov/narration.
lamusadelils's review against another edition
3.0
De la tradición de Bambi o El zorro y el sabueso, aunque lo sentí más mmm ¿salvaje?, con muchos ejemplos de sonidos y olores naturales, con mucho énfasis en los sentido e instintos animales.
elliebooks's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it straight away and was wowed by the author's ability to write in such detail about the movements of the landscape from a fox-eye view.
During the 2/3 point I became a little tired and wasn't paying as much attention to what happened, as we seemed to flit dreamily from hunting on the Tor to the Trapper drinking cider in the pub.
I wanted to finish the book as I have a bad habit of abandoning books halfway through, and I'm glad I did. The last few chapters were rich with the magic of nature and the excitement that had me hooked at the beginning. They made sense of all the detail that had come before and reached a climax that was cathartic and poetic, but not unbelievable.
I wouldn't rush back to read another Carter novel but would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the hypothetical world of a big black fox in Dartmoor.
During the 2/3 point I became a little tired and wasn't paying as much attention to what happened, as we seemed to flit dreamily from hunting on the Tor to the Trapper drinking cider in the pub.
I wanted to finish the book as I have a bad habit of abandoning books halfway through, and I'm glad I did. The last few chapters were rich with the magic of nature and the excitement that had me hooked at the beginning. They made sense of all the detail that had come before and reached a climax that was cathartic and poetic, but not unbelievable.
I wouldn't rush back to read another Carter novel but would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the hypothetical world of a big black fox in Dartmoor.
kristinn's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. Perhaps I'll come back to it one day, but for now I found it difficult to get into.
blondkkyu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
funktious's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don't normally enjoy anthropomorphism or mysticism in my reading, so I was surprised at how much I liked this. The descriptions of the wildlife and seasons on Dartmoor are beautiful but it's all undercut by a strong theme of PTSD and the damage done to a generation of British men by two successive wars, with a sprinkling of class antagonism as well. And it's very even handed - despite the obvious awfulness of Scoble, you also have to admit that he has a very close relationship with and deep understanding of his environment; "Church is just another house. There's more of God in my garden than you'll find in Buckfast Abbey or Exeter Cathedral." The final chapters, in the famous winter of 1947, are riveting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and War
victoria_catherine_shaw's review against another edition
3.0
This story reminded me of my favourite book from childhood, The Animals of Farthing Wood. It follows Wulfgar, a black fox running wild through Dartmoor, as he struggles to evade his nemesis, Scoble the trapper, and his lurcher, Jacko.
Similar to The Animals of Farthing Wood, the animals in this tale suffer as a result of their interactions with humans. However, this is more nuanced than a simple tale of good and evil, with Scoble the trapper coming across as a pitiable character, haunted by ghosts from the war and consumed by his hatred for foxes. His lurcher, Jacko (whose narrative is one of the most captivating), is evidently brain damaged and kills wildly in unhinged frenzies, desperate to appease the stars.
Meanwhile the foxes are portrayed as not merely physical animals but also spiritual beings grappling with "human" issues such as love, grief, life, death and meaning on their journey to the Star Place, giving the book a strange, almost mystical feeling.
The descriptions of the moors and woodlands are beautifully interwoven with the spiritual musings of the foxes, bringing the countryside to life and conveying a landscape of real character. It's hard to read this book without developing the wanderlust of the foxes and wanting to be outside somewhere.
Similar to The Animals of Farthing Wood, the animals in this tale suffer as a result of their interactions with humans. However, this is more nuanced than a simple tale of good and evil, with Scoble the trapper coming across as a pitiable character, haunted by ghosts from the war and consumed by his hatred for foxes. His lurcher, Jacko (whose narrative is one of the most captivating), is evidently brain damaged and kills wildly in unhinged frenzies, desperate to appease the stars.
Meanwhile the foxes are portrayed as not merely physical animals but also spiritual beings grappling with "human" issues such as love, grief, life, death and meaning on their journey to the Star Place, giving the book a strange, almost mystical feeling.
The descriptions of the moors and woodlands are beautifully interwoven with the spiritual musings of the foxes, bringing the countryside to life and conveying a landscape of real character. It's hard to read this book without developing the wanderlust of the foxes and wanting to be outside somewhere.