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August 22, 2017 , Tue | Reviews | 0 or add you thoughts!

“Years from now, we’ll tell this story: Once upon a time, there was a wolf called Romeo. Together, we watch him trot across the lake and fade into twilight. And we remember.”

Themes:

  • Human perception of top predators
  • Conservation and environmental politics
  • Evolutionary relationship between wolves and dogs

Wolves, dogs, interspecies communication, the wilderness, conservation—if you enjoy any of these topics, A Wolf Called Romeo will enthrall you. I expected this to be one of those “food-conditioned wild animal acts friendly sometimes and we got great photos” scenarios. Far from it, and Jans condemns food conditioning throughout the book. He has a real understanding of and respect for Romeo as a wild animal, and even hopes throughout the novel that the wolf will move on, live his natural life, and keep out of harm’s—aka humanity’s—way.

Environmental politics are central in this story, and I think Jans does an excellent job of staying as unbiased as possible despite his obvious love for animals, wolves in particular. I deeply appreciated Jans’s levelheaded, far-from-dramatic approach to each event and the community’s various reactions. I came away with a detailed understanding of the beliefs, historical perspectives, and emotions involved on both sides. read more

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August 13, 2017 , Sun | Recommendations | 0 or add you thoughts!

I’ve loved the ocean since childhood, and my desire to read nonfiction on the subject has been renewed over the last few years. Today, I’m sharing my recommendations!

The Devil’s Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America’s Great White Sharks by Susan Casey

Killer Whales of the World by Robin W. Baird

Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins by Susan Casey

War of the Whales: A True Story by Joshua Horwitz

Shark by Brian Skerry

Swimming with Orca: My Life with New Zealand’s Killer Whales by Ingrid Visser

Seahorses: A Life-Size Guide to Every Species by Sara Lourie

Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish by John Hargrove

The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery

Have you read any of these? Are you planning to? Let me know in the comments below! 

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