Hunting the Edges

Rating:
Summary: Great stories, great writing style
Review: I was a student at Lawrence University, majoring in Russian and I had the great pleasure of having Richard Yatzeck as an advisor and a professor, so I must admit that I might be a bit biased in my review. He's a great person who enjoys the simple life first and foremost, but just happens to also be a talented writer and Russian professor at a highly esteemed university. What's more is that I totally love the outdoors and everything associated with it as well as "the good ol' days" when development in Wisconsin was scarce, so this book speaks especially to me. But that's no reason to ignore the fantastic stories he recounts in this book.
The stories tend to be short, so you can read them one at a time and get a good impression of the thrills and frustrations of the hunt. There's a good amount of emphasis on the good, quiet life in Wisconsin, and a real appreciation of nature, all told subtly alongside the real stories. It conveys a sense of appreciation that I think even a city dweller would understand. Finally, Hunting the Edges makes you feel the cold of an early November morning in the woods, or smell the griddle in the cabin right before you set out for the daily hunt.
What makes this book really fun to read is Dick's humor. His mishaps in missing out on a choice buck due to plumbing problems in his house, a friend's failed endeavour in falconing, or failing to catch a fish during an expedition with a fellow professor (who happens to practically hold a masters degree in the art of fishing as well as Russian History) reflect his easy going nature and positive attitude. I found myself cracking up on many an occasion while reading this book.
If you've got an interest in hunting and fishing, this book is definatly a good choice. I'd even reccomend it to nature lovers, and go as far as to have people who regard hunting as wrong read it, because Dick hunts without all the macho city slicker attitude. For me, this is what real hunting is all about.