My Health Is Better in November: Thirty-Five Stories of Hunting and Fishing in the South

Rating:
Summary: Vintage stories of bird hunting and fishing in the South/.
Review: A must for every gentleman bird hunter, fisherman, or dog owner/. Dr/. Babcock tells of his pursuit of Bob White, fishing for breem, and his fascination with as well as tribulations over bird dogs/. Humor permeates stories about the perfect quail gun, ownership of the near-perfect hunting dog, the secret weapon of breem fishing-- the catawba worm and the virtues of the old cross rail fences/

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful, Entertaining Classic
Review: Good friends gave me this book when I graduated high school more years ago than I like to realize. I have read, re-read, and re-re-read it, and given a copy to my grandson in hopes of instilling in him some of my love of the outdoors.

The first time I read this book, and most of the subsequent times as well, I laughed until tears rolled down my face. Babcock eloquently paints word pictures of hunting and fishing experiences in the deep South of the early 20th century.

The reader will notice a much higher quality of writing than is commonly found in outdoor magazines today. Today, few college professors admit to such politically incorrect pastimes as hunting and fishing. The modern reader does need to remember the time frame in which these stories take place. Babcock was a product of his environment, and while he speaks fondly of Uncle Sessions and others eligible for membership in the NAACP, he doesn't use the politically correct terminology of today.

I have cherished and retold -- with attribution -- several stories contained in this book, and just remembering them can take 10 points off my blood pressure.

If you like to hunt and fish, or like someone who does, this book is an excellent choice.