We Moved!
Here's the new site, www.LiHeLiSo.org, as of November 15ish, 2008.
Enjoy! And thanks for reading us.
Miscellanea and Ephemeron
[Previous entry: "Manga review: Chibi Vampire, Vol. 1"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Graphic travel book review: Baraka And Black Magic In Morocco"]
05/07/2006 Archived Entry: "Book Review - If Only They Could Talk: The Miracles of Spring Farm"
If Only They Could Talk: The Miracles of Spring Farm
by Bonnie Jones Reynolds and Dawn E. Hayman
Published by Pocket Books
Review by Kathryn Ramage
On the one hand, there is a fairly interesting story here, along the lines of the veterinary tales of James Herriot, about two women who made their farm into a haven for strays, and eventually into a charitable organization dedicated to caring for abused, neglected, and abandoned animals. Several of the stories of badly mistreated animals being found and rescued were really moving.
On the other hand, these stories are frequently infused with a goopy anthropomorphism that assumes the animals really do talk, and communicate with humans on common terms.
If the book took itself less seriously on this point, I might be more tolerant--after all, what pet owner doesn't have conversations with his or her pet and sometimes provide both sides of the dialog? But the absurdity of having a discussion with a tom-cat about whether or not to have him neutered (the cat says No), or a mouse having a friendly chat with a group of cats, presented with all sincerity, is too much. One case, in which a pony details a fitting punishment for the people who abandoned it, I feel undermines the animal's real, mute suffering; if the pony's rescuers felt that way, why not express their opinions for themselves, instead of putting too-human words in its mouth?
The Wapshott Press
One of the best deals anywhere. (PromoCode HKB669)
Ontology on the go!
"Ontology on the Go!"
J LHLS mugs
Notice: Comments are back! Yay! Note: Boo. Due to comment spam, comments are closed on certain entries. You can Contact us with your comment and we'll add it.