I’ve wanted to read this book for some time. Mainly because Rachel Dickinson came to my blog and left a comment about a picture of a meadow lark I had taken. I have also wanted to read it for another reason in that I thought I could give it to my wife to read and say … see that’s why I’m like the way I am ( it has nothing to do with being British and a red coat).
The book is fairly easy to read in the main part. I’m dyslexic and tend to read teenager novels. Usually fantasy, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson & the Olympians and anything by Paolini. I also speed read which has its advantages and disadvantages. So with that I found this book a little dry in someplace however I did learn a few new words that I had never come across before. I am making a hugh assumption here but felt it was written for a more mature group.
I also felt the book also had a split purpose on one hand it was autobiographical of Steve Chindgren and then it was also about Rachel’s journey to see what really pushed her husband. This got a little confusing in some places. From a falconer’s point of view there where whole chapters dedicated to falconry regulations and history that didn’t really interest me and I assume would interest other falconers. I think it would however appeal to non-falconers as to why things are the way they are and the regulations we have to abide by.
I do wish there had been some photographs of the landscape and the journey that Rachel took. Some of the descriptions are a bit too long (I’m biased I’m a photographer) but I think it would have helped illustrate the book and give a real perspective on the subject matter.
My only other fault with the book was I felt it concentrated overly on longwingers, I can see why in that Rachel’s husband is a long winger. There is a Chapter on the the Nafa Meet in Kansas and the entire time appeared to only be about Longwingers with fleeting mentions of the odd dirthawker they accidentally stumbled across.
What I did like was the incite into Steve Chindgren and why he is the way he is. There are two types of falconers those obsessed with head count and those that are into the hunt. I never quite worked out which category he fell into.
Over all it’s not a bad book but I just felt I wanted more and I was never sure what direction or if the goal set out was ever achieved. I think its worth a read if only to read about Steve Chindgren and sage grouse hunting.
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5 comments:
Steve Chindgren is his name. I have to disagree with your comment that there are two types of Falconers (those into head count and those into the hunt) There are those that are into both. I have flown birds with Steve Chindgren in Wyoming. And he catches more Sage Grouse than anyone else out there and he does it in fine style. High head counts are the product of good falconry. Birds of Prey in the wild often catch food everyday with no help from a flusher. I'm not so sure it should be any different for a well trained, fit, experienced, falconry bird. But of course reality and murphy's law dont always work that way. I hope you're bird continues to heal up well so you can get back at it with her this fall. I know I'm already getting the "itch" to fly birds again.
Thanks for reading the book, Steve. And Ryan is right -- it is Steven Chindgren and he does fall into both of the categories that you mention. What's tough about writing a book like Falconer on the Edge is that people who are intensely interested in falconry want the book to be something different. Some want it to be a how-to book, others want it to have more detail about hunts, still others want it to include buteos, and others want photos (that's a decision the publisher makes).
My whole reason for writing the book was to get more insight into my husband and his obsession with falconer. So I figured that would happen if I tried to understand a hardcore falconer like Steve Chindgren. Along the way I learned a lot about a wonderful part of the country -- central Wyoming -- and met some interesting people at falconry meets. And I think I did get a little peek into a world that's pretty mystifying to a non-falconer.
Rachel
I am not so sure about handing the book off to your wife, I am pretty sure with the kids, work, school, the military and being knee deep in all your hobbies there is no time left for reading a book.. besides wouldn't you say that your wife is a little more involved in the falconry and beekeeping than she ever intended to be so maybe you should be thankful that she hasn't made you sleep in the "bird house" and not really attempt to make her trade in her audio books and school books for a bird book.. lol
Ryan & Rachel. I should imagine the whole experiance of flying or watching steve fly is hawks is somthing truly amazing to behold.
Ryan. Yeah im itching to go already and it doesnt seem that long since we stopped.I hope to make it up your way in the fall to get on some of those rabbits.
Rachel please dont get this wrong and perhaps i didnt write it well enough but i did like the book and enjoyed reading it i just felt it got lost in a few places. I would recomend it to anyone that was interested in a read. I jsut ended the book with wanting more from it and i dont know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
Latrell i love you and i think you should read the book.
Ok you do my home work for a week while I read it!
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