Vegetarians have called it “thought-provoking” and “beautiful,” and have urged others to read it. Hunters have commended the questions it raises about what it means to take an animal’s life, and have said that it gives them new insight into vegetarianism.
‘Now that I was fishing, the water had come alive. Ponds and lakes were no longer mere scenery.’
The quote above describes exactly how I feel as an outdoorsman. Everything in the woods, on the mountains and in the water is alive. That being said, I don’t always have to go kill something to have a successful hunt. That is another interesting avenue that Tovar touches on throughout the book.
‘Looking around at the taxidermied heads on the fish and game club walls, I wondered how the hunters who had done the killing saw those mounts. Did they see them as proof of their capacity for domination? Did they see them as ways of honoring the animal they had killed, or as ways of preserving the memories of those days, those moments?’
I have often wondered similar questions. I am not a trophy hunter by definition. Any animal I hunt, kill and put in my freezer is a trophy. It is something I have worked hard for and to me it IS a trophy. Now don’t get me wrong, like many hunters will, I do proudly display my mounts from animals I have killed. It’s a personal choice, but Tovar still makes you think about it. There’s no right or wrong, but rather a question of accountability.
In the book, Tovar mentions living for a spell in New York State and where he lived was less than an hour from where I grew up. This also helped me connect with him on a geographical level. It brought me back home. The smells, the open country and driving through the Finger Lakes int he Fall. You don’t have to be from New York, New Hampshire or any specific location to relate to the book. Just be a hunter with an open mind. I do think that the book is more focused at hunters understanding vegetarians and not vice versa, but that is strictly my opinion.
Most of you will be pleasantly surprised when you read this book. By the end you will feel like Willie and Uncle Mark are part of your extended family. I am not going to give all details away here, but I highly recommend picking up a copy. While it started off slow for me, the meat of the book and the ending were thought provoking, powerful and entertaining. It’ll give you insight into the mind of a vegetarianan-turned-hunter, the inner battles one has to address and the highlights of some great dynamics between friends and family.
The book is published by Pegasus Books and distributed by W. W. Norton. It can be purchased through local bookstores or online. For purchase links, more info, and details on upcoming events around New England, please visit Tovar’s website: www.tovarcerulli.com/book.
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