The Last River Rat (Hardcover)

by J. Scott Bestul (Author)
Key Phrases: tent camp, grandmother tree, last river rat, Big Lake Shack, Whitman Swamp, Big River (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Fans of Gary Paulsen and Tom Brown, teens who head for the woods when school is out, and city slickers who want to connect with the outdoors will relish this month-by-month glimpse into the disappearing way of life of a woodsman who lives off the land on a swampy and hilly bank of the Mississippi in Wisconsin. Salwey, a loner who decided to communicate his love of the wild with others in an effort to conserve and protect it, shares with a professional outdoors writer one year in the woods. He begins with April, and the format repeats for each month thereafter: first a short piece by Bestul on the climatic changes, then the two spend some time sharing a seasonal activity, such as ginseng hunting or deer hunting, followed by a piece in which Salwey tells something about his experience in the woods. This coverage is wonderfully evocative-one can almost hear the geese honking. Biology and earth science teachers will find the book an excellent resource for following the natural year as the school year proceeds; no month's reportage depends on previous months. Readers will find it is a privilege to accompany the pair through this fascinating and lovely corner of the world.

Judy McAloon, Potomac Library, Prince William County, VA

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review
"...a rich, word-chewing voice...Salwey uses it to spin tales of life on the backwoods of the Mississippi..." -- Saint Paul Pioneer Press, December 4, 2005

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press (August 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896584577
• ISBN-13: 978-0896584570
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #953,022 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Honest Accounting of "A River Rat", June 15, 2002

By	M. Ness (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have known Kenny since 1980, although I've only started reading this story I am extremely comfortable with the pace and grace Mr. Bestul uses. Kenny is everything the book says he is a very hard working, deliberate, honest, kind and caring person, without a mean bone in him. I've shared stories and bread with Kenny, and he really is the type of person you would like to know personally. Mary Kay's illustrations are graceful and a pleasure to view alongside this wonderful story.
In my opinion this book is a must for any outdoorsman, or for a quiet read next to a fire. I sincerely hope you enjoy Kenny's story as much as I am.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last River Rat , March 27, 2006

By	LaVerne C. Paulson (Preston, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have never met Kenny, but after reading this book, it seems as though I have known him most of my life. I grew up on a farm in Winona County in the 50's and 60's hunting and fishing every chance I had. Reading chapter after chapter, from my experiences which are a bit different, but similar, than Kenny's, I relived part of my life again and many of the phrases found in the book jogged my memory nicely. I spent four years at Winona State and did my share of fishing below the dam and wandering around some of the backwaters on the Wisconsin side of the river amid much of the wildlife Kenny encountered. Each almanac chapter, as well as the Rat Tales, are filled with information and feelings that only a true naturalist could convey. This book is a facinating account of a river rat's calendar year and all the beauty and excitement in and around the Mississippi River from one month to the next. A must read for anyone who lives in this area or wishes they did.

4.0 out of 5 stars I'll Never Be A River Rat, But..., May 22, 2009

By	Robert Daniels (fairfield, ia USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Last River Rat: Kenny Salwey's Life in the Wild (Paperback)

...after reading this book I feel like I came close.

In the daily fantasy world of "wow, wouldn't it be cool to live like that" most of us drift back to the conclusion that our current lives are pretty good after all.

And though when I got up this morning I felt perhaps more happy than ever in my cushy home with its central heat and air, I feel like I also got to live the cheater's version of being a River Rat.

And that's because this book is just so darned well written. Alternating between the words of the author and the words of Mr. Salwey the reader tastes the essence of River Rat life as each chapter covers one month of the year - beginning, fascinatingly enough, with April, the month a true River Rat considers "January."

One chapter you're digging ginseng, the next you're fishing, the next you're hunting ducks....and you get the full narrative of the changing pace and surroundings of each of these activities. You feel almost as if you are visiting a whole new country with each successive month.

Shucks, I live only an hour from the Mississippi myself. And though I will never be a River Rat, I got a good glimpse of the life, and thru this book I will forever be more mindful of our changing seasons, and the beauty of Nature right outside my door every day.