Customer Reviews

The Pond

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I just finished reading The Pond for the second time. What a masterpiece! I love the way he uses words like the brush strokes of a fine watercolor, painting such a clear picture of 1917 rural Virgina. What a privilege to accompany Joey on his journey into manhood. Surrounded by wise as well as brutal characters, Joey learns what it means to be loyal to a friend, to respect nature even while seeing the need to sometimes kill, and to see that sometimes the needs of others need to be honored over his own.

I grew up with hunting and fishing and greatly appreciate Murphy's descriptions of both endeavors.

An absolutely wonderful coming-of-age story about a city boy who grows up with regular visits to his family's country property that includes a dog, a lake, row boat, the woods, a hunting rifle, and wildlife to study, hunt, and observe. The hired care-taker at the cabin facilitates in the boy some learning, personal growth, and reverence for the natural world. As the boy develops into a man, he comes to better understand himself and his place in the natural world. Highly recommended for teenagers who enjoy nature and the excitement that comes from hunting and observing nature. An award winning book that includes an exposure to balanced outdoor/land ethics.