The Daily Coyote: A Story of Love, Survival, and Trust in the Wilds of Wyoming [Hardcover]

Shreve Stockton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2, 2008

When city girl Shreve Stockton set out to ride her Vespa from San Francisco to New York, she never imagined she would end up making a log cabin in Wyoming her home, falling in love with a trapper, and working as a ranch hand. She also could not have predicted adopting Charlie, an orphaned coyote pup. In a world where coyotes are hunted as killers, Stockton and Charlie have faced challenges-as well as joys-throughout their first year. Operating Instructions meets Marley and Me in this charming life-lesson book about life, love, and the bond between humans and nature.The Daily Coyote was inspired by Stockton's blog of the same name. Wildly popular and praised by Rosie O'Donnell, James Wolcott of Vanity Fair, and the Los Angeles Times, the site receives over a million hits per month and was nominated for a 2007 Weblog of the Year Award only a month after its inception. Numerous media outlets, from People to NPR, can't wait to feature Stockton and Charlie.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This moving account of writer/photographer Stockton's first year with her pet coyote, Charlie, expands on her popular blog, the Daily Coyote, but newcomers and the authors many fans will find that this memoir offers a complete—if not yet completed—story about love and life in a small Wyoming town. On a cross-country move from San Francisco to New York City in 2005, Stockton fell in love with the beauty of Wyomings Bighorn Mountains and decided to settle there. She found new roots and a new boyfriend, a government trapper whose job was to protect livestock by killing coyotes. When he finds an orphaned coyote pup, barely 10 days old, he gives it to Stockton, beginning an adventure that moves human and animal from a blissful open affection (the authors photos of baby Charlie are as adorable as they are beautifully composed) through a period of reconsideration after Charlie bites her to a breakthrough realization that Charlie needed a much more structured alpha attitude from his owner. Stockton's journey of sharing her life with a wild animal and providing training while respecting Charlies unique nature makes for a fascinating and rewarding read. (Dec.)
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Review

"Much more than an explanation of canine training methods, Stockton's unique book gives a glimpse of rugged life in the West and its harsh and beautiful landscape." ---Library Journal

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (December 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416592180
• ISBN-13: 978-1416592181
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (169 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #533,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 95 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a true love story---fascinating, endearing, surprising, wonderful... November 27, 2008

By N. Ferguson

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

When I picked up this book I expected an interesting animal story, and instead found an absolutely engaging page-turner about a wonderful young woman's search for herself in Wyoming. I read it cover to cover in a day-- this is one of the best books I have read in years.

The story of the author's unexpected fork in the road-- the choice to allow a tiny baby coyote to be drowned or to take on its care for life-- and the path she took illuminates so many things about her, and about all of us as human beings. This is a remarkably well-written memoir about a fascinating person and her fascinating animal family. It is a story of about love, both between humans and animals and between a man and a woman-- both stories about figuring out how to be an individual, how to trust, how to overcome fear, and how to accept that we can't always be in control in life. It is also illustrated by some of the most beautiful and compelling wildlife photography I have ever seen. Shreve Stockon is a great photographer.

The characters of her book are all complex and skillfully portrayed. Shreve herself is my new heroine-- a free spirit determined to believe in life and love, despite the knocks and pain she experienced along the way. She is brave, even when terrified. She is wise, even when she is naive or foolish. She takes chances few people would risk, and in the process redefines the boundaries of her own life. It's not at all surprising that a spirit like hers is moving towards a happy ending at the close of the book.

Mike, Shreve's friend and boyfriend, is also a very complex person. Kind, solid, brave, genuine, and also willing to take a chance after enduring a great deal of heartache, he is another person we feel privileged to come to know through this book.... I was rooting for Mike throughout the book, just as Shreve seems to be.

Charlie, the coyote Shreve and Mike share their lives with, will be absolutely fascinating to anyone who has ever raised a puppy through adolescence and the accompanying rough patches, as well as anyone who is interested in the unique character of coyotes and wolves. This is both the story of a unique and accidental family and an intriguing account of coyote behavior.

As a person who cares deeply about wildlife, and someone who worked in conservation education for many years, I understand that there are people who will not approve of the choice made by Shreve. I was afraid for her and for Charlie as I read this book, knowing that their fate rested on the edge of a knife, with disaster and heartbreak always looming as very real possibilities. But in the end I believe that Shreve's choice was the right one for her, and I have tremendous respect for her huge heart, toughness, independence, and willingness to take a chance on love. Her willingness to trust in the goodness of strangers has brought a great deal of joy into her life. I sincerely hope that they will be able to continue to find happiness together.

Finally, since I think the author may read our reviews, I just wanted to add a note for her. I feel sure there will be film offers made for this story. If so, don't take the first offer, :), and keep some rights of approval over the script-- don't let them change what is true about Charlie, what is amazing about you, and what is complicated and good about Mike. You really have inspired me to think about what makes a good life. I'll be thinking about your book for a long time, and hope a sequel will follow. Read more ›

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than I'd hoped for November 24, 2008

By Book reader

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Even if this had turned out to be a cutesy-poo "me and my coyote" book, I'd have enjoyed it.

But this is a REAL book! The photographs -- of which there are almost enough to satisfy MY cravings for pictures -- are beautiful and breath-taking and give an idea of what Charlie's and Eli's and Shreve's lives are like in a place I've never been.

And the narrative is so rich -- it's clear that Shreve's decision to take in Charlie opened up a lot of unexpected pathways as they learned to live together while accommodating each other's natures. The book definitely doesn't encourage anyone to make the same choices (raising a coyote among humans) but does bring up questions that we all can address at one time or another in our lives.

It's rare that a book is all that you hoped for and more. I think this may be one of those books I give to all my friends, whether they're animal people or not.

54 of 60 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for "bleeding hearts" like myself... December 6, 2008

By Biblioholic Beth VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

The Daily Coyote began (and, I believe, continues) life as a blog. To a large degree, it still reads like one. While I enjoyed the story, it is not something that I would feel compelled to read again or to recommend to many.

Honestly, I probably would have enjoyed the story more had the descriptions of killing the coyotes not been so brutal. I respect Ms. Stockton's honesty, and commend her for being so willing to explain the full circumstances of how she ended up with Charlie. As she explains in the book, there were many who vilified her on the blog...so being willing to put it out there for so many more people to read was incredibly brave.

The photographs within the book are stunning - Ms. Stockton has a wonderful eye and a great talent with a camera. I only wished that there had been more photos to enjoy!

The overall story is a love story - love for her new home, love for her new boyfriend and love for this little life that she chose to be responsible for. If you are able to enjoy that part of the story without becoming bogged down with the manner and reasoning behind the death of so many other coyotes, then you will certainly enjoy this story. Unfortunately, my "bleeding heart" got the best of me, which left very little room to enjoy the love story at its fullest and best.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful ,Magical, Thought provoking! November 22, 2008

By H. Keshvari

Format:Hardcover

I read this all in one night! Sometimes you come across a writer and thier story and it flows like good music, easy to read, thought provoking, magical..you finish the book and you want to know more! The Story of Charlie and Shreve is so much more than a story of both of them, its more a story of life choices, intentions, and unconditional love..a story of challenging your fears and not compromising. I related so much to this book and yet left with a new perspective in the way of looking at certains things..This book is so much more than a story..in so many levels! Thank you Shreve for your honesty! Marlene from Cambria.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring Story November 23, 2008

By Sue

Format:Hardcover

This book was a page turner. I was engrossed from the first page. Even though I have followed The Daily Coyote website for almost a year, this book connected all the dots. Everything in the story has fallen into place. Shreve's life in a small town in Wyoming raising and living with a Coyote is heartwarming, scary, challenging and rewarding all at the same time. Add in a love story with a cowboy and fantastic photography, you couldn't ask for any more.
I want to keep following the story.

Sue