Two Dog River [Paperback]

Richard Day (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 25, 1999

Two Dog River is a work of fiction that presents outdoor adventure and men's issues in the wet and wild setting of whitewater rafting and kayaking.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

At last there is a work of fiction that speaks to the heart and soul of men. Two Dog River is more than a book - it's a journey. So strap in and take the ride. Check it out. The Dog rules!

About the Author

Richard Day is a 20-year veteran of the outdoor and whitewater rafting and kayaking world. His doctorate in pyschology and interest in men's issues, as well as his experience as a creative writing instructor, enable Richard to capture and express the whole whitewater culture and experience. Richard's excellent craft and eccentric talent are evident in Two Dog River and likely to entertain and inspire for years to come.

Product Details

• Paperback: 293 pages
• Publisher: Sutton Pub; 1 edition (December 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966465903
• ISBN-13: 978-0966465907
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,487,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Novel on the Whitewater Experience, March 1, 2000

By 

christopher ramsey (Old Greenwich, Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two Dog River (Paperback)

This Technicolor rush of a book is surely the definitive novel on the modern whitewater experience. Part Kerouac, part Hunter Thompson, the narrative rockets along like a kayak on the tongue of monster wave.

The story chronicles a scruffy band of alpha-male characters whose names appear plucked from the golden age of California surfing (Moon Dog, Red Bone, Chaz, Hammer) and their epic assault on an uncharted, untamed river at the height of its flow.

Two Dog River is at its best when describing the details that make up the true whitewater adventure. Packing a raft for a long run, balancing its cargo, charting topography--the reader becomes a willing apprentice to the art of river-running.

As the journey continues, the lessons become more complicated, touching on male camaraderie, an earthy view of relations between the sexes (part Steinem, part Steinbeck), and the spiritual side of sport.

All in all, author Richard Day has brought us into a world most of us will never have the skill or the nerve to experience, and he has made it visceral-so much so that you may need to towel off after finishing the book's last heroic run.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Dog River: A "MUST READ" Book, July 10, 2002

By 

George (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two Dog River (Paperback)

Richard Day's epic tale of whitewater rafting down an uncharted river is one marked by adventure, excitement, sensuality, emotion and spirituality. Day flawlessly depicts the nature of an uncultivated river, and the powerful characters that take an unprecedented journey.
Readers with even a passing interest in the outdoor genre will find themselves drawn into this story.
This is truly a well-written book, with more than enough excitement to keep any apathetic reader intrigued, enthused, and captivated.
The exhilaration, emotional and spiritual attachment one attains from reading Two Dog River will engage readers of all types.
This is a "MUST READ" book !!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Dog River:The Journey, June 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Two Dog River (Paperback)

I finished Two Dog River and immediately had to read it again. I love this story. As a guy, the beginning chapters strike a deep resonance. In fact, no other novel of which I am aware, speaks so uniquely to men. Two Dog River also seems to offer a glimpse into the very heart and soul of the whitewater rafting and kayaking world. The story chronicles a band of "crusty" whitewater rafters and kayakers as they prepare for and then "run" an uncharted wild river deep in nearly mythological wilderness. The author skillfully keeps the characters in genre by using only "river names": Redbone, Bugsy, Johnny Nevada, Chaz and Moon Dog. Likewise, as the story unfolds, the spectacular setting actually drives the plot as the river (herself) draws the characters in deeply, as if being sensuosly caressed by Gaia herself. Not to give away the story, the middle section throbs with both adrenaline and sensuality as boys (and youth) delve into the carnal pleasures of a surrounding life-force. All the while a deep and unspoken creative spirituality is present, only to rupture-forth as a formal initiation when youth emerges into a higher consciousness of elder hood. Two Dog River throbs with life's pulse. The book is "deep fun." It often keeps a light and even humorous tone, while at the same time being tender, sensual, youthful and profound. Richard Day has made a wonderful contribution to the outdoor genre. I highly recommend this work.