Customer Reviews

From a Wooden Canoe: Reflections on Canoeing, Camping, and Classic Equipment

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

A classic, said Mark Twain, is a book which people praise but don't read. If Twain was right, the latest collection of essays by Michigan's talented Jerry Dennis will never be a classic, and we should hope not. This book will be read, again and again, by anyone who covets the aroma of tent canvas, the fit of elkskin moccasins, or the crisp solitude of an October morning on a remote northern lake or stream. Jerry's new book contains 31 sparkling essays on the merits of everything from iron skillets to Union Suits, from finely honed wooden paddles to the best wood for a campfire. Reflecting on years of gentle meandering, Jerry lovingly explains how tradition and quality dovetail to make outdoor pursuits more comfortable, and more comforting to the soul. There's a yearning in these descriptive passages, a questing spirit that sings, "There's still an hour 'til dark; let's paddle the north fork to see what we find." And you do, because for Jerry and his readers, adventure invariably lies around the next bend. "From a Wooden Canoe" is superbly illustrated by Glenn Wolff. The book makes me glad there's wild country to explore and perceptive, contemplative writers like Jerry Dennis to stir the campfires of my heart.

From A Wooden Canoe wraps the classic tools of an outdoor life in a series of short essays that capture dew drops and mist, the water songs of dipping paddles and rain on granite. It offers a respite from tabloid news, cell phones, and microchips. The essays sting our eyes with woodsmoke then soothe them with starlight and wrap us safe in an old wool coat.

The book brought bittersweet memories of frosty camps, my father watching a snowy tree line, the sweet smell of cedar from a hundred swamps. It is cabined on a special shelf with Harrison, McPhee, McGuane, and Abbey.

More of a gentle cruise than a furious whitewater paddle, "From a Wooden Canoe" is easily dismissed as superficial and irrelevant to modern times. Taking more than a casual glance, however, is worth the effort. Mr Dennis can write and, when he is tackling a subject dear to his heart, he achieves an apparently effortless grace. The topics here vary from the predictable (a woollen hunting jacket)to the eccentric (shuttle cars, for example) and cover concepts as well as items, outlining the delights of good coffee and a bright red union suit in a couple of pages of easy prose. There is little real depth of information, but it is important to consider that such is not the purpose of the book: this is a volume of memories and feelings, some explained and others merely invoked, pertaining to a life outdoors, away from the urban (and urbane, very often). It's simple, straightforward reading, perhaps best enjoyed in small sips rather than gulping swallows, much like camp coffee. The chapter illustrations by Glenn Wolff are on the whole nicely rendered and at times atmospheric, although he is clearly more accomplished when not sketching people.
In all this is an odd but worthwhile book, definitely more enjoyable to someone who has spent some time in the wilds, though.

Jerry Dennis has accomplished a most unusual feat with his "FROM A WOODEN CANOE, Reflections on Canoeing, Camping and Classic Equipment." Dennis explores and illustrates the "why-to" of doing very many things outdoors. When it comes to feeding the soul that loves the natural world, Dennis belongs in the same category of Jim Harrison or Thomas McGuane. Turn the pages of From a Wooden Canoe and you hear campfires crackle, smell the aroma of hot, black coffee and feel the wind that makes you pull up the collar of your heavy wool coat. The writing has a way of infusing the outdoor experience complete with clear blue skies or gray scudding clouds right to the heart of anyone who enjoys being outside. This collection of essays, largely expanded columns that first appeared in Canoe and Kayak Magazine is truly a fine read.

How does he do it? Jerry Dennis goes beyond the outward appearance of an object and explores far deeper realms, conjuring up the romance and resonance of pocketknives, tents... hell, even the month of October. A fine follow-up to A Place on the Water and The River Home. Nature and fishing and canoeing and watching the dawn. Go there with this one.

Jerry Dennis has accomplished a most unusual feat with his "FROM A WOODEN CANOE, Reflections on Canoeing, Camping and Classic Equipment." Dennis explores and illustrates the "why-to" of doing very many things outdoors. When it comes to feeding the soul that loves the natural world, Dennis belongs in the same category of Jim Harrison or Thomas McGuane. Turn the pages of From a Wooden Canoe and you hear campfires crackle, smell the aroma of hot, black coffee and feel the wind that makes you pull up the collar of your heavy wool coat. The writing has a way of infusing the outdoor experience complete with clear blue skies or gray scudding clouds right to the heart of anyone who enjoys being outside. This collection of essays, largely expanded columns that first appeared in Canoe and Kayak Magazine is truly a fine read.

This book gets pulled from my shelf a lot. I love to read this kind of writing. My favorite author ever is John Gierach - I own every single one of his books but one...this writing is just like that - a treasured love of great stories of favorite things - easy to relate to for any who have spent time outdoors!

My favorite things are those that last, stand the test of time, and serve me well. It's not something I started out believing -as is the way with youth....but over time and now in my 40's, it's certainly a comfort to throw on the same wool shirt I've had with me for almost 20 years, etc...

Apparently the author gets better with age too, I've read his other books, but this one is BY FAR my favorite and can provide either a quick escape for a story or two...or an entire day of enjoyment while trapped in a tent on a windblown lake on a trip.

I would mostly rather paddle than read about paddling, but when I can't, I like to read someone who can make pictures appear in my head. From a Wooden Canoe is my favorite Jerry Dennis book to date (along with It's Raining Frogs and Fishes). Jerry can evoke images of past river trips, even when talking about the archane Ohio Blue Tip Match or a rusty trusty shuttle vehicle.

If you like to paddle, read this book. If you want to see what it's like to be inside a paddler's head, read this book. If it's nice outside, go paddling instead.

It was a nice read, but kinda thin, fluff and popcorn feel; not much meat on the bones.

The publisher takes a political liberty of reader consent to print this book without reviewing the "knee deep only" dimensions of the topics, the slight current reader interests or timeliness to the year 2001. Many of the articles, short and newsy as they might have once been, provide only brief historical interest to a small population of readers who might once have read the articles in a northern, small town, paper. Sorry. I was thoroughly dissappointed.