Synopses & Reviews
andldquo;Jans is an exceptional storytellerandmdash;no nature writer can top him in terms of sheer emotional force.andrdquo; andmdash;
New York Times and#160;
A Wolf Called Romeo is the true story of the exceptional black wolf who spent seven years interacting with the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska, living on the edges of their community, engaging in an improbable, awe-inspiring interspecies dance, and bringing the wild into sharp focus.
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When Romeo first appeared, author Nick Jans and the other citizens of Juneau were wary, but as Romeo began to tag along with cross-country skiers on their daily jaunts, play fetch alongside local dogs, or simply lie near Nick and nap under the sun on a quiet afternoon, Nick and the rest of Juneau came to accept Romeo, and he them. Part memoir, part moving animal narrative, part foray into the mystique, lore, science, and history of the wolf, A Wolf Called Romeo is a book no animal lover should miss.
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andldquo;Beautifully written, A Wolf Called Romeo is a thoughtful and moving story about one of natureandrsquo;s most evocative animals.andrdquo; andmdash;Patricia McConnell, author of The Other End of the Leash
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andldquo;Jans is a perfect narrator for this story. Heandrsquo;s deeply knowledgeable about the Alaskan wilderness and he evokes its harsh beauties in powerful and poetic prose . . . A tingling reminder of the basic bond that occasionally spans the space between two species.andrdquo; andmdash;Christian Science Monitor
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NICK JANS is an award-winning writer, photographer, and author of numerous books, including The Grizzly Maze. He is a contributing editor to Alaska magazine and has written for a variety of publications, including Rolling Stone and the Christian Science Monitor.
Review
An Amazon Best Book of the Monthandquot;Insightful and philosophical, Jans probes the boundaries between wilderness and civilization and our responsibilities to the untamed creatures in our midst.andquot; --
Publishers Weeklyandquot;The sweet and cautionary tale of a wolf that liked to play with dogs...An astute, deeply respectful encounter between man and wolf.andquot; -- Kirkus Reviews
andquot;Jans is an exceptional storyteller andmdash; no nature writer can top him in terms of sheer emotional force andmdash; and he frames even the smallest moment with haunting power.andquot; --and#160;The New York Timesandquot;A thoughtful, highly detailed account of one communityand#39;s poignant encounter with a truly magnificent creature.andquot;and#160;--and#160;BookPageandquot;Beautifully written, A Wolf Called Romeo is a thoughtful and moving story about one of natureand#39;s most evocative animals. Be forewarned: I read it cover to cover in one sitting late into the night. The author owes me a good nightand#39;s sleep; but it was well worth it.andquot; -- Patricia McConnell, author of The Other End of the Leashandquot;The compelling, grounded account of a black wolf that stepped forward in the half-light between wilderness and civilization and the people who met him there. From the powerful first moments to a hard-won conclusion that becomes our journey, too, A Wolf Called Romeo is a book to keep a reader up nights, and a book that carries long after the last page is turned.andquot; -- Susannah Charleson, author of Scent of the Missing and The Possibility Dogsandquot;A Wolf Called Romeo is one of the best books Iandrsquo;ve read in a great many years. It gives heart-wrenching insight into an amazing animal, important insight into the shining side of our relationship with that animal, and important if bitter insight into the dark side. Itandrsquo;s told in a quiet, even-handed manner which makes it all the more compelling, and itandrsquo;s riveting. In short, this is a real page turner-- one that years from now you will remember in all its detail. If you have only the time to read one book, read this one.andquot; -- Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs and A Million Years With You
Review
PRAISE FOR BLOODTIES"The world is lucky to have this book."ELIZABETH MARSHALL THOMAS, author of THE HIDDEN LIFE OF DOGSPRAISE FOR OUT THERE"[A] sly, funny, and wise look at the world beyond the walls that we erect to keep ourselves safe from the wilderness and to keep the wilderness safe from us."ALEXANDRA FULLER, author of DONT LETS GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT
Review
"In telling Merle's story, Kerasote also explores the science behind canine behavior and evolution, weaving in research on the human-canine bond and musing on the way dogs see the world. Merle is a true character, yet Merle is also Everydog. An absolute treasure of a book."
Review
"Merles Door is a love story for grown-ups—an intense reciprocal relationship between a dog and his man, and how we and our dogs genuinely share feelings and emotions."
Review
"It is no exaggeration to say that Merle's Door could be the best book ever written about a dog or dogs--one dog in particular, the magnificent Merle of the title, but also about dogs in general.... It is beautifully written, a real page turner, often funny, always fascinating, and very moving. It's a book you will never forget."
Review
"Kerasote has created a whole new work of art. Merle's Door is the best, the most utterly compelling translation of dog to human I have ever seen. A terrific book, a superb book, I can't think of a single other book that conveys the love of a human for a dog so well."
Review
"Beginning with Jock of the Bushveld in 1907, many biographies have been written about wonderful dogs whose lives have crossed the borders between the wild and the tame, but none surpasses Merle's Door. It is a joyous, sad, gripping, and deeply moving testament to the fulfilling relationship that can grow between human and dog."
Review
"A thoughtful look at animal intelligence and the human-dog connection."
Review
"Kerasote gives readers much to consider that will enrich their own relationships with their pets. His book is highly recommended, but it does come with a tissue alert."
Review
"This exquisitely written book is sure to be controversial, but it raises important questions that every thoughtful dog owner should consider."
Review
"[T]his summer's Marley? In his memoir cum training manual, Kerasote waxes poetic about his mutt Merle and provides tips for deepening the dog/human bond."
Review
"Humorous, jubilant and touching by turns... Kerasote's strong love for Merle and enthusiasm for life in the wild will win over many readers."
Review
"Reading Merle's Door involves more than just sailing through an engaging biography of a man sharing his life with a rare and free-spirited dog since it contains islands of useful and scientifically sound information about dog behavior as well. To be entertained and educated at the same time time is rare in dog books, which makes this one definitely worth reading."
Review
"Merles Door is a window into the mind of a dog. You will experience his loyalty, fears, and joys and his true inner self. Everybody who loves dogs must read this book."
Synopsis
The remarkable true story of a six-year friendship between a wild, oddly gentle black wolf and the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska.
Synopsis
The unlikely true story of a six-year friendship between a wild, oddly gentle black wolf and the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska and#160; No stranger to wildlife, Nick Jans had lived in Alaska for nearly thirty years. But when one evening at twilight a lone black wolf ambled into view not far from his doorstep, Nick would finally come to know this mystical speciesand#8212;up close as never before.
A Wolf Called Romeo is the remarkable story of a wolf who returned again and again to interact with the people and dogs of Juneau, living on the edges of their community, engaging in an improbable, awe-inspiring interspecies dance and bringing the wild into sharp focus. At first the people of Juneau were guarded, torn between shoot first, ask questions later instincts and curiosity. But as Romeo began to tag along with cross-country skiers on their daily jaunts, play fetch with local dogs, or simply lie near Nick and nap under the sun, they came to accept Romeo, and he them. For Nick it was about trying to understand Romeo, then it was about winning his trust, and ultimately it was about watching over him, for as long as he or anyone could.
Written with a deft hand and a searching heart, A Wolf Called Romeo is an unforgettable tale of a creature who defied nature and thus gave humans a chance to understand it a little more.
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Synopsis
“A Wolf Called Romeo is a book to keep a reader up nights, and a book that carries long after the last page is turned.” —Susannah Charleson, author of Scent of the Missing “The writing is both lyrical and factual, and through Jans’s pen, we feel the crisp Alaska twilight and see the breeze ruffle Romeo’s black coat.” —Booklist, starred review
A Wolf Called Romeo is the true story of the exceptional black wolf who spent seven years interacting with the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska, living on the edges of their community, engaging in an improbable, awe-inspiring interspecies dance, and bringing the wild into sharp focus.
When Romeo first appeared, author Nick Jans and the other citizens of Juneau were wary, but as Romeo began to tag along with cross country skiers on their daily jaunts, or play fetch alongside local dogs, or simply lie near Nick and nap under the sun on a quiet afternoon, Nick and the rest of Juneau came to accept Romeo, and he them. Part memoir, part moving animal narrative, part foray into the mystique, lore, science, and history of the wolf, A Wolf Called Romeo is a book no animal lover should miss.
Synopsis
While on a camping trip, Ted Kerasote met a doga Labrador mixwho was living on his own in the wild. They became attached to each other, and Kerasote decided to name the dog Merle and bring him home. There, he realized that Merles native intelligence would be diminished by living exclusively in the human world. He put a dog door in his house so Merle could live both outside and in.A deeply touching portrait of a remarkable dog and his relationship with the author, Merles Door explores the issues that all animals and their human companions face as their lives intertwine, bringing to bear the latest research into animal consciousness and behavior as well as insights into the origins and evolution of the human-dog partnership. Merle showed Kerasote how dogs might live if they were allowed to make more of their own decisions, and Kerasote suggests how these lessons can be applied universally.
Synopsis
In this moving memoir, a woman digs into a garden and into the past and finds secrets, beauty, and acceptance.
About the Author
TED KERASOTE is the author of several books, including the national bestseller Merles Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog and Out There, which won the National Outdoor Book Award. His essays and photographs have appeared in Audubon, Geo, Outside, Science, the New York Times, and more than sixty other periodicals. He lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Table of Contents
contentsprologue xiii
chapter 1: From the Wild 1
chapter 2: The First Dog 26
chapter 3: The Synaptic Kiss 49
chapter 4: In the Genes 67
chapter 5: Building the Door 97
chapter 6: Growing Into Himself 113
chapter 7: Top Dog 145
chapter 8: The Gray Cat 169
chapter 9: Estrogen Clouds 181
chapter 10: At Home in the Arms of the Country 194
chapter 11: The Problem of Me 210
chapter 12: The Mayor of Kelly 234
chapter 13: The Alpha Pair 249
chapter 14: White Muzzle 270
chapter 15: What Do Dogs Want? 284
chapter 16: A Looser Leash 304
chapter 17:t-family: 'Times New Roman'" The First Passing 313
chapter 18: Through the Door 327
with many thanks 363
notes 365
index 381