Big Al Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 I was at the Irish Game Fair yesterday at Shanes Castle, and as always I had a good look around the book stall looking for a good read - sadly I came away empty handed. I'm too long in the tooth now for "How to" guides and that is what seems to proliferate at the book stalls. I prefer stories from the field, preferably with humour. In the past I have enjoyed Colin Willock, the Vince Raw books, Brian Plummer (even though I'm a shotgun shooter), and some of the columnists' collections ( Piffa Schroeder, Arthur James and the like.) As I seem to have run out of options, I'm turning to the PW experts to ask if any of you can suggest something. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin55 Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 (edited) I like the old Indian hunting stories by people like Corbett and Kenneth Anderson. A good primer is Great India Hunting Stories edited by Stephen Alter I've just finished The Lonely Tiger by Hugh Allen which I enjoyed (a writer in the stories book) Steve (an American born in the Himalayas) recommended a mid C20th US hunting book which I'll look out K US book is A Hunter's Road by Jim Ferguson (then I looked at the bibliography and suggested reading at the back and found other good writers) Edited June 26, 2016 by kevin55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted June 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 Thanks Kevin. I'll look them out. I've read "A good keen man" by Barry Crump about his life as a a New Zealand government paid stalker / pest controller and can recommend it too. It had just the right balance of humour and sport for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted June 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 US book is A Hunter's Road by Jim Ferguson (then I looked at the bibliography and suggested reading at the back and found other good writers) Just ordered this. Thanks for the suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuddster Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 death in the long grass-peter hathaway capstick. ' Africa's best-known professional hunter presents some of his most incredible adventures while hunting deadly prey on the Dark Continent. Witty and suspenseful, these tales are a heart-racing excursion through Africa. ' excellent read f. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin55 Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 Just ordered this. Thanks for the suggestion. You'll enjoy it Al I hope. Some chapters have a recipe at the end so you can cook what you've shot K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tharsus Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 A Year in the Woods by Colin Elford is a nice little book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted June 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 Thanks fuddster and tarsus - I'll look them up too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hushpower Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 Kenzie the Wild Goose Man. The Big Shots, edwardian shooting parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 (edited) Wildfowling nostalgia? "BB" Dark Estuary, Tides Ending, Peter Scott Morning Flight, Wild Chorus anything by Ian Niall, general countryside not Wildfowling but I like his writing, 'no resting place' is a novel I really liked. Edited June 26, 2016 by panoma1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted June 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 (edited) Kenzie the Wild Goose Man. The Big Shots, edwardian shooting parties. I have Kenzie - a great read. I've probably read it a dozen times! I'll look out for the other. Thanks. Wildfowling nostalgia? "BB" Dark Estuary, Tides Ending, Peter Scott Morning Flight, Wild Chorus anything by Ian Niall, Many thanks for taking the time to reply. I have all of them! Wildfowling was and still is my first love. Edited June 26, 2016 by Big Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 Bird Brain Guy Kennaway Light hearted book about a shoot owner that dies and comes back as Pheasant and tries to find out how/why he died.....it's a good read Better review than mine Tom Sharpe meets Watership Down in the hugely enjoyable story of Basil "Banger" Peyton-Crumbe, a man who, having exulted in the slaughter of gamebirds all his life and neglected his wife and child, is killed in a shooting accident and reincarnated as a pheasant. Here all animals can communicate with each other but not with humans. Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, insects: all trade insults, pass on news or plead for their lives; faithful pets feel acute frustration at being unable to get through to their slow-witted owners. In his new body, once-murderous Banger uses his old hunting knowhow to try to minimise the slaughter of his avian brethren, while the local plod's dog makes a better fist of solving the case of Banger's death than his master. It would not be quite accurate to say the book anthropomorphises animals because they all retain, quite brilliantly, their animal natures, but at the same time Banger, even as a dim bird, begins to gain insights into his shortcomings as a human being. Funny, astute and completely absorbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted June 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 Bird Brain Guy Kennaway Light hearted book about a shoot owner that dies and comes back as Pheasant and tries to find out how/why he died.....it's a good read Better review than mine Tom Sharpe meets Watership Down in the hugely enjoyable story of Basil "Banger" Peyton-Crumbe, a man who, having exulted in the slaughter of gamebirds all his life and neglected his wife and child, is killed in a shooting accident and reincarnated as a pheasant. Here all animals can communicate with each other but not with humans. Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, insects: all trade insults, pass on news or plead for their lives; faithful pets feel acute frustration at being unable to get through to their slow-witted owners. In his new body, once-murderous Banger uses his old hunting knowhow to try to minimise the slaughter of his avian brethren, while the local plod's dog makes a better fist of solving the case of Banger's death than his master. It would not be quite accurate to say the book anthropomorphises animals because they all retain, quite brilliantly, their animal natures, but at the same time Banger, even as a dim bird, begins to gain insights into his shortcomings as a human being. Funny, astute and completely absorbing. That sounds fun too! I've two books on order now - The big shots has also been purchased! Thanks for all the replies - that's the next few months reading sorted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzicat Posted June 27, 2016 Report Share Posted June 27, 2016 Have you read "Knight Of The Woods " by C.T.Stoneham? a great read , a Bantam cock "Squab"takes to the woods after his coop is demolished by a coal truck. A great read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted June 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2016 Have you read "Knight Of The Woods " by C.T.Stoneham? a great read , a Bantam cock "Squab"takes to the woods after his coop is demolished by a coal truck. A great read. I haven't read that either. Another one for the list! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted June 27, 2016 Report Share Posted June 27, 2016 Fifty Shades of Grey. Have you shooting in no time, irrespective of the time of year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted June 27, 2016 Report Share Posted June 27, 2016 If you are into fowling Big Al try , Wildfowlers And Poachers by Arthur Henry Patterson , take you back to a time we will never see again. The original is rare and expensive , you can get a reprint or borrow one from your library , you wont be disappointed . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin55 Posted June 27, 2016 Report Share Posted June 27, 2016 Bird Brain Guy Kennaway Light hearted book about a shoot owner that dies and comes back as Pheasant and tries to find out how/why he died.....it's a good read Better review than mine Tom Sharpe meets Watership Down in the hugely enjoyable story of Basil "Banger" Peyton-Crumbe, a man who, having exulted in the slaughter of gamebirds all his life and neglected his wife and child, is killed in a shooting accident and reincarnated as a pheasant. Here all animals can communicate with each other but not with humans. Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, insects: all trade insults, pass on news or plead for their lives; faithful pets feel acute frustration at being unable to get through to their slow-witted owners. In his new body, once-murderous Banger uses his old hunting knowhow to try to minimise the slaughter of his avian brethren, while the local plod's dog makes a better fist of solving the case of Banger's death than his master. It would not be quite accurate to say the book anthropomorphises animals because they all retain, quite brilliantly, their animal natures, but at the same time Banger, even as a dim bird, begins to gain insights into his shortcomings as a human being. Funny, astute and completely absorbing. A funny book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del.gue Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 Bird Brain Guy Kennaway Light hearted book about a shoot owner that dies and comes back as Pheasant and tries to find out how/why he died.....it's a good read Better review than mine Tom Sharpe meets Watership Down in the hugely enjoyable story of Basil "Banger" Peyton-Crumbe, a man who, having exulted in the slaughter of gamebirds all his life and neglected his wife and child, is killed in a shooting accident and reincarnated as a pheasant. Here all animals can communicate with each other but not with humans. Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, insects: all trade insults, pass on news or plead for their lives; faithful pets feel acute frustration at being unable to get through to their slow-witted owners. In his new body, once-murderous Banger uses his old hunting knowhow to try to minimise the slaughter of his avian brethren, while the local plod's dog makes a better fist of solving the case of Banger's death than his master. It would not be quite accurate to say the book anthropomorphises animals because they all retain, quite brilliantly, their animal natures, but at the same time Banger, even as a dim bird, begins to gain insights into his shortcomings as a human being. Funny, astute and completely absorbing. +1 I love this book. The description of the antis is very apt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetree Posted July 3, 2016 Report Share Posted July 3, 2016 Rogue male (Geoffrey Household). Best book I've ever read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2016 Rogue male (Geoffrey Household). Best book I've ever read. Not quite the shooting I had in mind but it does sound interesting. Thanks for the heads up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.