Article 2 - REVIEW OF "COLTER" July 2007 edition of First Church of The Streets

    Some stories are just stories. They have a beginning, a middle, and end, reaching their inevitable conclusion. Then they're done, and you forget about them. Then there are other stories that stick and resonate, promising that long after you've turned the last page, the story will remain with you and never leave. In that respect, it is a story that never ends. For any dog lover, Rick Bass' "Colter" promises to be in the latter category, a touching tale of the strange but beautiful love story between mankind and the canine.

    Bass' eloquent prose creates a rich tapestry of how he came to fall in love with a bird-dog he named Colter, a German shorthair, who quickly became his avid hunting partner and favorite dog. He describes in vivid detail how he came about his beloved pet, and the many encounters he had in the hunting field with his friend. Although much of the book diverts off point, with his talking about his childhood hobby of collecting dirt, it doesn't seem to disrupt the flow of the book at all. Rather, it gives deeper insight into the man who is seduced by this lovable beast, and the emotional makeup that was changed forever by the relationship between a man and his dog.

    The strong focus that Bass hones as he relates a solitude that is shared only with Colter enhances the depth of the relationship, a process he conveys with clarity. Much of the book depicts the joy Colter and Bass got from the bird hunting seasons that they shared together, with Colter pointing and Bass shooting. The joy Colter got from being in his element seems to enhance Bass' passion for his sport. Considering himself somewhat an oxymoron by being both hunter and environmentalist, Bass relates his craving for wild places with a deep reverence that adds Colter as a silent witness. Bass' poetry in few words capture a photograph of the wild that stays, and creates a depiction of a precious friend that sears the soul. The reader is taken along a journey of what it is like to fall in love and be forever touched by a canine.

    For anyone who knows a dog, loves a dog, or is just curious why someone would go crazy loving something that is "just a dog", this is a book to read. It shows that love goes beyond the species of humankind, and how in its seductive way, nature uses this kind of love affair for humanity to see beyond its anthrocentric perspective to connect with those around them. It probes the beautiful mystery of the bond between a person and an animal that only can only bark in conversation. And it also shows how the stereotype of dog being man's best friend is not always a stereotype, creating a friendship that continues for all time. How does a man become forever imprinted by the life of a dog? Read "Colter" and you'll see.