Shunka: Life with an Artic Wolf by Marika Lumi Morgan

Good day, everyone!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

It’s Thursday and you know what that means…one more day ‘til the weekend is here!  Whoo-HOO!  Anyone have any special plans?  With the weather being as gorgeous as it’s been recently, I would love to find some spare time to do something outdoor-sey (you know like read a book under an old oak tree in a beautiful park while the gentle breeze blows ever so softly…..*daydreams*) despite some indoor things previously planned…we shall see.  Speaking of the outdoors….

I just finished (no literally just finished) reading one of the recent books I started this past week and boy did I not see that ending coming!  For those of you that visit my site on a semi-regular basis, you know that I am rather fond of dogs.  Love ‘em!  So cute and cuddly and…well, we’re getting off track here.  Wolves are a close ancestor of dogs and thus reading this story featured today was simply a must for me.  Today’s book of choice is….

Shunka:

Life with an Artic Wolf

By

Marika Lumi Morgan

This is the story of one couple’s quest to shine a new light on a formidable creature of the wild to reveal their true nature (aka show people that wolves are not just those that will huff and puff and blow your house in).  Marika and David, her husband, had wanted to be involved in helping to dispel the myths and down-right lies that surround wolves as a species.  Most people have one of several reactions.  The most popular though is fear.  Fear of the animal, fear of what they symbolize, fear of what they are known to do and why they believe they’ve done it.  It’s not that some of these fears are unfounded; it’s more that they come from basic misunderstandings about the wolf in general.

Shunka’s story reveals to readers the true nature of the “beast”.  From smallish pup with giant paws, to gangly teen trying to gain their footing in both step and within the pack, you will experience both the highs and lows of this couples undertaking.  There were days to reveal in the experience.  Shunka would learn something new, form a bond of friendship (human wise or dog wise….gotta love the addition of Happy to their family…and Shunka’s fascination with her), or simply convince the housecat to let him be in her presence (yeah, he really wanted Persy to like him….she’d tolerate his affection, but only to a certain degree….how would you feel if you were housecat size and a giant wolf pup wanted to lick you?).  There were also days to be counted among the ashes of yesterday.  Car rides were no longer fun adventures, withdrawal of the friendship made due to an unexpected separation, and finally the thought of having to find a new home for their growing boy.

I wish I could say they break new ground in understanding some of their wolfish behaviors.  In some ways they do, but in many others the mystery remained.  The issue of trust, a dislike for small spaces, and even the desire to follow the special pecking order rituals of the wild….while understood as typical actions, Shunka was never actually taught most of these things.  They were instinctual for him. 

I wish I could say that Shunka is peacefully living out his days with his makeshift pack crying out with an occasional howl at the end of the day.  The truth is much more painful I’m afraid.  WOO, woo, WOO…this is an official tissue warning.  Be sure to have a few close by in the event of a teary eyed emergency….which is the case towards books end.  Man’s desire to be in control at all times and fear of the unknown combine to create an ending to vivid not to be true and disheartening all the same.

Did I learn a thing or two from this true story?  Certainly.  Being a dog owner myself, I could see a lot of the antics described in this tale recreated in my own household.  Mom’s dog is a German Shepherd (you’ve seen her picture on here before) and follows several of the mannerisms presented by Shunka.  Although dogs are very similar in a lot of ways to wolves (and believe me, I definitely witness this with my other pups at home….some of the stories are uncanny), they are their own masters, serving themselves and their pack.  They belong to nature…the wild.  Roaming free is how they were meant to be…it’s simply not right to cage up such a majestic creature.  There are many organizations aimed at protecting these animals from the damage man can inflict (be it intentional or not) and supporting them and their work can go a long way in helping to ensure a future for this species.

Recommended reading for dog lovers, wolf lovers, and nature lovers world wide.  There is not a person that couldn’t take something away from Shunka’s story.  Whether it is conservation of wildlife, a better understanding of wolves, or simply a heartfelt tale to hold dear….you will be moved by the life shared within these pages.

Review copy received courtesy of Rianne at Publishing Works.  (THANK YOU)  For more information, check out their website, or follow along on Twitter!

Until next time….happy reading!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Stickfiguratively Speaking) by Jamison Odone

You're late!  You're late...for a very important date!  No time to say HELLO, goodbye, you're late, you're late, you're LATE!

Hmmm, although that sounds like my typical morning chant (what can I say, mornings are not my strong point), it's actually more of a play for the festivities of the day.  Action, adventure, and some things that don't quite make sense, making sense after all....yes, my friend, today is a day full of wonder.

As I sit and write (okay, type) this post, I am listening to the new Alice in Wonderland soundtrack....might I venture to say that the score as well as the songs for the movie are both rather good!  With all the hub-bub about the new movie coming out (Friday, YAY!), we've seen quite an upswing in the amount of Alice related books (and more) available.  Today's pick adds to this fiesta if you will, but in a rather unique way.  If you'd like to venture down the virtual rabbit hole, read on.  Today's book of choice is....

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

(Stickfiguratively Speaking)

Retold and Illustrated by

Jamison Odone

Imagine a world beyond your wildest dreams....or rather a world made up of your wildest dreams, and then some.  In this world, things are not always what they seem, and seems are not always what they thing.  (Confused?  HA!  That's kind of the point....)  You see, to make it in this world, you have to be little mad....mad as a hatter, some might say, for this is Wonderland.  A place that's as fantastical as your dreams with an even further stretch of the imagination.  In this particular adaptation of the Lewis Carroll classic, we find Alice and her friends in a rather unique state for their whole world including themselves have been illustrated as.....STICK FIGURES!  (Take a moment to gasp in awe, wonder, and then tilt your head in curiousity......are you tilted?  Good....)  This original take on the age old tale is a wonder all on its own for not only do you get to read through Alice's adventures with the inclusion of some of the original text, but you get to experience her tale through new eyes.  Who would have thought that a stick figure drawing could convey such a wide range of emotions and still carry a beloved story?  Certainly not many at first glance.....but then again, I bet with the Red Queen's involvement, many would have had a much different opinion on the matter, lest you lose your head.....

What can I say, I had so much fun with this one!  Requested out of curiousity and for the cute-osity as well (admit it, the cover does make you want to take a look inside), Alice's adventures this time around were on a whole different level.  Don't believe that a stick figure can make a good "character" for a fleshed out story?  Think again!  Author Jamison Odone manages to not only convey their 2D emotions in a 3D feel, but also adds a little something extra to the story.  (GASP!  He changed the classic?  Not really, read on....)  Ever think that the reactions Alice gave for certain situations were just a bit too mellow?  Well, here we get to see her inner thoughts, or at least what the author imagined them to be (which, by the way, fit quite well), thus allowing for a tinge of witty scarcasm to enter our beautiful garden of magic.  Experience the land of wonder in a newly adapted form and meet the characters that will live forever in the hearts and minds of those that believe a little imagination can go an extremely long way.  (Moving on...)

My particular copy of this title was an ARC.  We all know that the journey from idea to ARC to final book takes time, and in that time, things can be changed.  While there were several things changed within it's pages, the one thing I miss the most is the cover.  From what I've seen, it appears as though the final cover has the brown background, while I much prefer the blue.  Personal opinion....nothing more, nothing less.  In regards to the original text....I've read Through the Looking Glass several years back, but never the original version of this particular tale.  Would I recommend reading it before this edition?  Not necessarily.  If you've seen any of the movie versions, heard Alice's story, or aren't afraid to put your imagination to good use, you have more than enough tools at your disposal to enjoy this book from end to start, or rather start to end.  (Keep scrolling down for two updates hot off the press!)

COMMENT CREATOR

Since I believe most of you are probably going to see the new movie, I won't ask that question, but I propose this one....of the characters that Alice meets in Wonderland, which one do you find most intriguing and why?  You can choose from the story in book version or movie version....whichever comes to mind first.  The comments are open....share away!

ARC for review received courtesy of Riane at Publishing Works Inc. (THANK YOU!) For more information on this and other great titles, visit their website, BookBlogs.NING page, and (of course) Twitter!  Also, be sure to check out author Jamison Odone's blog and Twitter feed as well...some really interesting stuff!  (Like I said, if you're not on Twitter....um, why?)  You'll recognize them easily right now....they have stick-figure-tastic avatars currently.

***UPDATE***
So, I just heard back from Riane at Publishing Works, Inc....and two interesting bits of information are about to be passed your way!  First, the book did release today in hardcover, but the final cover....is the BLUE one! (Whew...I liked that one better anywho...)
Secondly...there is a special promotion that she is allowing me to extend to all of you.  If you are interested in ordering a copy of this book, stop by their website and use the Coupon Code BLOG at checkout for a 20% discount on the title.

Until next time....happy reading!