Douglas Whynott

Not as interesting for me as I had hoped. It wasn't really about "one family's quest for the sweetest harvest" because Whynott kept including other characters in his story. And most of the book is focused on how many pounds of syrup the main character was buying from whom and when. Certainly we get an overview of the current state of the Maple Syrup industry, and it's not the buckets and fire-burning boilers of old that we might first associate with the product. When Whynott is telling the story of the Bascom family making maple syrup, he has a good book (although even that part is confusing with trying to remember which kid is from which uncle and what they do). But the rest of the book reads more like a Business Week article about industry expansion and price supports.… (more)

This is a collection of the more mundane side of Charles Park Shaw’s first year as a veterinarian in New Hampshire. The practice revolves around his relationship with associates, Roger Osinchuk and Erika Bruner and their clients. The author does a fine job of describing the challenges of uncooperative animals, client expectations, long hours, and family interactions. There are some humorous situations but the author does not shy away from describing self-doubts, frustration with irresponsible animals’ owners, and physical risks to their bodies.… (more)