Reviews for My Doggie And I

The average rating for My Doggie And I based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-01-06 00:00:00 Mitchell McConnell 4+ stars - Although I've read many quotes by environmental activist, John Muir, this is my first book by him. An adventure story about Muir's exploration of a glacial area in Alaska with a dog named Stickeen, it is both fascinating and illuminating. Muir's descriptions of the landscape are thorough and intimate. A man who knows his way around rough terrain and knows just the right words that will convey his rapturous delight in nature; I was mesmerized by Muir's narrative. While reading the story, which takes place in the summer of 1880, I envisioned a young man in his twenties, full of youth and vigor. Well, he's definitely full of vigor, but Muir is forty-two at the time this story takes place. Muir, not being impressed with Stickeen's small appearance thinks that the dog will just be an encumbrance on the journey, but his master, the Rev. Young vouches for the little dog, saying that he can endure the bad weather and will be no problem. Muir gives a wonderful physical description of little Stickeen, but the characteristic that stuck out in my mind is how his "fine tail, which was about as airy and shady as a squirrel's, and was carried curling forward almost to his nose." Muir observes and interacts with Stickeen through weeks of travel and through his words, I become entranced by Stickeen, who has his own idiosyncrasies, as much as any person. The heart of this 40-page story revolves around an excursion by Muir and Stickeen out into an Alaskan storm. Muir is exhilarated by the storm, writing, "I made haste to join it; for many of Nature's finest lessons are to be found in her storms, and if careful to keep in right relations with them, we may go safely abroad with them, rejoicing in the grandeur and beauty of their works and ways,..." Muir didn't invite Stickeen, but along the little dog came, and could not be persuaded otherwise. To explore glacial terrain with its treacherous crevasses in a storm seems foolhardy to me, but Muir was cut from wild man cloth. He admits that he has fear about the yawning crevasses; a misstep could bring instant death or horrible suffering or both. If anything the fear seems to sharpen Muir's appreciation of the details of all the beauty around him. I learned through reading Muir's biographical sketch on Wikipedia that at the time he took this trip, he had met his future wife, Louisa Stentzel and that upon returning from Alaska in 1880, they were married. Muir is aware at many points during this excursion that his life is in jeopardy and writes that he would consider it a blessing to die on a "noble mountain, or in the heart of a glacier as compared with death from disease." How about Louisa, I can't help but think. And yet, this man is an adventurer through and through, and he will heed that call above all others. This is an extraordinary tale that I came to read because of my GR's friend, Chrissie's review, and I'm so glad she called my attention to it. I loved the details that Muir gives about Stickeen's reactions throughout their adventure. Talk about a bonding experience! The story is 'free' on amazon for kindle readers.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-04-20 00:00:00 Mary Jo Birgensmith I'm currently reading John Muir and the Ice That Started a Fire: How a Visionary and the Glaciers of Alaska Changed America and have come to a part in the book that mentions this wonderful little dog. I remembered that I had bought this a while ago from audible. Since it was short, i decided to take a side trip and listen to the story. I loved it. Muir and his glaciers, another expedition, only this time joined by a little dog who belonged to another member. He was doubtful that this little dog belonged in such rugged terrain, seeing much trouble ahead. Stickeen soon proved him wrong, following Muir around, proving himself as fearless and indefatigable as Muir himself. Until one day, when their survival depended on the crossing of a dangerous ice bridge. A wonderful story of man and dog, and the bond they formed.