Grice, Gordon Deadly Kingdom

Grice, Gordon Deadly Kingdom
Dial see Random 2010 325p 27.00
978-0-385-3362-1 ms/hs E-BN
Grice reports, in conversational tones, about the darker side of the animal kingdom. Like seeing a car accident, you want to look away but must keep reading. Section on further reading and index. This nature writer sometimes starts the chapters with a tale about his contact with a particular species and then goes on to tell some gruesome stories about the havoc the animal has wrought on other animals as well as humans. The tone of the writing is darkly humorous yet factual. For example, Grice writes in his chapter on elephants: “Unattached young males--the most aggressive cohort, in elephants as in humans...” Grice’s view of animal encounters acknowledges both the beauty and the hazards in an unsentimental manner. There are occasional black and white photographs interspersed among the text at the appropriate places as well as one at the beginning of each chapter. Grice provides a section on further reading that is chatty and shows the depth of his fascination with writings about animals. An index rounds out the book. Additionally, the cover is a work of art that will attract anyone walking past it. After reading this book, I might look at my own adorable pet dogs in a totally different manner. Readers who have an interest in animals will want to read this book. Reading this title is like seeing a car accident; you want to look away but feel compelled to keep looking, or in this case keep reading.
This is an excellent selection for upper middle school and high school libraries. Recommended for Tristate Books of Note for 2010-2011. This is an excellent selection for upper middle school and high school libraries. Recommended for Tristate Books of Note for 2010-2011. Weinraub, Tina