Rating: 
Summary: Interesting plot; a well-told, engaging drama
Review: This is a book with lots of interesting elements: hard-working inhabitants in a rugged setting, untamed wildlife, government regulation versus frontier freedom, and sharp characters in a well-developed plot.Author Nicholas Evans has done an outstanding job of putting both his heart and mind into a story of how nature can get in the way of man's endeavors ... and vice versa. He demonstrates his ability to keep several sub-plots (involving romance, suspense, struggle) going at once, and to connect them in the reader's mind without impeding the flow of the story. His characterizations are quite strong, and I found myself figuring out very quickly who was to be liked, and who wasn't. Even the animals had personalities. Though I'm not in the top tier of nature enthusiasts, I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning about the environment of wolves, the toil of ranchers and trappers, and how simple--and hard--life can be in beautiful Montana (I've visited; it's gorgeous). Overall, I found "The Loop" (named after a trap for catching wolves) to be very well-paced (no slow chapters) and captivating. The evolving story line really kept me turning the pages, and even though the ending unwound just a little too fast for my taste, I'd recommend this book to anyone desiring a solid, satisfying novel.
Rating: 
Summary: The Loop
Review: Do the words "The Horse Whisperer" remind you of Nicholas Evans? Ah yes, I see you nodding your head. Did you read the book or maybe see the movie? Both were excellent and his newest book "The Loop" is no exception. Once more Evans has masterfully portrayed the savageness and beauty of the human spirit at the same time making us treasure the magnificence of nature that surrounds us. The small western town of Hope, Montana thrives on the cattle ranchers that inhabit the area. When wolf biologist, Helen Ross comes to town due to claims of wolves attacking children and cattle, she almost gets more than she bargained for. Buck Calder proves to be a worthwhile adversary as she struggles to prove the innocence of the wolves and keep the town from shooting them all. With a population of about 519 wolf haters, it's not an easy task convincing these people the motives behind the actions of these animals. This is an excellent book and a seamless read. The slow beginning is a clever disguise for a fast-paced riveting novel that you won't be able to put down until you finish it. This is definitely a book that will make you laugh and cry alternately every moment until the very end.
Rating:
Summary: His best book yet
Review: I read the Horse Whisperer and was greatly impressed. An aunt let my dad borrow this one, and I read it before he could. It's the classic battle of environmentalists versus cattle ranchers portrayed very well through all eyes. At the center of the battle is Luke, with blood ties to the ranching industry, but with his heart to the wolves. One of Evans' strongest points (in all his novels)is that he gives you this history of the characters so that you know what makes them tick. With Luke, you can feel the pressure he's under to be what he's supposed to be versus being what he wants to be. Evans does a remarkable job making all the characters human and portraying the reality behind the desire to reintroduce wolves and the ranchers' need to survive.
Rating:
Summary: I Loved It
Review: The Loop was a Gripping and Intringuing, one of the best I have read. Nicholas Evens couldn't have wrote this any better. The characters seemed real and life like. The book takes place in Hope, Montana in the middle of the Rocky Mountians. Helen Ross is a fish and wild life officer who is a wolf bioligist. She tries to protect the wolfs from a city that dislikes the wolfs. She is went to Hope to study the wolves and is found to fall in love with Buck Calder Son. While this is going on she must try to move the wolves back into the rockies while a rancher tries to kill them from years of hatred by using a method called "the loop." I enjoyed the book very much because it had a difference of love and action. I recomend this book its a amazing story of the wolf and it tells what happened to them many years ago and how they survive today.
Rating: 
Summary: Wait for the paperback .... then borrow it.
Review: I found an "advance reading copy" in a used bookstore in San Francisco, and thought, "Lucky Me! I get to read it before everyone else!", so bought it. Well ... you can't win 'em all. I'm not sure what happened. I can only guess that upon the phenomenal success of his first book (which I loved) and the movie (which did a fair job ... I was surprised that Redford felt the need to change the ending so drastically) that Evans was pushed into coming out with another novel - pronto. The result is a work which should have gone back to the drawing board. The characters are good ... the story is good ... (I won't divulge plot here ... that's what reading's all about, right??) but that is never enough for a book to not only hold your interest, but make you forget that you're reading at all, to "fall through the page" as Stephen King puts it. A book must have style. You must be able to trust the author, and reading "Horse Whisperer", I was able to do that. With "The Loop" I was not. At times the writing was downright painful. I will be curious to check this site in the coming weeks and see what others think of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Read
Review: This is a entertaining read from a good author. This book will be especially delightfull for individuals that have a love of nature and wolves. I am a true wolf admirer and will devour almost anything concerning these beautifull and misunderstood animals. I enjoyed how this book portrayed wolves as the intelligent animals that they are. The story was very well written and moved along at a nice pace, enabling you to stay focused and read on. Althought the players in the book are at the forefront of the book, in my opinion, the wolves overshadow them in this book. This is a noble work by a good author.
Rating: 
Summary: Would rather have a serving of fruit loops.
Review: Well, well, well, what do we have here? We have THE LOOP, a novel so immersed in cliche and animal rights propaganda that the reader must sift through the wheat and the chaff to glean Nicholas Evans' story. And it is a story that has been told countless--yawn--infinite times: greedy, selfish, ignorant ranchers pitted against noble, valiant federal conservationists--true public servants who only wish to protect and preserve a dwindling wolf population in the rugged wilds of Montana. Evans really pushes the "good vs. evil" dichotomy through his characters; "Buck" (gotta love such a redneck name) Calder is an angry, egotistical, self-aggrandizing, womanizing, verbally and physically abusive rancher to ever wear spurs since Wild Bill Hickock: conservationist/lovelorn Helen Ross only needs a hanky-dabbing break to re-establish her fragile self-esteem. Disregard the fact that federal and state conservationist laws have recently led to a proliferation of natural predatory species (i.e., wolves) that have been detrimental to the ranching industry--at an untold cost to law-abiding landowners: Evans only presents one side of the issue, simply because the character that embodies the interests of farmers and ranchers is so reprehensible. Alas, I've been on a nasty diabribe; I will give kudos to Evans' writing ability, which is marvelous, fluid, and easy on the eye. I also envied young Luke Calder--the shy, stuttering, insecure 18-year-old son of villain Buck--who turns out to be a tree-hugger himself and becomes romantically involved with the much-older, more experienced Helen. A remote cabin under the stars, a glowing fireplace, a side of beef jerky to share with a dazzling woman who looks good wearing flannel. You lucky pup!
--D. Mikels
Rating:
Summary: a GREAT book!
Review: this was a great book. what seemed to go a little slow at first, quickly picked up. once i hit the middle of the book, i had a very hard time putting it down. as a college student who doesn't have all that much time to sit down and read books (other than text books!), i read the entire second half of the book in 2 days. if you like books about romance, nature, or the west (or if you are jsut looking for a great read!)...this is the book for you!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: This is a fantastic piece of fiction. Brilliant plot, sub-plot. Romantic themes are strong without being overbearing and corny. Very well written by a masterful writer who knows how to hold a reader's imagination. If you are a fan of or are interested in the American West and it's history, geography and folklore/way of life, please do not miss this one. EXCELLENT!!!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: The vivid, detailed descriptions draw the reader right into the story. Evans' quirky but believable characters are compelling and fascinating. I had trouble putting this book down.
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