The Loop

Rating:
Summary: Not a real picture of Montana!
Review: The author needs to stick to places/subjects on which he has more experience/familiarity. This wasn't a Montana we recognize! Another book on the same subject, the reintroduction ofthe wolves, which handles and portrays Montana much better is BIG SKY DREAMS. "The Loop", unfortunately, misses the loop.

Rating:
Summary: Montana written from an Eastern perspective
Review: The characters in THE LOOP are well developed and interesting. The scenes of Montana, however, are definitely painted with an East Coast slant. Another book, which came out several years ago and tells this story better, is BIG SKY DREAMS. I've read both, and prefer the one written about Montana by a Montanan.

Rating:
Summary: Predictable, stereotypical, unchallenging
Review: I LOVED the Horse Whisperer. However, this novel by the same author was no where near as good. The characters were shallow. The story dragged and was boringly predictable. The people were all very depressing. The book skimmed over the biogoical aspects of wolf restoration. It treated participants very stereotypically. I was very disappointed overall.

Rating:
Summary: Even more captivating than his first great book.
Review: Evans writing is pure enjoyment. He weaves your mind with his words until you are there in the mountains with the wolves. Anyone who has trekked through the winter woods and heard the snow crunch under foot knows the magical feeling. Evans compassion for the wolves and the telling of this beautiful story has earned him a faithful reader for life.

Rating:
Summary: Unrealistic portrayal of wolves right off the bat!
Review: I couldn't get past the opening scene. As a wolf lover and supporter of reintroduction, I was appalled at the stalking scene by the alpha wolf. No way in real life would a wolf do this. This perpetuates the myth that we're working so hard to fight. I've donated so much money and time toward education of people about wolf behavior, and this book blows it all to shreds. I feel that I have betrayed wolves by spending the $40 for the tapes. Wolves are timid and curious. They do not seek humans. They do not stalk human babies nor the family dog.

Rating:
Summary: PENDING
Review: I JUST PICKED UP THE BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY. I RAISE AND BREED WOLF HYBRIDS AND AM CURIOUS ABOUT ANY BOOKS ON WOLVES. MY TWO ADULTS ARE HIGH PERCENTAGE WOLF HYBRIDS AND ARE WONDERFUL. I HAVE SOLD 5 LITTERS AND NO ONE HAS CALLED WITH ANY COMPLAINTS. WHEN I FINISH THIS BOOK, I WILL GIVE MY REVIEW.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put the book down! An easy and enjoyable read.
Review: The Loop is a wonderful story. I really felt as though I was tracking the wolves with Helen and Luke. The author is able to make the characters come to life and the reader is able to identify with them. Highly recommend this book!!

Rating:
Summary: Good reading, but don't believe everything you read!
Review: Mr. Evans is a VERY gifted author! However, I would like to see him write about something he is familiar with! His research is good, but hardly enough to make him enough of an authority to write about the subject. (Felt the same way about "The Horse Whisperer".)

Unfortunately, Mr. Evans is also a very dangerous author. Seldom have I read such a prejudiced book! The problem is Mr. Evans is such a good author most readers will not even realize the prejudices in this book and will believe most of what they read! The ranchers are ALL portrayed as either money hungry and greedy or crazy. If the wolf issue makes tempers flare within the ranch community it is more likely because the ranchers cannot AFFORD to loss ONE animal, not because they are greedy and money hungry.

Mr. Evans lives in London. Perhaps he would like to write about grand theft auto in a big city. Would the city folk react the same as the farmers if someone stole their high priced cars and the government said they would do nothing about it because these thieves had been mistreated in the past and had as much right to the car as the owner? Radical thought? Maybe, but certainly deserves some thought, doesn't it?

Rating:
Summary: Descriptive, empathatic, keeps your attention!
Review: The audio version reaaly takes you to Montana, the scene of much of the story. The descriptive way the author speaks about the surroundings as well as the wolves' features makes your mind wonder to exactly that place. Audio books that capture your spirit & imagination are a rarity-- great book!

Rating:
Summary: can't get it out of my head.....
Review: I liked the Horse Whisperer (liked movie even better than book) but I found The Loop to be even more moving (not that any comparisions are necessary). Have been to Montana and Yellowstone twice, already somewhat interested in wolves. Now, I feel an obsession coming on. I would caution hard-core animal-lovers against the book, because the account of the mistreatment of wolves, then and now, is beyond heartbreaking.