From Book News, Inc.
A collection of previously printed light reading (most of the stories appeared first in The Knoxville News-Sentinel or in Waterfowler's World magazine) by journalist Venable, who has been writing about fishing and hunting in Tennessee for 25 years. Its many brief stories detail outdoor lore from the perils of quailing to the benefits of bats, and profile various characters Venable has met over the years. In all, the pieces make up a big love letter to the wild places in his native state. No index. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From Ridgetops to Riverbottoms takes the reader on a journey down the many winding roads of the outdoor experience in Tennessee. Such a journey requires a seasoned guide, and there can be no better one than journalist Sam Venable, who has written about the woods and waters of his native state for the past twenty-five years. For Venable, the outdoor world is meant to be enjoyed. Whether he is casting popping bugs to bluegills during the frenzy of a willow fly hatch, lying motionless on his back in muddy corn stubble as mallards warily circle his decoys, savoring the sounds and scents of a moonlit summer night when smallmouth bass are on the prowl, or issuing plaintive love calls to an amorous wild turkey gobbler, the author's fascination with outdoor recreation never diminishes. And, as the reader quickly finds, this fascination is contagious. Along with the lightheartedness and rich humor in these pages, there is an unmistakable love of the land and a deep concern for the endangered bond between nature and humankind. Like the trout in the stream or the deer in the forest, Venable suggests, we are as much a product of the land as any living creature. And what affects one - for better or worse - ultimately affects all.

FROM THE CRITICS

Booknews