University of Minnesota Press -- ©1998 -- hcMinneapolis, MN -- 210pp
ISBN: 0-8166-3259-6
Signed by Barton Sutter
A collection of essays.
Homing: An Introduction
"Dull and Out of It"
" 'A Citty upon a Hill' "
"The Bridge"
"God"
"Park Point"
"Sister City"
"April Fools"
"Tisher Creek"
"Ghost of a Good Bad Man"
"Barber Poles"
"Existentil Basebal"
"Hawk Ridge"
"The Cider Man"
"The Season of Death"
"Disorganizzed Hockey"
"The History of Snow"
"Hibernation"
"Jangle Bells"
"A Christmas Card"
"Afterthoughts on Christmas Trees"
"Finlandia at Fourteen Below"
"Cross-Country"
"The Overcoat"
"Map Fishing"
"God's Own Ice Rink"
"Boundary Waters Canoe Park"
"Dream Canoe"
"The Next Best Thing to Nobody"
"Falcon, Eagle, Snake"
"The Shrink-Wrapped Campfire"
"Dieback"
"Family Car Camping"
"The Duluth behind Duluth"
"Emil's Place"
"Blueberry Country"
"Eating the Landscape"
"I Am Not a Duck Hunter"
"Lake Addiction"
"Epilogue: The Backroad to Ely"
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This was a quick read, but I enjoyed most of it. I'm not sure how much it would appeal to those who aren't already familiar with Northern Minnesota, but Sutter captures the feel of the community quite well.
I would agree with the reviewers on the dust jacket who say that his attempt at being curmudgeonly doesn't seem totally accurate, but he is forgiven for this with his reflections on nature, the seasons, and the people who endure both.
Sutter will never reach the popularity of Sigurd Olson, but his book is worthy of sitting on the shelves of all those who enjoy nature writing, essays, or books about Minnesota.
