Saturday Dad Reads Week of May 24

Welcome to this week’s edition! Here’s what we’ve got lined up

• 📕 This week’s Book Summary and Review: Open Season (Joe Pickett #1)

• 🧑‍🦰 Author Bio: C.J. Box

• 💣️ Dad’s Knowledge Bomb: Endangered Species

• 🎮️ This week’s Dad Rant: A Celebration of Memorial Day

 Summary

📕 Review 

I guess it’s a symptom of, as comedian Shane Gillis might put it, “early onset Republicanism.” Or maybe it’s the fact that I just turned 38 and have never been west of the Mississippi River. Or maybe, I just like a solid mystery set in the wilderness. Regardless of reasoning, I’ve found myself drawn more frequently to books and stories that are set in the western United States. Particularly of note is the Longmire series by Craig Johnson and really just any story set in a rugged landscape from Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, on south through the plains to the west Texas panhandle. That being said, I was familiar with CJ Box’s work, but could never lock down a copy of the first Joe Pickett novel from any of my local libraries (if I’m going to read series fiction, I have to start with the first book - can’t start midstream). Back in April, I was able to finally bring home Open Season and it did not disappoint from start to finish.

Putting aside the setting which is fantastically illustrated, Box delivers on multiple levels with this one. For starters, let’s talk characterization. So often, main characters in mystery novels have an air of infallibility and have few if any personal shortcomings outside of being a self-proclaimed workaholic, committed to the case. In contrast, Joe Pickett is a real dude with real life flaws. In an early scene, a set up for later plot events, Joe manages to get himself disarmed in the line of duty by a redneck backwoods outfitter. For those who serve in the line of duty, this might be one of, if not the cardinal sin. Further, his mother-in-law doesn’t approve of her daughter’s decision to marry and raise a family with a small-time game warden and makes it known throughout her presence in the book that she’s not a fan of Joe and his work.

While those two examples might come across as surface characterization, when it comes to Joe’s sense of duty and being a father, Box delivers a depth of character that I’ve rarely encountered in series fiction. Take Joe’s thoughts on the father/daughter relationship: “The relationship between a father and his daughters, Joe had discovered, was a remarkably powerful thing. They looked to him to accomplish greatness; they expected it as a matter of course because he’s their Dad and therefore a great man. Someday, he knew, he would do something less than great and they would see it. It was inevitable. He wondered at what age his luster would dim in Sheridan’s eyes and then in Lucy’s. He wondered how painful it would be to them all when they recognized it.” Joe recognizes that to his kids, he is Superman. But someday, they’re going to realize that he’s just an average guy. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. The “luster” doesn’t ever have to go out of their eyes when they look to him.

Further, Box delivers a plot that once Joe’s daughter starts caring for the creatures in the woodpile, you can start to see the direction its going to go. However, that’s not to say that the plot is entirely predictable because is certainly isn’t. Box has multiple plot twists that you most likely will not see coming and pulls no punches in how he treats his major and minor characters. In other words, he’s not afraid to put any of his characters through hardship just to see how they come out on the other side.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I’m looking forward to seeing how Joe Pickett develops as a man, father, game warden and investigator throughout later installments!

Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️

🧑‍🦰 Author Spotlight: CJ Box

💣️ Dad’s Knowledge Bombs: Endangered Species

Since the plot of Open Season revolves around the impact of finding an endangered species on a local community and ecosystem, specifically the “Miller’s Weasel” or black-footed ferret, I thought it would be fitting to drop some nuggets on endangered species of wildlife that are specific to Wyoming where the book is set, as well as my home state of Pennsylvania. Definitely some dad knowledge to be had here.

For starters, all of this information can be found at the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s website and I was surprised to find that Pennsylvania has a slight edge on Wyoming in terms of total number of species considered “Threatened” or “Endangered” by a 21 to 19 margin, respectively. Here’s some other nuggets:

• Pennsylvania has a larger number of endangered or threatened species of clams. Notable names: Northern riffleshell, Dwarf wedgemussel, Sheepnose Mussel. God help those that might call the Monongahela or Delaware Rivers home.

• I couldn’t tell you what a swamp pink plant looks like and I don’t think I want to find out, but I can tell you that it’s an endangered plant species in Pennsylvania.

• Bog turtles, Indiana bats, and Northern long-eared bats made the PA list as well.

• Wyoming has your more standard fare on the list: Grizzly bears, the aforementioned black-footed ferret, and the North American wolverine.

• Fish made the list in Wyoming, particularly the Pallid sturgeon and the Kendall Warm Springs dace.

• Go easy with the flyswatter and bug zapper if you’re ever in Wyoming. You wouldn’t want to take out any Western glacier stoneflies as they’re on the list as well.

🎮️ Dad Rant: In Celebration of Memorial Day

This weeks rant isn’t really a rant at all. It’s more of an introspection and recommendation.

Memorial Day is a big time of the year for me. In my role as a high school assistant principal, its a signal that another year is about to wrap. The “Congratulations Class of 2025” billboards have gone up and kids who haven’t done anything all year start to inquire about how they can get their grades up before the last day of school. Hang in there for just a few more days, my fellow educators. In my role as a dad and man of the house, its a time to seek out some satisfaction by completing that project I’ve been eyeing all winter and spring. This year, weather permitting - we stain the deck. Also, in dad-mode its also a time to celebrate the official start to summer with some grilled meat and ice cold beverages.

As you sip on your beverage of choice, hopefully outdoors in a comfortable chair, I would encourage you to take some time to appreciate. Specifically, take time to appreciate the sacrifices of the young men and women in our armed forces and remember those who served that didn’t make it home to enjoy that beer on the deck. Because of them, we all have that opportunity.

One of the easiest ways you can appreciate the sacrifices made by those in our military this Memorial Day is to take some time to learn their stories. Pick up a book and read. With that, here’s a list of reads I recommend for Memorial Day:

1. Band of Brothers - Stephen Ambrose

2. Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters - Major Richard Winters

3. Conversations with Major Dick Winters: Life Lessons from the Commander of the Band of Brothers - Cole C. Kingseed

4. If I Die in a Combat Zone - Tim O’Brien

5. The American: The Life, Times, and War of Basil Antonelli - Daniel Roberts

6. On Desperate Ground: The Marines at the Reservoir - Hampton Sides

7. With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa - Eugene B. Sledge

8. Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds - Robin Olds

9. Spearhead - Adam Makos

10. Chickenhawk - Robert Mason

These are but a small fraction of the thousands of stories told by those who served. You cannot go wrong with any of these. Dad Lit and Saturday Dad approved!