Thanks again all.
I just got another review in from Bryce Lambley.
Here it is....
When I learned Mark Baker was assembling his first book, I was happy. I have on several occasions read a magazine article, especially enjoyed it, and then looked back to notice that Baker was the author. I also had the good fortune to meet him while in Montana on a speaking engagement. A compilation of his works would have to be good.
And I was not disappointed. Tension on the String delivers.
Already adept at audibly painting a poetic and melodic picture with his music, the artisan Baker here shifts his canvas to the written word and the result is equally satisfying. In fact, I frequently found myself a hair jealous and thinking, “Man, I wish I’d written that.”
While being a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist, he has the skill of sharing his observations in such a realistic way that anyone who loves wild places can relate, regardless of whether they’re carrying a primitive stickbow or a modern rifle. Woven into those observations are ideals that the Big Sky archer would like to convince the rest of the world in following. For instance:
“Persistence always pays. Most of the time, simply with the satisfaction of a hunt well conducted, of one’s strict adherence to the challenge….The experience has given me the resolve to stay the course more often, the patience to accept that unfilled tag, not as a reminder of failure, but as a token of commitment to myself. After all, there is more to bowhunting than antlered results. The journey, and our conduct in it, is what is important.”
Wow. Isn’t that the truth? And wouldn’t all the outdoor sports be better off if we held that view? The devoted hunter in each of us will be able to relate to Baker’s journey. How he involves family. How he sometimes has to pick between the wonderful pallet of species Montana offers to pursue. How his last minute successes with deer are especially memorable after so much effort throughout the fall and so many close calls. How he looks for related “projects” (usually a selfbow in his case) to get him through the Montana winters. And how some of those rare events seem to occur mostly for those who go afield enough so that the law of averages rewards them.
This latter episode was exemplified by Baker’s relating a veritable elk stampede, describing it as one of those “rare things we who are out a lot, eventually, hopefully experience.”
As a similarly dedicated bowhunter, I found myself relating to each of his tales, ranging from the whitetails accessible to most of us, to the elk that I have pursued only through the writings of others.As a traditional bowhunter who has not yet made his own equipment, reading Baker’s descriptions of that pursuit has planted the seeds in my own psyche. Those who have made their own selfbows will surely nod their heads, acknowledging the very personal layer of satisfaction that comes from crafting one’s own equipment.
There is little doubt that bowhunters of any ilk will identify with the hunting tales, and those toting stickbows will instantly relate to Baker’s keen descriptions of both what is obviously going on in terms of the animals and our hunt, as well as what's rattling around in our brains. The "thinking" bowhunter will gain much the insight and stories shared in Tension on the String, and I highly recommend it.
-Bryce Lambley
I've shipped all the order in thus far...but I'm already out of hardbacks...will have some in very shortly. Thanks so much you guys!
Topic: "Tension on the String" - New Book! (Read 941 times)
