Puma Reviews

I first read this book when I was in 5th Grade. I have always been interested in the Outdoors. This book guides us through an extraordinary adventure with a boy, his older friend, their dogs and a mean old Mountain Lion which they all hunt. It's filled with suspense, and will keep anyone glued to the book. Excellent Read! You'll most likely have to check it out at the library. It's tough to find!

I read this wonderful book when I was a school boy. I still consider it my favorite book today--35 years later! I just received an out-of-print copy from my beloved girl friend as a gift. She couldn't have choosen a more appropriate surprise gift for me. Her gift touched me deeply. What a great family read aloud book.

i can`t say anything about this wonderful. if you read this book you will now how good it is.

It is no wonder that "Cry of the Panther" by James P. McMullen has been issued in three separate printings since its debut, for it truly is a remarkable book. First pubished in 1984 as a hard cover version by Pineapple Press, it was picked up the next year by McGraw-Hill for the paperback edition, which became a New York Times best seller. Then, in 1996, Pineapple Press reissued "Cry" in soft cover, which developed a whole new following that continues to this day.

Perhaps it also no wonder, then, that this outstanding example of poetical true-story telling, which the late James Dickey called genius, would have its imitators; all great artists must suffer that indignity, it seems, if they live long enough. The incredible thing, though, is that a foreign author has curiously taken McMullen's title for a very different, fictional story that actually cries out for a more appropriate appellation. Indeed, the name "Cry of the Panther" seems to have been dragged in by the hind legs; surely, it's a long reach even for a metaphor here.

Now, while titles themselves cannot be copyrighted, what would motivate an author/publisher to choose an extant title and an ill-fitting one, at that--book sales by association? Just coincidence, some might allow. But is "Books in Print" unavailable in Scotland?

Undoubtedly, author McMullen will take no comfort in the oft-quoted words of Charles Caleb Colton, "Imitation is the sicerest of flattery." For mistaken identity among the book-buying public, especially on the internet, can be harmful to any author. And another hard fact in this computer age of easy access is that we see more and more irresponsible writers "borrowing" other authors' works with impunity, not to mention out-and-out plagiarism. Often, if they are challenged, they merely explain away their behavior with pathetic emanations, like the recent ones we've heard from big-name authors.

So just what is it about good books, then, that prompts some writers to appropriate them or their parts with such indifference? Why, it is the same as for any pirate--easy gold. Gold like the 14-karat threads that weave McMullen's odyssey into a most compelling narrataive of good vs. evil. Gold that shines like a beacon, revealing man's clumsy efforts to manage our planet's resources. Gold like the timeliness and timelessness that bind the pages of "Cry of the Panther" into our hearts and minds. Irresistible stuff, indeed--the kind of thing writers wish they'd said themselves, and which some would like to believe they have, if only by some feeble connection.

This time, fortunately, it's not that easy; McMullen's book is imcomparable. Set in the great but rapidly shrinking expanse of wilderness known as the Florida Everglades, the story unfolds in brillant depictions of the swamps blended with flashbacks from this Vietnam veteran's mind as he sets out, using his U.S. Marine training and experience, to track the disappearing Florida panther. How can this majestic animal not be surviving? he wonders. So begins this man's hopeful quest for traces of a species, the disappearance of which could be a prescient signal of our own demise. And the cry he hears in that wilderness is surely for all of us.

McMullen's book is also about the experience of self-discovery, not only for himself but the reader as well: he takes you with him through the labyrinth of jungle, natural and man-made, over barriers that can hide from us our real purpose for being. If you read James P. McMullen's "Cry of the Panther," you will certainly participate in his epiphany, albeit vicariously. But you can't take it away from him nor make it yours, for it is uniquely his alone. All of it.

--H. D. Rudenshiold

I read this book to my children all under 12 and it was great. We enjoyed the insight to what vietnam was like after studing the vietnam war this past summer. We also loved the feeling of being on the hunt for the panther. For all outdoors men/women this is a must. It is also a must for anyone who really wants to know what living with vietnam is really like.

I found the story very haunting and important, important because it saved two lives, the cats and Jim Mcmullens. His is more important to me than the Florida cat. I'm sure he has more inside him than the story of the cat. He has family that had to put up with him on his trek into the wilderness and his life in Nam was the breaking point and starting point of the guy I once called "Muck". Really, a gentle person and someone I did not know well enough to call a true friend but well enough to say I knew him and trusted him. His story is real.

This is this a gripping story set in the aggressive beauty that is southwest Montana. A great read if you like a 'can't-put-em-down' mystery or if you want to know the difference between a coulee, swale, draw or drainage. Actually. . .that's STILL a mystery to me.

After seeing "A River Runs Through It" and "The Horse Whisperer", I became even more intrigued with Big Sky Country. Montana Mirage (and Mr. Flynn's first book, Montana Pursuit) taught me about Montana, its people, the environment and the issues facing the last untamed part of the Wild West. This mystery includes a little romance, a lot of suspense and great character development. I'm looking forward to more from this author!

Montana Mirage has something for everyone-romance, mystery, action, suspense, and humor but still has an environmental message. Montana seems big, bold and beautiful and one of the few places left that this conflict between men and mountain lions could still occur. The dialogue rings true and the reader gets a real sense of how ranchers relate to one another and to the land. This book is eye opening as to what is really going on in the west--both entertaining and enlightening.

Not quite as 'cut-to-the-chase' as its sister- Falcon publication "Bear Aware", "Mountain Lion Alert" nonetheless does an equally effective job providing key facts on Mountain Lion attacks(including a break down by area for the past 100 years), its physiology and habits as a predator, identifying tracks and signs, dispelling the usual myths about the animal, handling encounters and travelling safety in Cougar Country.

Its a bit more Q & A format than "Bear Aware" but still presents alot of key info in a short, easy read. Excellent.

Steve Torres has written an excellent easy reading and interesting guide to living safely in and near mountain lions and their habitat. The author included current information about lion history, biology, and behavior, as well as several chapters explaining step by step procedures to protect people, runners and bike riders, property, pets, children and livestock. His writing is consistant with other professional writings and is presented in a unbiased manner with enough scientific information to please mountain lion research enthusiasts, and simple enough for more novice readers. The book can be read is a few sittings and the material can be referenced in the future.

Steven Torres truly captures the cougar. While bringing to light the potential conflicts between pumas,humans/livestock Torres also makes known the respect and admiration these majestic cats so mich deserve....A must read for anyone who loves the wild and the life therein...

Mountain Lion was a wonderful book to read. I had been looking everywhere for a comprehensive book or video on the Mountian Lion of North America and I feel I have hit the jackpot. This book tells you "everything you ever wanted to know" about the Mountain Lion and more. From it's origins and how it relates to Natives all the way to it's current situation. Chris Bolgiano writes with a sympathetic eye and makes you realize how important preservation is not only for the Mountain lion and other animals but for humans too. She speaks about Mountain Lion sightings in places where logging and building houses have eliminated the big cat from these areas. She feels people still see sightings because of their phycological need for wilderness. She made me think more about preservation and the importance of saving our wilderness. I would recommend this great book for any Cat and Animal lovers out there. It could also be interesting for conservationists and anybody who is active or interested in enviromental issues.

This is Ms Bolgiano's first book. I happened to read her second book, The Appalachian Forest, first. I liked that book so much, I had to try this one. I am glad I did.

Ms Bolgiano is both a thorough and accurate researcher and an excellent writer. The text of Mountain Lion benefits greatly from both these talents. It is clear that the author traveled widely and spent much time and money in gaining a deep and expansive understanding of cougars and their dealings with our species before writing Mountain Lion.

Once she started writing, Ms Bolgiano wove a tale of this most illusive and truly wild of our wildlife species that is fascinating and a real joy to read. I have only a short time each day to read. I repeatedly found myself looking forward to my daily reading time as I read this book. Finally, I sacrificed large sections of a few nights of sleep and devoured and gorged until I came to the final page. Once done, I mourned the fact that it was over.

To anyone who has even a tiny interest in wild creatures and how we interact with them, I recommend Mountain Lions most highly. It is like taking a tour of a large portion of our land and gaining a much deeper understanding of the people and wildlife of each area. Equally beneficial, one comes to a better knowledge of and a deeper respect for our great, wild, American cat. Reading Mountain Lions, An Unnatural History of Pumas and People, is time extremely well spent.

The reader can tell that a great deal of research went into this book. It is also obvious that the author loves and respects her subject. If a myth about this animal needs to be broken she does so- but graciously. It was especially hard to read about the state of the Florida panther and how they are now so inbred it really is better to bring in the Texas animals to breed. Most of all it is Bolgiano's writing that carries the book- wave after wave of clear, precise prose.

When I started this book I didn't think it would be any good, but as I read more I found it was great. I highly recomend this book.

I love this book on Blaze and the Mountain Lion part of the Billy & Blaze series.

This is when Billy and Blaze are on the ranch and his parents had come west and taken a ranch house for the summer and the had Blaze along too.

Billy & Blaze to the Rescue! So they are able to chase the wild cat into its den and save a frightened calf from near death. So Billy has an old rope he used as a lasso and he roped the calfs belly and he pulled him up.

Jim their new cowboy friend kills the mountain lion and Billy got a new lasso.

I love the Billy & Blaze books by author C. W. Anderson.

Reviews of Caught in Fading Light

"...The pursuit of one thing invariably leads him to discover many others: The tracks of a solitary mountain lion, for example, evoke a marvelous world of photographic imagery, literary events, dancing foxes, ocean voyages, and blind poets, all gathered together just beyond the limits of human vision. Thorp explores what it means to seek something you might not find and ponders the difference between seeing only darkness and being blind, offering as well bright glimpses into the Zen tradition. Combining an elusive and challenging pursuit with a centuries-old way of uncovering life's ultimate answers, Caught in Fading Light will give readers a new way of seeing, and will captivate nature lovers and Zen practitioners alike." Walker and Company (publisher)

"Thorp's character-and the character of the mountain lions-are expertly interwoven through this wonderfully skillful journal, which manages to be both meditative and suspenseful at the same time. As much as we relish Thorp's search, the question of whether or not he will find his lion soon becomes immaterial. For the central lesson of his book, we are led to realize, is the one expressed by our own St. Francis: 'What you are looking for is who is looking."-The San Francisco Chronicle

"In this small but rich book, Thorp takes us with him on a journey through the Marin hills, on solitary hikes day and night, stationary vigils, and extended drives, all the while sharing with us his growing knowledge of mountain lions and his Zen-influenced reflections on the meaning of journal." -Bay Nature

"Thorp studies himself as much as he does the elusive cat, embracing the world as he narrows his focus, all the while weaving his reflections on the nature of life through this satisfying journal of yearning, learning and observing."-Publishers Weekly

"An artful quest-curious, full of misgivings, humble"-Kirkus Reviews

The cover photograph was only the first of many outstanding pictures in this book. The photographs are by Jim Dutcher, who provided most of the source material for the book. Most of the text was written by Karen McCall, rich with description almost to the point of being a distraction at times, but there are a few parts where there is a noticeable shift in style, and I suspect these were written by Dutcher himself. We get the story of Catrina as she raises three cubs in an enclosure in a secluded area, to be eventually released into the wild (Catrina herself is too acclimated to humans to be released). Their story is interesting and compelling. The book is worth having for the pictures alone, but you'll be missing out if you don't read the text too.

fo ay one inerested in the subject this book is a great read. it picked up momentum until I couldn't put it down. The stories are thrilling although many ar very unnerving. It also provides varying perspectives on attacks and non-attacks. Good storytelling by the writers. I highly recommend it.

"Cat Attacks" investigates the nature of the growing number of strange and terrifying encounters of ordinary people with wild cougars. Too many of these incidents are full-scale, blitz-like attacks on unsuspecting people, especially children, out to enjoy the bounty of the great outdoors. Virtually all these attacks end, if not in the death or injury of the people involved, then in a serious loss of their sense of security and well-being through the shear terror of what they endured. "Cat Attacks" proves once again that not only is reality stranger than fiction, but more captivating too.

People have forgotten the dangers that cougars present since their numbers have been so severely decimated through centuries of extermination. Once their range extended across the entire country. Cougar attacks were once almost unheard of and many people now seem to assume they present no real danger. However, since 1990 attacks have been steadily on the rise.

Like the setting in a fictional horror story, the people attacked in "Cat Attacks" were engaging in innocent, everyday activity: jogging, hiking, sleeping, picking mushrooms, watching birds and cross country skiing. The children were walking to school, running track, horseback riding, clinging to their parents in the presence of a park ranger and one was even riding inside a camper with his family! None of these people suspected the imminence of life threatening danger.

The authors explain that cougars are virtually silent and attack so quickly witnesses report only a blur. Most victims never know danger is present until they are hit hard usually from behind. The animal bites the back of the victim's neck trying to cut the spinal column while pinning the victim with its claws. If the attack is successful, the victim is dragged away by the head in the cougar's mouth. Some people are still conscious as they are being eaten alive.

I read this book to make sense of my own unexpected cougar encounter, which occurred by remarkable coincidence the same month this book was published in June 2001. I was near the end of the Lost Mine Trail in the Chisos Mountains in the Big Bend National Park, Texas. Having a bad hip and being unsure how far and fast I can hike, I go alone so I won't slow others down. [Big mistake! See page 109.] I only had a bottle of water, a trail map and two canes with me. After three hours or so I made it to the end of trail-it was spectacular-and had started back down. Suddenly I looked up and there was this huge monster, killing-machine mountain lion crossing the trail about 30 yards in front of me! Good God! 30 yards! I was hours away from safety. I did not run [Good move! See page 109.], but remained still. He had massive legs and huge jaw muscles! He could have easily killed me and dragged me away to be eaten [See chapters 1 and 14], but by shear chance he was not interested [A probable low risk encounter. See page 180.]. Without betraying any fear, he crossed my trail and slowly meandered down the ridge and out of view. Going into the wilderness will never be the same again.

"Cat Attacks" is a very disturbing book. It set my own experience in context. It is informative and well written. With protection cougar populations are rising and ranges expanding; encounters are expected to increase. Anyone who lives in or near cougar country should read this book. Even people who live in cities are not completely safe. In 1992 a cougar ran into the underground parking garage of the opulent Victoria Hotel in downtown Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Read this book and learn more about the unappreciated dangers these vicious animals increasingly present.

As it turns out, I knew very little about cougers. I sit and read this book in an afternoon, yes you may say once I got started I couldn't put it down. I had no idea how quickly and silently a cat could swipe a child right out from under a parents nose. Every parent thinking about an outing anywhere near couger country should have a gander at this book first. The title is accurate when it says "Hard Lessons". The stories are stunning and true to life, yet one can learn what best to do before, during, and after a stalking or heaven forbid an attack. My only advise other than to give it a read is, have some tissue handy and don't start it around the camp fire, no one will be able to sleep.