Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Tales From the Bookshelf - Flattened Fauna

And now for a really strange tale from the bookshelf...

Flattened Fauna, Revised: A Field Guide to Common Animals of Roads, Streets, and Highways
by Roger M. Knutson

Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Ten Speed Press; Revised edition (September 1, 2006)
ISBN-13: 978-1580087551

Product Description

Are you among the millions of people whose only opportunity to observe wildlife comes after it has been run over and pressed into a patty by big rigs, then desiccated by the elements until even flies don’t recognize it? This is the field guide for you! FLATTENED FAUNA fills an important gap in our natural history knowledge and fosters a heightened respect for the ecology of the paved environment.

Okay, let me give you a little back story on this one!
In 1987, my best friend helped me drive from Arkansas to Oregon in what was the most humorous road trip imaginable. Along the way, we saw many dead animals on the road, and out of sheer boredom, started keeping track of the flattened fauna. The amount of little fuzzy Frizbees in Wyoming, which we could only assume were at one time rabbits, was astounding! Dead armidillos, cows, dogs - you name it, we saw it.
A week after arriving in Oregon, she shows up at my door with this book. We laughed so hard, we cried.
Flattened Fauna is dark humor at its best. Yes, the author goes to great lengths to help us identify those lumpy shapes on the road! But the subject matter alone should tell you this is done with a twisted sense of humor. (I am also an animal lover, but I found nothing offensive in the book.)

So if you aren't disturbed by the thought of identifying that patch of fur you just passed on the road and have a wicked sense of humor, this book is worth checking out!
8 out of 10

Purchase from  Barnes and Noble or  Amazon

Thank you for visiting the bookshelf today!

16 comments:

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

That is just TOO funny! Sometimes you just have to pick a book like this up...

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen

Unknown said...

I would never have expected a book to be written about *road kill*! In its twisted way, it IS funny! Unique if nothing else!!!

Mason Canyon said...

Oh, I love it. I can see this book going on a Christmas list for the coming year. Sounds like quite a book. I'm a animal lover too who can't resist a little humor.

Creative Chronicler said...

A disturbing book, but I know what you mean. I drove from North Carolina to Calgary,Canada and I dubbed Wyoming the Roadkill State, becuase it had the most. South Dakota was the Bug State.

PS. You have an award on my page.

Kristi said...

Talk about creative writing!!!

PS - my 40th follower give away picked your Circle of Friends Book 5 as the book of their choice! Yay! Now to find an independent bookstore to ship it from! (I'm thinking Quail Ridge)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Kristi, you mean Book IV?
The Book Depot in Kinston and Quartermoon Books on Topsail Island have them!

Yes, it IS a book about road kill. But it is funny! Believe me, after driving almost 2000 miles from Arkansas to Oregon, we needed a laugh.

CC - thanks! And I'd agree - Wyoming wins.

Helen Ginger said...

We could certainly use this guide here in Texas.

Sounds like it's a funny book, especially given the cover picture!

Helen
Straight From Hel

Elana Johnson said...

Sounds like a winner!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Helen, I've seen the road in Texas - lost of armadillos!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's just twisted!

The Old Silly said...

I've often said, good writing is good writing - you can write a book about ANYthing if you got the skill, lol. Thanks for the tip on this one.

Marvin D Wilson

Jemi Fraser said...

That is completely hilarious!! I bet the kids in my class would love it :P

Tara McClendon said...

The title alone cracks me up. I admit I'm a bit squeamish, but I'd probably find this morbidly funny.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson said...

Now we know why humor sells. Just look at these comments! Really a fun book, a great gift.

Yes, I'd read it.
No, I wouldn't stop, get out of the car and try to figure out what a specific flattened species is.

Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Multi award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers

L. Diane Wolfe said...

It's a hoot!

And I usually try to identify my flattened fauna while driving by at top speed - LOL!

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