Dogs; like humans; have memories; instincts; fears; and loyalties. But; as far as we know; dogs do not get swept up in nostalgia; speculation; or self-analysis. Although they have hopes; they are not driven by regrets. In Crossing the Plains with Bruno; Annick Smith weaves together a memoir of travel and relationship; western history and family history; human love and animal love centering around a two week road trip across the Great Plains she and her 95 pound chocolate lab; Bruno; took in the summer of 2003. It is a chain of linked meditations; often triggered by place; about how the past impinges on the present and how the present can exist seemingly sans past.Traveling from her rural homestead in Montana to pick up her nearly 100-year-old mother from her senior residence on Chicago’s North Side and bring her to the family’s beach house on a dune overlooking Lake Michigan; Smith often gets lost in memory and rambling contemplation. Bruno’s constant companionship and ever present needs force her to return to the actual; reminding her that she; too; is an animal whose existence depends on being alert to the scents; sights; hungers; and emotions of the moment.Passing through wide open spaces; dying ranch towns; green cornfields; and Midwestern hamlets; Annick is immersed in memories of her immigrant Hungarian Jewish family; her childhood days in Chicago; her early marriage; and ultimate immigration west. Triggered by random encounters along the way; she’s taken back to life as a young mother; her career as a writer and filmmaker who produced the classic A River Runs Through It; the death of her husband; and the thrill of a late romance. A lifetime of reflection played out one mile at a time.Crossing the Plains with Bruno is a story narrated by a woman beset by the processes of aging; living with the imminent reality of a parent’s death; but it is the dog that rides shotgun; like Sancho Panza to Don Quixote; that becomes the reminder of the physical realities outside our own imaginations.
#1543464 in Books Westholme Publishing 2011-05-27 2011-05-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .90 x 6.00l; 1.09 #File Name: 1594161402320 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. 36th Infantry Division Wasted AwayBy CamelotThis is an excellent book that displays a bias by Schultz against Mark Clark.Whether or not you agree with Schulz; the book does well to explain some of the tactical elements and feelings about the Rapido. I do not think Schultz fully covered the strategic side of why this battle was fought. Whether or not you agree with Schultz; the battle was a disaster for the men of the 36th; and the book reinforces this.I recommend reading Martin Blumenson's book about the Battle of the Rapido as well. There are a few other journal articles you could read to fully appreciate the battle and the decisions to fight the battle at this location.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A True Story that Will Make Your Blood BoilBy exmptleThe war in Italy was a bloody; often tragic; mess. This book takes a close look at one of the tragedies - a foolhardy plan by Mark Clark to attempt a frontal assault across a fast flowing river with very steep banks against a heavily fortified German position. Losses were horrendous as Generals Clark and Keyes ordered multiple suicidal attacks against a virtually impregnable position. It's as easily readable as a good novel; but sadly it's a true story that will make your blood boil.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Caveat emptorBy KEVIN C. DELAHANTY"Buyer Beware."I purchased "Crossing the Rapido" because I was intrigued by this particular military action about which I was first made aware in an exceptional WWII memoir entitled "Recon Scout." I wanted to learn more. Unfortunately; the book fell far short of my expectation.Before the first chapter was over I had an uncomfortable feeling about this book. Before I was through with the second chapter I knew what the problem was: Mr. Schultz's writing style is on a level that would appeal to an American middle school level or younger audience. One could plainly see that the narrative is a cobbled mass; sometimes disjointed; of stories lifted from other works of history involving the Italian campaign and the 36th Infantry Division. There seemed to be no effort to present a clear chronology to the story of the 36th ID's actions in Italy; especially its failed attempts to cross the Rapido river. Mr. Schultz presented anecdote after anecdote in such a way that you felt that you were all over the battlefield and; as a result; had no idea what was going on at any one sector at any one time. You are never informed of how the plans were developed; what they were supposed to accomplish; how they failed; and how the units re-grouped and re-organized. And through it all you cannot miss Mr. Schultz's distracting bias in how he places certain generals in favorable or not-so-favorable lights.However; it all made sense when I read the author's acknowledgements at the end of the book. He admits that he's a psychologist and not an historian; and offers this as his excuse for not writing a proper history of a military action. He goes on to say that his true purpose is to focus on the personal stories of the men involved; how they responded in the moment as well as years after. While a laudable pursuit; Mr. Schultz efforts; and comments; seem superficial and... well... juvenile.I am familiar with the historical criticisms of Gen. Clark and his conduct of the war in Italy. Coming from a psychologist; I would have preferred a more balanced presentation of the personalities and conduct of the senior American officers: Keyes; Truscott; and Walker. In this; Mr. Schultz failed even his own profession.In my opinion; this book was a failure. I would not recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about the disaster of the Allied attempts to cross the Rapido river. I shall continue to search for such a book. If someone is looking for military history-lite; this may satisfy that craving.
