Connecticut Books

The Following book review was printed in the ³Sherman Sentinel² in Sherman, CT. It was embarrassingly positive, and was so close to my intended writing target that I would like my readers to see it.

³I came to Sherman when Dr. Everett Vreeland was retiring from veterinary practice, so it naturally followed that I inherited some of his previous clients. They regaled me with tales of a white coveralled, tall, gregarious man who would be seen careening through town on his way from one animal medical emergency to the next. He was described as decisive, well-liked, a good ³cow-man², a man who dares to experience and love life,
³Doc² Vreeland has distilled his rich experiences acquired during forty years of general veterinary practice into a book, ŒA Tincture of Time¹.
The gold standard with which to compare any veterinarian¹s memoirs is, of course, the work of English country veterinarian, James Herriot. Everett Vreeland is James Herriot with the bark still on him. He is Ernest Hemingway as an animal doctor. An experience of my own serves to illustrate my first impression of Dr. Vreeland¹s book. I was working on a local dairy farm and had just met the herd¹s veterinarian for the first time, a colorful character quite similar to Dr. Vreeland. I mentioned to the herdsman that I didn¹t quite know how to take this fellow, to which he replied, ŒSometimes you take him right between the eyes!¹
I found ŒA Tincture of Time¹ often hilarious, sincere, opinionated, and sometimes prurient. It is a book for adults, describing with sometimes brutal honesty the joys and tribulations of being a solo veterinarian in rural New England. His recountings of his dealings with colorful clients, whose identities are disguised with clever cognomens, are keenly observant, accurate and well articulated. His interpolations of non-veterinary experiences make the book genuine and interesting.
This book is a labor of love, written by a man with a calling to be a veterinarian. In a profession that can offer unmatched rewards and pressures, he has managed to convey his formula towards achieving happiness.²
Paul Biagiotti DVM

This article is only one page long, and not the 5,000-plus words as described. What a waste of $5.95. I have contacted Amazon for a refund.
I gave it one star, because there isn't a selection for no stars.

I was disappointed with the way the book was written and did not get much out of it.

This book is NOT helpful. It is poorly organized, full of typos, and not useful. I am returning it.
It's basically just a list of public campgrounds, with no information about location or real reviews, just a list of the amenities or facilities nearby.
Stick to the internet

A few decades ago, when I was an undergrad at Indiana University I took a class taught by the author of this book who was teaching there at the time. The class was on early American History (such as it is), and I had no idea it could be so boring. The book deals with religious sects that inhabited the Connecticut River valley in the early 17th century and the title pretty much says it all. I recall falling asleep several times trying to get through this book, but I don't think I ever finished it. For some strange reason, I've never forgotten the title, and whenever somone asks me what the most boring book I've ever read is, I have an answer right away. So, If you can't sleep for whatever reason; if you toss and turn with anxiety and stress, buy a copy of this book--you'll be sleeping like a baby in no time.