Brian Daniels is a talented guy who loves the outdoors and writes everything from columns and novels to songs. I really enjoyed his first novel, Luke’s Dream, so of course I looked forward to his new book, It Seemed Like A Compliment To Me, published by Islandport Press.
While the book is supposed to be fiction, I guarantee that many of the stories are very close to the truth. I think Brian changed the names to protect the guilty. Many of the stories are hilarious.
My favorites included Small Town, a defense of every rural town in Maine, and Cowspeak, about life on a small dairy farm. Here’s a short exchange from that story:
Over many years of visiting the farm as an in-law, I’ve come to realize that farmers grow attached to their animals. In fact, I recall one Sunday dinner when my nephew commented: “I like Doreen.”
“Who’s Doreen?” I asked.
My mother-in-law, Bea, replied: “Doreen is dinner. She was old and a little tough, but she makes a good pot roast, don’t ya think, Joe?”
There’s also some great hunting stories, including the chapter titled Nearly True Hunting Stories. I think that could be the title of all of our hunting stories! And of course with two grandsons and two granddaughters, I loved the stories about granddaughter Gracie. Turns out Gracie is brilliant, according to Brian, just like my grandkids.
In the introduction, Brian says his daughter once told him, “Dad, you’re a big old smart alec. You shouldn’t say the things you do in a room full of people. It’s rude, and it’s embarrassing. You’re better than that!”
Today, rather than saying those things, Brian writes them! And I am so glad that he does.