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Suddenly, the Cider Didn't Taste So Good: Adventures of a Game Warden in Maine
Retired Maine Game Warden John Ford has seen it all. He's been shot at by desperate prison escapees, been outwitted by wily trappers, and rescued scores of animals. As a tenacious and successful warden, he was always willing to spend the time needed to nab violators of the state's fish and game laws. At the same time, though, he wasn't a cold, heartless, go-by-the-book enforcer; he usually had a good quip ready when he slipped the handcuffs on a violator, and he wasn't above accepting a lesson learned as sufficient penalty for breaking the law. Ford is also a very gifted storyteller and he writes of his adventures in Suddenly, the Cider Didn't Taste So Good, a collection of true tales, both humorous and serious, from the trenches of law enforcement, and also includes heartwarming accounts of his rescue of hurt or abandoned animals.
218 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2012
26 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
John Allen Ford Sr.
4 books11 followersJohn Ford Sr., (1947-2018) a native Mainer, came from a long line of Maine Game Wardens. He was sworn into the service shortly after finishing up a four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force. He spent all of his twenty-year warden career in Waldo County in central Maine. Upon his retirement in 1990, he was elected as county sheriff and re-elected in 1994. He wrote a local newspaper column and was a regular contributor to the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He also was a painter, known for his wildlife artwork.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 15, 2021
Entertaining book filled with stories from John Ford’s career as a Maine state game warden. I actually sat down to start the book yesterday evening and ended up completing in one sitting. There were stories that were humorous and a few that were sad but all were intriguing. I will be picking up Ford’s second book today at the library for a weekend read.
August 15, 2012
The obvious is that John Ford has written a book compiled of a series of amusing or touching or dangerous incidents that he lived as a Maine game warden, but that is not why I liked this book and read every word. What I began to sense coming through the narrative was a rural northern New England spirit, something I've always been partial to. The book is about a way of living, about how a man decides to live his life, the rules he follows and what he believes in.
The stories are much bigger than the writing. As a published columnist and author, I read all the time. And I try to read contemporary fiction, but for the most part, I can't get past a few chapters. Why? Because although the writers have educated themselves in the skills of composing prose and know all the tricks of manipulating readers, there is no heart. John Ford's voice has a truth to it and an easily definable spirit, and that's not easy to achieve, so as I read, I began to appreciate the style more and more for these qualities.
The New England spirit I found was one of toughness, decency, kindness, humor, and honor. And whether Ford was facing a shotgun directed at his head or two bouts of cancer, he showed the same courage, calmness and awareness of others. As a warden he instigated some jokes that bordered on malicious, but he also laughed when the same was served to him. We have the portrait of a man's life as much as we have a book about being a game warden. And Ford is willing to give us both sides of himself, the shiny and the rusty. He does not hold back when he's at fault or has acted like a fool, and this verisimilitude fortifies the book's honesty.
I think a lot of us are interested in cops and criminals, and Ford offers an insight into their relationship that I had vaguely guessed at, but here it was made clear. I found that fascinating. His insights and tenderness toward wild animals was obviously one of the reasons he became a game warden, and his stories about raising owls, a deer or a red fox in his basement were some of my favorites.
So if you've ever been curious about rural Maine, or wild animals, or wild criminals, or how poachers operate, or what it means to be a northern New Englander in the old-school sense, or just want a couple laughs or a scare, this memoir offers them all. What more can we ask from a book than that?
The stories are much bigger than the writing. As a published columnist and author, I read all the time. And I try to read contemporary fiction, but for the most part, I can't get past a few chapters. Why? Because although the writers have educated themselves in the skills of composing prose and know all the tricks of manipulating readers, there is no heart. John Ford's voice has a truth to it and an easily definable spirit, and that's not easy to achieve, so as I read, I began to appreciate the style more and more for these qualities.
The New England spirit I found was one of toughness, decency, kindness, humor, and honor. And whether Ford was facing a shotgun directed at his head or two bouts of cancer, he showed the same courage, calmness and awareness of others. As a warden he instigated some jokes that bordered on malicious, but he also laughed when the same was served to him. We have the portrait of a man's life as much as we have a book about being a game warden. And Ford is willing to give us both sides of himself, the shiny and the rusty. He does not hold back when he's at fault or has acted like a fool, and this verisimilitude fortifies the book's honesty.
I think a lot of us are interested in cops and criminals, and Ford offers an insight into their relationship that I had vaguely guessed at, but here it was made clear. I found that fascinating. His insights and tenderness toward wild animals was obviously one of the reasons he became a game warden, and his stories about raising owls, a deer or a red fox in his basement were some of my favorites.
So if you've ever been curious about rural Maine, or wild animals, or wild criminals, or how poachers operate, or what it means to be a northern New Englander in the old-school sense, or just want a couple laughs or a scare, this memoir offers them all. What more can we ask from a book than that?
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January 23, 2015I have a home in rural Maine. I hunt, fish, boat, snowmobile etc and come into contact with Maine Wardens occasionally. This is a great book. They are a unique bread of law enforcement official. Their beat not only covers the fish & game, recreational vehicle laws but often times they are the only law enforcement in huge swaths of rural Maine. Unique. John Ford does a great job of revealing the Warden Service job but with a sense of the humor that abounds. It's funny to me. There is humor most everywhere. You just need to realize it. John does just that. Highly recommend.
January 10, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Very enjoyable reading!
April 4, 2018
John Ford Sr. is a game warden and not a writer. But he's got charm. And that goes a long way.
August 31, 2017
Suddenly The Cider Didn’t Taste so Good by John Ford was probably one of my favorite outdoorsy, action books. I read this book because a warden had recommended it to me. I have wanted to be a warden since I was a young kid and had the chance to meet and speak with one, he told me, if I wanted to learn more about their duty, to read this book. The book is nonfiction and the stories are very real. This book is about all of the most memorable stories John Ford had in his career. The main character is himself, John Ford. Supporting characters change throughout different chapters but there's, Warden Hayden and his K-9, Skipper. Other characters would be people going against environmental laws and conservation laws. One of John's favorite stories to tell was because of how wild it was. John was on a break from work with this family when he heard about something huge going on in his county but figured it would've been long over and done with by the time he returned to work. There were two murderers who had escaped the county jail and found their way deep into the woods of Maine and were armed and dangerous. Well, unlike what John assumed, when he returned the two men were still on the loose. John got a call that morning asking him if he would be willing to a search with a large group of Wardens, along with local police officers, and other search team members. Warden Hayden and Skipper were included in this case. After what seemed like no time of searching they stumbled upon these two men hidden in the brush. They pulled out a gun, pointing it to Johns head. This left them questioning: What do I do? John backed down. The escaped prisoners then threatened them and began to run off, but first fired a shot and it hit Officer Hayden's dog. What do you think the officers should've done in this situation considering they threatened them and shot their dog? Positive aspects of the book would probably just be the fact that the stories are true and interesting. John chose the stories he found to be most interesting high are obviously true stories. It also makes it more interesting because he chose the most courageous, funny, scariest memories he had while being a warden. I really like this book and found no negative aspects of this story. This book exceeded my expectations. I say this because the man I met who recommended it to me, told me it would be a few short stories with the usual day to day in the life of a warden but I obviously don't get to see that everyday so it was really cool for me. This book hit me logically because it showed me what I will really be getting into if I do decide to go forward with being a Warden. I would recommend this book to poeple who enjoy wildlife stories, who hunt, fish, and people who are also considering being a warden.
December 28, 2019
I don't live in Maine, but I sure can relate as I have had hunting and fishing family in Northern Wisconsin all of my days. The author is a master storyteller who's not afraid to put himself out there and make fun of his mistakes and bloopers. Lots of laughs and a look inside a branch of law enforcement most folks don't often think about. I loved it!
Narrator Michael A Smith has an engaging delivery with a voice that's easy to listen to.
Narrator Michael A Smith has an engaging delivery with a voice that's easy to listen to.
November 15, 2022
Game wardens deal with more than hunting and fishing cases. Here, Ford gives examples of several criminal cases that, for shear manpower, required the assistance of the wardens.
needed: a map!
This reminds me of stories in the Reader's Digest -- brief, easy to read, entertaining, not necessarily memorable. 36 tales (mainly hunting and fishing violations)
animals: DEER, fish (numerous), owl (1), fox (1)
needed: a map!
This reminds me of stories in the Reader's Digest -- brief, easy to read, entertaining, not necessarily memorable. 36 tales (mainly hunting and fishing violations)
animals: DEER, fish (numerous), owl (1), fox (1)
November 13, 2019
BOOK TITLE: Suddenly, The Cider Didn’t Taste So Good
AUTHOR: John Ford
DATE: 11/13/19
John Ford Sr. Was a Maine game warden from Sanford, Maine and patrolled in Waldo County, Maine. John’s dream was to be a game warden since childhood. After high school John enlisted to the army. John spent four years in the military before he became a Maine game warden. It was his dream come true. As a young game warden John’s father told him to record his adventures. This book is about all of his adventures.
This is a very good book. I like it because each chapter is its own story. If you don’t like a chapter you can just skip it and not know the difference. I never skipped a chapter though. The stories are very entertaining. Some of them are a little sad but most of them are humorous. I think if you enjoy the outdoors this is definitely worth reading.
AUTHOR: John Ford
DATE: 11/13/19
John Ford Sr. Was a Maine game warden from Sanford, Maine and patrolled in Waldo County, Maine. John’s dream was to be a game warden since childhood. After high school John enlisted to the army. John spent four years in the military before he became a Maine game warden. It was his dream come true. As a young game warden John’s father told him to record his adventures. This book is about all of his adventures.
This is a very good book. I like it because each chapter is its own story. If you don’t like a chapter you can just skip it and not know the difference. I never skipped a chapter though. The stories are very entertaining. Some of them are a little sad but most of them are humorous. I think if you enjoy the outdoors this is definitely worth reading.
March 10, 2016
John Ford was a Maine Game warden and now is retired. He wrote a book made up of stories that are amusing, touching or dangerous incidents that he has had in his career. One of my favorite stories in the book is pretty gross, but is very funny. One day there was a complaint about a foul smelling odor in someones backyard. When he went to see what it was he saw that it was a dead deer caught up in the river. He didn't want to untangle it and let it float down the stream because that meant later someone would call about the same thing. Luckily he just came back from a mining incident, and had some explosives in the back of his car. So he figured why not blow it up. So thats what he did. He stuck the explosives in the caracas and then boom! I won't tell you the rest because it is pretty funny. That is only one story out of the many. Once again they aren't all funny. Some of them are really serious, or sad, or dangerous. I have read this book every year sense fourth grade. If you are like me and like North Woods Law, how poachers operate, wild animals, or even wild criminals. Maybe you just want a couple laughs or a scares, this book is for you.
July 19, 2013
John Ford, retired Maine Game Warden, is my mother's step-cousin. Reading his stories is like sitting around with all of my grandmother's brothers (she had four)who were all "characters" in their own right.Hardy Maine outdoorsman, all...that is the voice that comes through loud and clear. When telling "fish tales", each one tried to outdo the other...with peals of laughter and hardee-har-hars! I miss those days as a kid...being enveloped in their good-natured ribbing when you could never quite tell if they were pulling your leg or not! That's how John writes, including the wry humor and wicked wit.
Each story of adventures in the woods with prison escapees, trappers,and other non-law abiding folks will surely tickle your funny bone. John pokes fun of himself as well. I love the soft, human side of his enforcement and his love for animals.
If you like the popular Animal Planet series, "Northwoods Law", you will love this book.
Each story of adventures in the woods with prison escapees, trappers,and other non-law abiding folks will surely tickle your funny bone. John pokes fun of himself as well. I love the soft, human side of his enforcement and his love for animals.
If you like the popular Animal Planet series, "Northwoods Law", you will love this book.
February 18, 2016
I loved the stories in this book. I heard Ford speak one afternoon at the high school I where I teach. He is as good a storyteller in person as he is on paper. I have lived in Maine my whole life and greatly respect the work our wardens do. If you love Maine, love all our great outdoors has to offer, and love good stories, you need to read this book.
January 2, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was humorous without being gross. It was true stories and an eyewitness account of things that happened. John Ford put his own antics in the book and that made it more real. The life of a game warden is never easy, but this book gives the reader a glimpse into what every day life is like for them.
October 14, 2018
3.5 stars. I bought this book last fall on a trip to Maine because I wanted to read something from a local author, but I did not necessarily have high expectations for it. I was pleasantly surprised to find most of his stories genuinely entertaining and funny. If you are looking for a fun, quick read and have any interest about what the life of a game warden is like, I would recommend it!
December 8, 2017
This was a fun and quick jaunt into the life of a Maine Game Warden in the 70's and 80's. I enjoyed the critter stories the best!...though the man-hunt involving a turkey defending his territory made me laugh out loud (I guess that's really a critter story too).
July 20, 2017
If you love Paul Doiron, don't miss this telling of the real escapades of an honest to God Maine game warden. Amusing, frank, and fascinating.
September 6, 2017
Gave good insight on life in Maine as well as what comes with maintaining Maine's wildlife.
October 11, 2017
great book wish Chris would give me it back hahahaha
March 26, 2018
This book is a fun read!
It's anecdotal and simply written. I enjoyed all the different stories. ☺
It's anecdotal and simply written. I enjoyed all the different stories. ☺
April 4, 2020
Suddenly, the Cider Didn't Taste So Good (Adventures of a Game Warden in Maine) by John Ford and narrated by Michael A. Smith is a good book if you need a pick-me-up or want to hear what life is like for a game warden. It’s guaranteed to give you some giggles, some shaking of your head, and possibly some tears. 4 ½ stars for stories, 4 stars narration.
What’s it about? The book contains stories from John Ford Sr.’s time as a game warden in Maine. You get everything from funny to sad to frightening. Breakdown below.
Foreword by John Marsh (former Chief Warden of Maine) and Introduction by John Ford. Approximately 9 minutes.
Chapter 1: Just Dropping In, Ladies ~ John learns to embrace a flying situation. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 2: Caught in the Trap~ It isn’t always who you think it is. Approx. 5 minutes.
Chapter 3: Drop the Waders!~ Poachers. Approx. 11 minutes.
Chapter 4: A Mater Manure-Spreader Gets His Comeuppance~ Bad hunters. Approx. 16 minutes.
Chapter 5: If You Step in it, You’ll Know~ Deer season. Approx. 13 minutes.
Chapter 6: The Moody Mountain Manhunt~ Tracking escapees from prison. Approx. 26 minutes.
Chapter 7: More Bang for Your Buck~ A deer lawn ornament of sorts. Approx. 5 minutes.
Chapter 8: I’m Lost, You Know!~ A search for a resident of an assisted living home. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 9: Last Flight into Abbott’s International Airport~ Flying with Dana Toothaker, the “cowboy warden”. Approx. 12 minutes.
Chapter 10: The Warden Gets Caught~ A fisherman’s tales. Approx. 11 minutes.
Chapter 11: The Bogeyman~ Sometimes our imagination gets the best of us. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 12: Daddy Who?~ John raises Who-Who and Boo-Hoo with the help of the community. Approx. 9 minutes.
Chapter 13: You’re Welcome, Deer~ Raising Bucky the deer. Approx. 9 minutes.
Chapter 14: The Game Warden and the Murderer~ A friendship of sorts forms. Approx. 22 minutes.
Chapter 15: Foot-jack-uh!~ The night hunters. Approx. 8 minutes.
Chapter 16: Night-Hunting for Drug Smugglers~ Exactly as the title indicates. Approx. 8 minutes.
Chapter 17: Right on Time~ Night hunters in court and one minute. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 18: Don’t Mess with Blinky~ Decoy deer and night-hunters. Approx. 8 minutes.
Chapter 19: Leo and the Life Preservers~ Practice what you preach. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 20: It Helps to Be a Damned Sneak~ Scaring illegal trappers. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 21: A Ride-Along with the Boss~ Exactly as the title indicates. Approx. 10 minutes.
Chapter 22: Every Town Has Its Cast of Characters~ Exactly as the title indicates. Approx. 10 minutes.
Chapter 23: Care to Join Us in a Deer Drive?~ The hunting season. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 24: A Real Hat Trick~ Sunday hunting. Approx. 5 minutes.
Chapter 25: Good News, Bad News!~ Don’t leave your wallet when doing illegal things. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 26: The Improvised Lie-Detector Test~ Stupid people. Approx. 11 minutes.
Chapter 27: Cat Got Your Tongue?~ Coffee with friends. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 28: Are You Lonesome Tonight?~ Elvis’s death and his grandmother. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 29: Smoke Gets in Their Eyes~ A funny tale of illegal fishing. This one is one of my favs. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 30: Excuse Me, Ma’am~ Two orphaned fawn, two women, and the need to urinate. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 31: One Man’s Tragedy Saves Another Man’s Life- Mine~ John’s battle with cancer.
Chapter 32: An Albino Fisher? Come on, Jimbo!~ Jimbo the poacher. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 33: Where’s the Justice?~ A guy gets away with animal abuse. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 34: Wile E. Fox Finds a Home~ Raising a fox, John gets a surprise and then heartbreak. Approx. 8 minutes.
Chapter 35: Suddenly, the Cider Didn’t Taste So Good~ An apple plus some. Approx. 7 minutes.
The narrator, Michael A. Smith, was good overall. Sometimes the accents would go in and out.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings: death (people, animals), friendship with Joel Fuller, cancer battle, a little preachy during the cancer battle as he relies on his faith to get him through, one story is about a guy who gets away with setting traps that purposely injure animals and there is no justice. Language used: SOB x4, Bastards, Sx2, damn/damned x78, hell x61.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!
What’s it about? The book contains stories from John Ford Sr.’s time as a game warden in Maine. You get everything from funny to sad to frightening. Breakdown below.
Foreword by John Marsh (former Chief Warden of Maine) and Introduction by John Ford. Approximately 9 minutes.
Chapter 1: Just Dropping In, Ladies ~ John learns to embrace a flying situation. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 2: Caught in the Trap~ It isn’t always who you think it is. Approx. 5 minutes.
Chapter 3: Drop the Waders!~ Poachers. Approx. 11 minutes.
Chapter 4: A Mater Manure-Spreader Gets His Comeuppance~ Bad hunters. Approx. 16 minutes.
Chapter 5: If You Step in it, You’ll Know~ Deer season. Approx. 13 minutes.
Chapter 6: The Moody Mountain Manhunt~ Tracking escapees from prison. Approx. 26 minutes.
Chapter 7: More Bang for Your Buck~ A deer lawn ornament of sorts. Approx. 5 minutes.
Chapter 8: I’m Lost, You Know!~ A search for a resident of an assisted living home. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 9: Last Flight into Abbott’s International Airport~ Flying with Dana Toothaker, the “cowboy warden”. Approx. 12 minutes.
Chapter 10: The Warden Gets Caught~ A fisherman’s tales. Approx. 11 minutes.
Chapter 11: The Bogeyman~ Sometimes our imagination gets the best of us. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 12: Daddy Who?~ John raises Who-Who and Boo-Hoo with the help of the community. Approx. 9 minutes.
Chapter 13: You’re Welcome, Deer~ Raising Bucky the deer. Approx. 9 minutes.
Chapter 14: The Game Warden and the Murderer~ A friendship of sorts forms. Approx. 22 minutes.
Chapter 15: Foot-jack-uh!~ The night hunters. Approx. 8 minutes.
Chapter 16: Night-Hunting for Drug Smugglers~ Exactly as the title indicates. Approx. 8 minutes.
Chapter 17: Right on Time~ Night hunters in court and one minute. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 18: Don’t Mess with Blinky~ Decoy deer and night-hunters. Approx. 8 minutes.
Chapter 19: Leo and the Life Preservers~ Practice what you preach. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 20: It Helps to Be a Damned Sneak~ Scaring illegal trappers. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 21: A Ride-Along with the Boss~ Exactly as the title indicates. Approx. 10 minutes.
Chapter 22: Every Town Has Its Cast of Characters~ Exactly as the title indicates. Approx. 10 minutes.
Chapter 23: Care to Join Us in a Deer Drive?~ The hunting season. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 24: A Real Hat Trick~ Sunday hunting. Approx. 5 minutes.
Chapter 25: Good News, Bad News!~ Don’t leave your wallet when doing illegal things. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 26: The Improvised Lie-Detector Test~ Stupid people. Approx. 11 minutes.
Chapter 27: Cat Got Your Tongue?~ Coffee with friends. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 28: Are You Lonesome Tonight?~ Elvis’s death and his grandmother. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 29: Smoke Gets in Their Eyes~ A funny tale of illegal fishing. This one is one of my favs. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 30: Excuse Me, Ma’am~ Two orphaned fawn, two women, and the need to urinate. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 31: One Man’s Tragedy Saves Another Man’s Life- Mine~ John’s battle with cancer.
Chapter 32: An Albino Fisher? Come on, Jimbo!~ Jimbo the poacher. Approx. 7 minutes.
Chapter 33: Where’s the Justice?~ A guy gets away with animal abuse. Approx. 6 minutes.
Chapter 34: Wile E. Fox Finds a Home~ Raising a fox, John gets a surprise and then heartbreak. Approx. 8 minutes.
Chapter 35: Suddenly, the Cider Didn’t Taste So Good~ An apple plus some. Approx. 7 minutes.
The narrator, Michael A. Smith, was good overall. Sometimes the accents would go in and out.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings: death (people, animals), friendship with Joel Fuller, cancer battle, a little preachy during the cancer battle as he relies on his faith to get him through, one story is about a guy who gets away with setting traps that purposely injure animals and there is no justice. Language used: SOB x4, Bastards, Sx2, damn/damned x78, hell x61.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!
October 19, 2017
I read the book Suddenly the Cider doesn't Taste So Good. It was written by John Ford a retired Maine Game Warden. The book is really just fun little stories about his career as a warden. At the end it talks more about his personal life and what he had to go through as a warden. John Ford is really the only main character in this book.
This book was a very good book to read. There was never a main plot but every chapter had a new beginning. Every chapter was different and it really bad the boom interesting and it showed how being a game warden is different everyday. John Ford was a humorous guy and a very friendly guy. The best part about him was how he knew everyone. He could tell every detail about all the people he had met in his stories. John Ford being the author really shows good descriptive details which brought me into the book even more. I could see what he saw. Such as the old maine country stores, or the quiet woods with a nice whitetail deer walking through the brush. I feel like I was never lost in the book. I really like the reasons why this author wrote this book. There are so many crazy stories that happen in warden's life. This warden dared to share some of those stories and I feel like it really went well. For example during the story Warden Ford talked about a guy who everyone knew around town. “He was loud, big, and he poached. A lot…”. This is a pure example of the good descriptive details the author used. I would recommend the book the anyone, especially people who love the outdoors and criminal justice.
Overall this book was great. I think most people would really be intrigued by the way this book is written and what a warden does day in and day out. Game wardens are special people and this book really shows why they are special people.
This book was a very good book to read. There was never a main plot but every chapter had a new beginning. Every chapter was different and it really bad the boom interesting and it showed how being a game warden is different everyday. John Ford was a humorous guy and a very friendly guy. The best part about him was how he knew everyone. He could tell every detail about all the people he had met in his stories. John Ford being the author really shows good descriptive details which brought me into the book even more. I could see what he saw. Such as the old maine country stores, or the quiet woods with a nice whitetail deer walking through the brush. I feel like I was never lost in the book. I really like the reasons why this author wrote this book. There are so many crazy stories that happen in warden's life. This warden dared to share some of those stories and I feel like it really went well. For example during the story Warden Ford talked about a guy who everyone knew around town. “He was loud, big, and he poached. A lot…”. This is a pure example of the good descriptive details the author used. I would recommend the book the anyone, especially people who love the outdoors and criminal justice.
Overall this book was great. I think most people would really be intrigued by the way this book is written and what a warden does day in and day out. Game wardens are special people and this book really shows why they are special people.
January 27, 2025
I usually don’t rate memoirs or autobiographies due to a sense of immorality surrounding the act of rating someone’s life. However, I am making an exception to that rule today, purely due to my distaste for Mr. Ford’s writing style, which I will briefly discuss below.
A non-chronological series of vignettes covering Mr. Ford’s time as a game warden for Maine’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. I didn’t care for his repetitive writing style, his misuse and over application of the word ‘mumbled’, and his obvious disdain for Miranda Rights, which he was sure to disparage multiple times throughout the book. Although only 218 pages, this dragged for me, and the numerous chapters (35 total), were a slog to read. I can only conclude by saying that the only person I would be comfortable recommending this to is my seventy year old grandfather who loves hunting and has a short attention span.
A non-chronological series of vignettes covering Mr. Ford’s time as a game warden for Maine’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. I didn’t care for his repetitive writing style, his misuse and over application of the word ‘mumbled’, and his obvious disdain for Miranda Rights, which he was sure to disparage multiple times throughout the book. Although only 218 pages, this dragged for me, and the numerous chapters (35 total), were a slog to read. I can only conclude by saying that the only person I would be comfortable recommending this to is my seventy year old grandfather who loves hunting and has a short attention span.
February 11, 2025
I was looking forward to reading this book because I regularly deal with poachers myself, and have some dealings with game wardens. I was hoping for insight and justice. The author really sounds like a great guy and I'd love to get a beer with him, but I didn't find his "adventures" to be particularly funny or interesting. I wanted crazier tales and more poacher justice. Maybe it was just a problem of expectation. I assumed game wardens, particularly those who chose to write a book, really had some cool stories.
March 14, 2019
Four stars only because I'm a big fan of North Woods Law, and because I have a passing familiarity with some of the Waldo County towns Ford patrolled for years, otherwise more like three stars. A collection of anecdotes without a through line detailing some of the more interesting, poignant, and humorous encounters Ford had as a Game Warden in Maine.
March 30, 2024
I loved reading about John’s adventures, and especially loved reading about his wild animal rehab stories that occurred in his own house. I also never knew night hunting occurred so much, and I hope we have better control on it now. Overall this was a nice quick read (or many short stories, to read a few before bed in my case).
October 20, 2019
An interesting account of the life of a Game Warden. The chapters are really individual stories and do not flow from one to another. Actually his job sounded both too boring and then way too frightening and exciting.
March 16, 2023
I enjoyed this book. I love to read about game wardens. It is such a hard job and does not get the recognition it deserves. Well written and you can visualize what he is writing about. So many stories and such a variety from funny to very serious.
March 15, 2020
I laughed, I cried, it was a great snapshot of what Mainers are like.
August 17, 2021
This was a lovely account of funny and witty stories of a Maine game warden that was absolutely heartwarming.
February 5, 2022
Very folksy stories of life in the woods of Maine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews