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Wolf Sanctuary: The Wolves of Speedwell Forge

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Discover the world of the wolves of Speedwell Forge Wolf Sanctuary, a refuge for displaced wolves located in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. Through captivating and, at times, startling images, experience wolves at work and play, and encounter their howls and growls close up. Since 2007, Chuck Rineer has photographed the packs in their natural habitat, displaying a connection and respect for their way of life that few of us will experience. See the hidden details of wolf life, and go behind-the-scenes of this special sanctuary. Learn how the newest wolves are integrated into the packs, something rarely seen by human eyes, and follow all the wolves through the different seasons of the year. Full of stunning photographs, stories, and insights into pack behavior, this is a must-have book for those who have been captivated by wolves from afar and long for the chance to see these majestic animals up close and personal.

128 pages, Hardcover

Published April 28, 2018

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Chuck Rineer

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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Fiona.
990 reviews530 followers
March 18, 2018
A short coffee table book containing photographs of the Speedwell Wolf Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. There is very little narrative. I would have liked more because it was interesting to learn more about wolf behaviour. Did you know they can hear for 12 miles and smell for 4-5 miles? Amazing! Some of the photographs are fabulous, particularly of the wolves howling, and the love the photographer has for them shines through. Some are very repetitive though and there’s a fair bit of anthropomorphism going on in the narrative. It’s a nice book and I’m sure it will sell well at the sanctuary as a souvenir of a visit. Otherwise, I’m not sure what the market will be.

With thanks to Schiffer Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC.
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,266 reviews2,353 followers
July 29, 2018
Wolf Sanctuary: The Wolves of Speedwell Forge by Chuck Rineer is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. It is mostly photos of the beautiful creatures, all ages and colors. I enjoy that as much as reading about them if not more. I would have given it a 3 1/2 but they don't give halves out. It was good/average but not overly good. I still enjoyed it but I am sure the photographer had a closer bond with them.
Profile Image for Christine.
7,248 reviews575 followers
January 21, 2018
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley

If you live in Pennsylvania, you might have heard of Wolf Sanctuary founded and run by the Darlingtons. The Santuacry is a rescue sight for wolves that also educates visitors, though it is wolves first and visitors second. In other words, you need to make a reserveration.

Rineer’s book is a photographer’s look at the various packs that reside on the property. It is not a history of the foundation or of the various packs and wolves (though a brief overview is given). What is celebrated in this volume is the beauty of wolves in wonderful, striking photographs. The book includes brief descriptions of the relationships between the wolves as well as some facts.

Truthfully, the book’s selling points are the pictures of wolves during wolf things. Like standing and sleeping the snow, playing, sleeping, being pups.

So beautiful.
Profile Image for Mehsi.
15.2k reviews455 followers
April 14, 2018
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review!

I just adore wolves, we don’t have them here (though I believe they are slowly returning though), so the only chances to see wolves are at the zoo and in books/on tv. So when I spotted this book, promising lots of wolves and photographs, I just had to request it. And yay, for getting accepted!

When I first started I was a bit worried this would contain tons of text. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading (duh), and I love learning about wolves, but I mostly wanted this book for the photographs of wolves. :P Sometimes there are days when you just want visual instead of words.
But thankfully the texts soon got less and less, instead it became more and more photography, and I was delighted.

Of course the text parts were also interested to read, I especially took a liking to the caption under the photographs (when they were there).

The wolves were beautiful, gorgeous, though I have to say seeing them snarling and fangs out made me terrified. Yes, I know that wolves aren’t to be messed with (doesn’t everyone?), but most photographs focus on the cuteness, the fluffiness, the playfulness and then there was a whole chapter featuring them with fangs bared and lots of scariness radiating from the photographs.

I definitely enjoyed this book, it was lovely. The quality of the photographs is high (though I have to say some looked photoshopped).
All in all, if you are a fan of wolves I would recommend you read this book!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Profile Image for Nostalgia Reader.
873 reviews68 followers
April 19, 2018
A beautifully put together book of photographs of the wolves at the Speedwell Forge Wolf Sanctuary in Pennsylvania.

While I do wish there had been a bit more information, whether about wolves in general or the sanctuary itself, the wolves are the stars of the book and Rineer’s photos capture their personalities perfectly. Ranging from gorgeous shots of the wolves playing and lounging in the snow to brief photo arcs of den digging and pup training, this is a perfect coffee table book for anyone who loves wolves.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!

(Cross posted on my blog.)
Profile Image for Camille.
481 reviews22 followers
March 11, 2018
Chuck Rinner takes photographs of the packs of wolfs at Speedwell Forge Wolf Sanctuary in Pennsylvania.

This is mostly a book of photographs, as we get a bit on information to explain what is going on, but the aim is to just look at the wolves and discover them in their natural habitat.

I really enjoyed going through the beautiful pictures. I love wolves, I think they're amazing animals and you really get to see them in their everyday life in Wolf Sanctuary. Although there are wild animals, you can see how they are so far from that image of a monster they have had for centuries.

Disclaimer - thank you to NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Cassandra.
332 reviews11 followers
May 1, 2018
This book is filled with such beautiful photos that Chuck Rineer had taken at Speedwell Forge Wolf Sanctuary for chose to a decade. These images are simply beautiful and it made me fall in love with these wild canine all over again. Rineer did a wonderful job at sharing the characteristics, and personalities of many gorgeous wolves, and I can only imagine how breathtaking they would have been to see in person. I can see this being the perfect coffee table book. A lovely educational piece.

I have received a much appreciated digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
7,055 reviews83 followers
January 16, 2018
A book about wolf obviously, but pretty much just a pictures books because there is very little information in it. Also the pictures, not bad at all, but very common, meaning that they don't look like great photographers pics, just the kind of picture that most people can take if they take the time to. In the end, just not much to it!
Profile Image for Nicole (book.quill).
515 reviews52 followers
August 9, 2018
CHALLENGE 1 of The Read Harder Challenge

Good balance of photography and short explanation, I imagine this being a decent coffee table book for the wolf or animal lover.
Profile Image for Literary Redhead.
2,746 reviews700 followers
July 16, 2019
🐺 🐺 🐺 🐺 🐺

This lovely book offers a beautifully photographed look at the Speedwell Forge Wolf Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. It is a photographic Valentine to these mysterious creatures by Chuck Rineer, who has photographed the packs in their natural habitat since 2007. Offers a peek into the hidden world of wolf life, including how new members become part of the pack and how they live in every season, along with stories and insights into pack behavior. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the author, Schiffer Publishing Ltd. and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#Schifferpublishing #NetGalley
Profile Image for Teresa.
986 reviews13 followers
February 6, 2018
What a wonderful book. Not only are there photo's of wolves but there is also a lot of information about wolves. The book features The Wolves of Speedwell Forge Wold Sanctuary in Pennsylvania.

In 1976 The Darlington family was given a wolf dog. In 1980 the state of Pennsylvania decided that wolves were exotic pets, and that all owners of exotic pets needed a special permit in order to keep their pets. Of course the Darlington's applied for the permit. After receiving the permit to keep their wolves the Game Commission came to them to ask if they would consider letting them bring wolves to them instead of euthanizing them. And that was the beginning of the Wolf Sanctuary. Now more then 3 decades later the Sanctuary is still going strong. In 2007 the Sanctuary starting giving tours and educational programs in order to get more people to visit.

Chuck Rineer the author of the book has been volunteering since 2007 at the sanctuary. He has done an amazing job with the photos in this book. Documenting these beautiful animals and sharing them with the world.

I loved reading the stories and tidbits featuring the wolves by name. I would love to someday go and visit the sanctuary in person.

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.
Profile Image for Julie H. Ernstein.
1,547 reviews27 followers
November 20, 2018
I won this book as part of the Firstreads Giveaway program, it arrived promptly, I read it, and am now keen to visit the Wolf Sanctuary of PA upon which it focuses.

Rineer is a volunteer at the Sanctuary, has taken thousands of photos of the packs housed there, and offers this book as part homage to these remarkable animals and to the work of the Darlington family that established the sanctuary and educational facility that provides food, shelter, and veterinary care to some 40 wolves and hybrid wolf-dogs. Rineer's preface notes: "I've chosen photos that inspired me to learn more and hope it will do the same for you" (9). Mission accomplished, Mr. Rineer!

One can learn more about the facility, about volunteer opportunities, or schedule a tour via their website at https://wolfsanctuarypa.org/. Or, if you just need a lovely book that is long on photos and short on text (just enough to tantalize the wolf-curious), you would do a lot worse than to purchase and read this book. It would also make a lovely gift--esp. if you are in a position to follow it up with a visit or donation to the facility. All told, I'd call it a four-star read. Thanks again for the freebie, Schiffer Publishing and Firstreads giveaway program!
Profile Image for Caffeinated Fae.
630 reviews39 followers
April 27, 2018
I received this book from Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.

The highlight of this book is obviously the photos. You can tell that Chuck Rineer is a phenomenal photographer. He was able to show the personality of each wolf that he photographed. It was wonderful to experience those photos & I will have to follow his social media pages so that I don't go through withdrawal. I enjoyed the photographs but the writing was a bit bland. I would have loved to learn more about the wolves but the writing didn't do the wolves justice.

All in all, this will be a great coffee table book to flip through.
150 reviews7 followers
January 16, 2018
This book impressed me, in that it was more than a coffee table photography book. It really showed the lives of the wolves and the depth of emotion in their lives. It also conveyed how important the wolves are to the volunteers of the sanctuary. Instead of just artsy pictures, Rineer is able to capture that which makes these creatures so fascinating, showing a whole range of emotion through the beautiful photos and accompanying stories. A wonderful look into the lives of creatures that captivate people throughout the world.
3,567 reviews38 followers
December 17, 2018
I received this gorgeous book through the Goodreads Giveaway program.

I loved it! The photographs are amazing and the accompanying prose is wonderful. Anyone who loves wolves, or any wildlife, will want to add this book to their home. This volume would be perfect on the shelves of any library, personal or public, in order to appreciate these wonderful animals.

I'm passing it along to my granddaughter, who has had a long love affair with these noble canines.
Profile Image for Martha Brindley.
Author 2 books35 followers
September 5, 2018
Filled with images of wolves at the Speedwell Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. A short but nice coffee table book. Good for animal lovers but just a bit short on narrative. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy.
4 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2018
Absolutely beautiful book filled with educational information about the lives and behavior of wolves. The photographs are technically excellent, but so much more. They capture the setting and feel of the events perfectly. Not only did I enjoy viewing the photographs and learning about the Wolf Sanctuary of PA, I'm now inspired to pick up my camera again.
Profile Image for Claire.
100 reviews2 followers
January 18, 2018
Wolves are my favourite animals and this book captures the majestic nature of the wolves through the camara lens. This is predominantly a picture book, that is set out in chapters with I formative narratives. It is a fabulous insight into the behaviour of the Speedwell Forge Wolves through pictures. The pictures taken by the author Chuck Rineer are fantastic with great compensition which captures the individual personalities of the wolves. Anyone that enjoys looking at stunning pictures of majestic wolves and learning about then will love this book.
I absolutely loved this book, the pictures were stunning and the narratives very informative.
Profile Image for Anne.
Author 15 books285 followers
February 19, 2018
I have been drawn to wolves for several years now, after having visited the Wolf Sanctuary in Ipswich Massachusetts, near where I live. I loved reading every page of this fascinating book, including all the many photos of the wolves from the Pennsylvania sanctuary. It was interesting to learn about how the wolves interact, create dens, and raise the pups. The photographs really brought me in to the stories of these beautiful creatures.
Profile Image for Sharon Tyler.
2,815 reviews40 followers
April 5, 2018
Wolf Sanctuary: The Wolves of Speedwell Forge by Chuck Rineer is both a photography collection and a non fiction book about the wolves of Speedwell Forge Wolf Sanctuary.It is currently scheduled for release on April 28 2018.

Speedwell Forge Wolf Sanctuary is a refuge for displaced wolves in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. Through the images readers can experience wolves at work and play, and encounter their howls and growls close up. Since 2007, Chuck Rineer has photographed the packs in their natural habitat, displaying a connection and respect for their way of life that few of us will experience. See the hidden details of wolf life, and go behind-the-scenes of this special sanctuary. Learn how the newest wolves are integrated into the packs, something rarely seen by human eyes, and follow all the wolves through the different seasons of the year. Full of stunning photographs, stories, and insights into pack behavior, this is a must-have book for those who have been captivated by wolves from afar and long for the chance to see these majestic animals up close and personal.

Wolf Sanctuary: The Wolves of Speedwell Forge has some wonderful photographs and very interesting information about this sanctuary, it staff, and the wolves. It was a well organized and worded collection of information- with some pictures that might seem commonplace, but others that are startling. My daughter is wolf obsessed, and I have always been a fan, so I have done my fair share of wolf research. However, getting to see the current state of a wolf sanctuary, and some of the work and people involved behind the scenes was moving. I enjoyed getting to see all that is involved in the lives of the wolves, and what goes into keeping them safe and happy without encroaching on their natural behaviors. I have a feeling this might become a household favorite, but fear that requests for a road trip will soon follow.
Profile Image for Lisabeth.
245 reviews3 followers
April 11, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher. and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. Stunning photographs of this beautiful animal fill this volume, along with a history of the sanctuary and facts about wolves. Educational and inspiring.
Profile Image for J. d'Merricksson.
Author 12 books50 followers
June 5, 2018
Wolf Sanctuary by Chuck Rineer is a dazzling compilation of photographs that the author took of the wolves at Wolf Sanctuary of PA, a preservation and education facility run by the Darlington family.

There are ten chapters, each with brief written introductions, and full of stunning photos. While there is text at the beginning of each chapter, the bulk is devoted to these majestic beasties. The first chapter introduces the human element- the staff of Wolf Sanctuary. Other chapters focus on topics such as denning, pups, wolfsong, exercise/play, rest/relaxation, and feeding dynamics. It's easy to see the depth and complexity of not just the packs themselves, but of the individual wolves. My favourites were the pics of the pups, and of adults sleeping in the snow, though Thor was my favourite wolf. He's blind, which I can relate to.

This is a perfect gift for any who love wolves, or nature photography in general, and would make a lovely coffee table book.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Schiffer Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Carolyn McBride.
Author 5 books106 followers
July 28, 2018
This is a gorgeous, stunning visual treat. To be allowed a glimpse of these wolves, a window into their lives is an experience most of us will never experience. This is one of those rare coffee-table-style books any wolf enthusiast will adore. And I plan on getting a copy for myself. We see the wolves resting, howling, eating, making a den and bringing up the pups in a combination of colour and black and white photographs. We feel as though we are there, and it was not hard to imagine the little hairs on the back of my neck lifting with their howls.
I have been fortunate to hear wolves howl in the wild as they hunted, so it didn't require too much imagination to hear these ones.
What a wonderful book!
Profile Image for Jackie Lantern.
150 reviews17 followers
August 3, 2018
The photographs of the wolves are absolutely beautiful. I appreciate the stories within the work, and love the mission of the sanctuary. I especially enjoyed the chapter on the wolves baying at the moon, it’s a subject that speaks volumes to me. An excellent, highly recommended, beautiful work.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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