The Call

The book: The Call, by Yannick Murphy.

The reAction: Excellent.

What I was thinking as I read it: I thought Yannick was a man. I wonder where in Vermont this takes place?

Why I'm writing like this: the book is set up this way.

The Call is from the point of view of a veterinarian--preferably large animals, though he'll put down a cat if you appeal to his conscience. Each section begins with the word "Call" and then a brief description of where he's off to. The subcategories are usually "action" ,"result", "what I say", "what I was thinking." Occasionally Murphy lets us in on what other people are saying on or after these calls. This may seem like a schtick that could get old, but it doesn't. It also could make you think the book's just about a middle-aged family man going about his days--and it sort of is--but there are a couple of mysteries and a near-tragedy.

For one, the doctor's son is in a hunting accident and two, he has repeated, somewhat humorous encounters with what might be a drone from the nearby air force base or might just be a spacecraft. Both his efforts to find the wayward hunter who shot his son and to get to the bottom of the spacecraft mystery are greeted with typical Yankee terseness because of course he asks his neighbors about both. When he's not driving owners and their sheep to the doctor (or tricking his wife into doing this), or dealing with a collicking horse, or putting down a recalcitrant horse that refuses to face the way it's owner thinks it should and ends up toppling into its grave on top of the thoughtful owner, the doctor is swimming, pondering life, trying to keep his family safe and together, and hoping for the blessing of a life well spent. It is only when a new visitor shows up that the good doctor finds his real calling (yes, pun intended). The story doesn't really take a turn with the appearance of the stranger, but the doctor's character is reinforced.

The writing is believably sparse, but thoughtful, humorous, and surprisingly descriptive for such a limited format. Here's a typical example (if any of the book can be called typical):

Call: castrate draft horse

Action: Pulled out emasculators, castrated draft horse.

Result: Draft horse bled buckets...Owner said she had never seen so much blood. It's okay, he's got a lot of blood, I said. She nodded. She braided the fringe on her poncho, watching the blood.

Thoughts on the drive home: What's the point of a poncho if it doesn't cover your arms?
What he wife cooked for dinner: Nut loaf.

What I ate for dinner: Not nut loaf.

This is a quick, engaging read and I'm sorry I ever thought Yannick was a man. That would be underselling how well the author gets inside her main character.