David Kennard (1) (1966–)

This is the second book by David Kennard, describing his working life as one of the few remaining shepherds working the sheep in North Devon. This book deals with the immediate aftermath of the Foot and Mouth outbreak, where farms all around Kennard's had seen their livestock decimated by the disease and then culled to prevent further spread.

In this book more than the first, Kennard really opens your eyes to the many vagaries of fate that will affect the profit to be earned. Here he struggles with low prices thanks to Foot and Mouth, and varying diseases that he has to treat over the course of the year. He also suffers the breaking down of the only farm tractor; one of his older dogs suffers a tumour which thankfully is benign; and one of his flocks is threatened by loose dogs. He also sees a number of his fellow shepherds give up the game for good.

With that backdrop of gloom, you'd think the book would be rather disheartening to read, but Kennard manages to find the humour in many situations and presents a life that, though extremely hard, is extremely rewarding.

The characters of both his children and dogs are greatly developed in this second book, and it is lovely to see them grow up - especially his rather solemn son, Nick.

Out of the dogs, Ernie makes me laugh a great deal, while Greg's descent into old age is heartbreaking. As a working dog, he now only has a couple of seasons left where he is effective, and Kennard describes the difficult decision of trying to replace his best dog with sensitivity and great sadness.

I thoroughly enjoyed this rather simplistic account of shepherding life. It was never going to be a literary classic, but does what it says on the tin very effectively. For those who have enjoyed similar tales by such authors as James Herriot, it will be a welcome addition to the bookshelves.… (mer)

This is a book about a year in the life of a working shepherd. Although the subtitle indicates that it talks about the shepherd and his dogs, the sheepdogs are only one part of the story, which comprises sheep, and the turning of the seasons, and David's family.

It is a warm cosy book that leads you season by season through the usual happenings of a sheep farm. Kennard writes honestly and frankly about how much hard work it involves; how little money he takes; how the work of moments can damage a whole season.

There are touching stories about his sheepdogs, and I think a lot of readers will have sympathy for the plight of Ernie, a young dog who is a little too eager about herding sheep.

Kennard also writes about a few of the sheepdog trials he enters, and how effective his dogs turn out to be.

There is gentle humour and simplistic language which makes it a fast and easy read.

I have my complaints, it was certainly not the perfect book! Kennard's dialogue is stilted and difficult to read without smiling (and for all the wrong reasons!) However, I am willing to cut him some slack because he is not a natural author, and the dialogue is a small part of the overall book.

It was diverting enough for an afternoon's read, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend unless someone specifically wanted a book about sheep herding.… (mer)