Allreaders.com
Author Ralph Scherder booklist (click here)

Book Review By Alice Platt
The Taxidermist's Son by Ralph Scherder

Growing up in western Pennsylvania, Ralph Scherder was attracted to the wild outdoors from when he was young enough to wear Spider-Man snow boots. With his father's taxidermy shop located in the basement directly below his bedroom, Ralph easily becomes familiar with every detail of the taxidermy business. It didn't take long for Ralph to discover that “Psycho” wasn't the best book on tape to listen to while working late at night on dead animals. And the tragedy that befell their shop mouse, Skeeter, will never be forgotten in the Scherder household.

Even though Ralph's dad has advanced insomnia, often causing him to be distant, he does his best to teach Ralph how to hunt, trap, and flyfish, just like his dad taught him. His sister enjoys hunting too, and perhaps one of the most touching moments of the book is when Kathleen finally gets her very own deer.

The Taxidermist's Son tells the real stories behind friends and families hunting in the great outdoors. There's always one that got away; but Ralph makes it evident that what is truly important was right there with you, the whole time -- your family and friends.


Plot & Themes
Outdoors story Yes
Exploring: - animal watching/hunting
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Forest? Yes
Water? Yes
Century: - 1980's-Present

Writing Style
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful - like laughing
Pictures/Illustrations? - None
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book
Back To Main Menu