Book Thoughts:The Zen of Dale, Tales of a Free-Range Historian

Welcome to the first of (hopefully) many "Book Thoughts" where I will be giving my thoughts on literary works I've read. The books in these types of posts are not my own. I hesitate to use the word "Review" as these are so often accompanied by scores and ratings that many see without looking at the meat of said review. It's very difficult to gauge what those in my audience will or will not like. My own score may not reflect the score of others. As such, I will refrain from giving a “score” and will not consider this a proper “review” so much as my thoughts about the book. If you would like to join me on my reading journey, feel free to pick up any of the books mentioned.

First up, we have "The Zen of Dale, Tales of a Free-Range Historian" by Dale M. Gray. Available at Amazon.

"The Zen of Dale Tales of a Free-Range Historian" By: Dale M. Gray

I must begin my discussion of this book with full disclosure. I'm personally related to and connected to the author, and have known him all of my life. Some of the stories within this novel are tales I've heard before, though most are new to me. Take everything I say with that context and form your own conclusions.

This book is a non-fictional autobiography of sorts, regaling the reader with eclectic tales from the author's life, not always in chronological order. Think of it as a television series written a few decades past where each episode doesn't necessarily follow from the last but there is still a general story running throughout that references itself from time to time. This isn't a suspense thriller, action novel, or daring romance. This is raw life.

What is this book's audience? If you're a historian, archaeologist, land surveyor, pilot car driver, or a car mechanic (particularly a Toyota mechanic) this may be right up your alley. There are many terms regarding archaeological finds (giant bifaces which are double sided stone tools, but in my ignorance sounds like an insult) and mechanical parts (cam-shafts, heli-coils, flex plates, fly wheels, and torque converters to name a few) that are not explained, relying on the reader's knowledge (or ability to use google) to understand the context and what's going on.

As this is a story about real-life with true events, not every story has a happy ending. A fact we're made well aware of with the very first chapter. Some events are disturbing, like his tale of dentistry implants and the surgery required. Not every story has perfect setups or payoffs. Not every character or event that happens has a continuing through-line or plot significance. Such is life. Sometimes things just happen. This book doesn't try to sugar coat that or trick you otherwise. I can respect that.

Much of the book is devoted to the author's ongoing vehicle troubles and subsequent maintenance. Something many in the rural countryside can relate to. Sometimes, the author is acting as a pilot car driver, protecting large trucks with heavy loads and guiding them through hazardous situations. Other times, the author is out in the wilderness, surveying archaeological sites in order to preserve history.

As can be expected, the author comes across many interesting individuals in his life. These interactions range from briefly talking to a stranger, to ending up uniting an entire gas station to aid in his quest to start his vehicle's engine. It's remarkable to hear the numerous backgrounds of some of these individuals. One particularly powerful story regales us with a conversation the author had with a Japanese man who lived through the Japanese internment camps within the USA during WWII. A chapter that, if you only read one chapter, read this one (A Voice from the Past). No, it's not the preachy or condemning passage many might think. It presents a clear evil, then presents a clear good in a way only someone who actually lived through such an event could.

Perhaps my favorite tale within this book involves the author trekking through so much wild undergrowth (Manzanita) that the ground was six feet below them. Yes, the author and his workmate were walking six feet above the ground, suspended by interwoven branches and leaves of manzanita and snowbrush. And they were supposed to record artifacts laying on the ground and relocate them. I won't spoil what they ended up doing. However, suffice it to say, it was a rather grueling hike for all involved and one I wouldn't want to do.

There are many humorous tales spread throughout the book. One that comes to mind is when the author's dentist called to confirm his appointment the next day. The problem was, the author was currently standing atop a mountain in a neighboring state. You can imagine how that conversation went.

Rather than spoil anything more or give too much away, I'll simply conclude my thoughts here. If you're looking for a quirky and independently published book filled with the raw thoughts of a country man about his life, and don't mind the fact that it wasn't sent through the professional editing processes a publisher would provide, then this is the book for you. Especially if you're a mechanic, archaeologist, historian, or you just love wandering around in the outdoors. This may mean more to someone who lives within the countryside of Idaho, Oregon, or California as much of the story takes place in this region. However, I'm sure many others could relate. If this sounds interesting to you, click the link here to check out the book for yourself. Or type in/copy "https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Dale-Tales-Free-Range-Historian/dp/B0BVPLD4B7" into the URL bar.