The Hunt Out of the Thicket

August 29, 1990
The quality of the 10 stories in this first collection will be best appreciated by readers who like hunting and fishing. Others may be put off by Adler's depiction of hunting as an almost mystical experience and his romanticization of violence. In precise word-paintings Adler evokes the deep woods, tidal flats, seacoast and people of both his native Georgia and South Carolina's low country. The hunt here often serves as pretext for delving into human relationships, as in ``Two Moons,'' a tale of a lover's heartbreak, or ``The Twin Oaks,'' about a small, independent farm's wrenching takeover by an agribusiness corporation. Several fine stories sensitively explore racial conflict or harmony. In ``Night Casting,'' the camaraderie of shrimping unites two white boys and an old black fisherman. A real estate agent's racist attitude gives another strong story, ``Unimproved Property,'' its ironic title.

August 1, 1990
Adler obviously writes about what he knows and loves: hunting, fishing, and farming in the low country of Georgia and South Carolina. With little emphasis on plot or character development, these stories are uncluttered, sensitive, thoughtful reflections that thematically focus on relationships between young and old, male and female, black and white. Realistic dialog and artful description are highlights, and the affection Adler has for this area and its inhabitants is apparent on every page. Recommended.-- Dorothy Golden, Georgia Southern Univ ., Statesboro

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