A classic I had never been assigned to read or really had recommended, this 1938 novel was suggested to me by a librarian and I read it chapter by chapter over a number of weeks.

Taking place on "Baxter's Island" in post-Civil War Florida, this follows the bond formed between a boy, Jody Baxter, and a fawn he rescues from the wild and attempts to domesticate. I found it surprisingly touching, with some beautiful passages depicting the ineffable link we may feel between ourselves and nature, especially in the opening and concluding chapters.

A great deal of the dialect used is impenetrably Southern, but this just proved something of an interesting challenge rather than anything too formidable. However, at times I found myself clueless as to what a character had actually just said. These rare moments became comic instead of frustrating, such as when Jody's mother scolds his incorrect grammar with flaws in her own speech.

It's a classic for a reason. Complete and earthy and challenging, I'd recommend it for... just about anyone who hasn't read it yet.