'Memories of a Moon Map: the Extraordinary Adventures of an English Setter Pack' is a magical realism book written by established author Nina Green and endorsed by the English Setter Association of England. All proceeds go to The English Setter Association/Rescue charity. Since the book was launched it has been adopted also by the ESA of Australia, and the English Setter Club of Canada, and is now being distributed in Canada and the USA.
The 'characters' are the author's own pack of seven English Setters and their photographs illustrate each chapter heading. Their adventures draw inspiration from real-life events, but are related as though interpreted by the Setters themselves, as the author explores how they might make sense of their world.
Every society has its myths, legends and beliefs, and this Setter culture is no exception. The chief narrator is Ben, late show champion and Pack patriarch, who in Part One tells his story from beyond the grave.
In Part Two he introduces the present members who then relate their own adventures.
Some chapters are dark, some funny and others deeply moving. This is not a human story told by humans, but Setter tales as they might tell them to each other to keep the Pack Chronicles alive.
Neither is it a particular interest book restricted to dog lovers; on the contrary it can be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates an unusual and thought-provoking read.
In fact this book can be read and enjoyed at several different levels and by diverse age groups. Whilst on the surface it may appear whimsical and even lightweight and be read purely for entertainment, at a deeper level the pack's exploits explore real issues: the 'Biggies' that intrigue and affect everyone like Loss, and Death, and what may lie beyond. The author's motivation for writing this book stems from several pertinent issues. Firstly, having suffered loss herself, she was prompted to write a book that would comfort and uplift those who had suffered bereavement. The fact that Ben narrates the story from beyond the grave in itself symbolizes the concept of a reality beyond physical death, be it canine or human.
Then throughout the book a number of archetypal motifs are introduced - for example Grey Pelt, the Spirit of the Last Wolf in Britain - to reinforce this theme. Despite being intensely moving in parts, the book on the whole conveys an upbeat vision of hope and renewal. As Ben puts it: 'there is no end as we know it, only another beginning'.
The second issue addressed via the context of the pack's adventures is the extent to which domestic dogs today are still influenced by their ancient lupine ancestors.
For instance the author explores the origin of the pack's intense bonding, their loyalty to each other and to their Pack Leader(s) - and the remarkable courage shown when either is under threat. Through their exploits she explores how the Setters themselves might see these distant forbears, and how they figure in their myths and dreams.
These issues are addressed via the archetype of 'Grey Pelt: The Spirit of the Last Wolf' and his impact on the life of the pack. At a time of increased awareness of dog behaviour, the author feels there is a need to understand that our pampered and much-loved pets are still instinctively pack animals, and that unless this is understood by capable human 'pack leaders' problems may arise. This is based on certain widely-accepted principles: a pack does not necessarily entail large numbers of dogs, on the contrary one pet and its owner in canine eyes constitutes a pack.
It is obvious that a dog cannot control or navigate our high-tech world, but if the human owner fails to assume the rank of pack leader the dog will feel the need to do so, leaving it frustrated and unhappy at being unable to fulfil its perceived duty. This is something the author feels all dog-owners should be aware of, and address. Obviously where a number of dogs are involved the risk of pack mentality taking over and the dogs running out of control is greater. The concept of human owner as pack leader is explored in this book through the character of Alpha-She, and to a lesser extent that of Alpha-He, and also by revealing the instinctual need for dogs to form and live within a hierarchical structure. This is illustrated via the character of Ben as Top Dog, and later, his son Joey as his successor. The author shows how domestic pack members relate to, and function within, their particular rank and those of the other members, and that a well-managed pack is a happy one. Fiction here is used to put over serious concepts in an enjoyable and easily digestible way.
Above all however, this book provides a heart-warming insight into the life and culture of a family of English Setters, and an exploration of how they might think, talk and interact with each other and their human pack leaders. This is a crossover book that can be enjoyed by any age-group and interpreted on several different levels.
