Reviews
Phenomenal: A Hesitant Adventurer's Search for Wonder in the Natural World by Leigh Ann Henion
karissakate's review against another edition
2.0
This book was okay... It has a really promising premise and I like the idea behind it, but I had a hard time connecting with the narrator and felt it was just too wordy. I understand the whole 'it's a journey' thing but I could've done with a little more action.
alittlebithopeful's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
This was one of the books I packed when I left to walk across Spain: it seemed fitting, after all, to read about wonder when I was off on a pilgrimage.
Except...I got to page 153, thought about it, and left the book in Puente la Reina.* It turns out that reading about other people's adventures is not as interesting as having your own.
There are a couple of things going on here. The first, of course, is Henion's quest to observe natural wonder in the world. The second is her struggle to make sure she has an identity beyond Archer's mother. She goes on safari, visits an ice hotel, watches an eclipse, learns about phosphorescent water. The experiences range from envy-inducing to awe-inspiring.
And yet I struggled to maintain interest. I'm not entirely sure why, but I would guess that this was in part because I didn't connect well with her efforts to figure out who she was as, and apart from, a parent (sympathised with -- but didn't connect with); in part, too, it sometimes felt like there was...too much? Too many manufactured experiences? I'm not sure. If I were not having phenomenal experience after phenomenal experience, Henion says, I would not be parenting in this way. If I were not being led by wonder, it is not the source from which I would teach (195). What does that say, though? Why are all these such...scheduled incidences of 'wonder'? Why is it 'wonder' to see lions in the Serengeti but not to see deer in the NC mountains? What about the wonder of a saturated, orange-pink sunset?
Towards the end of the book, Henion mentions trying to see coral spawning. The failed attempt—which required night swimming with sharks—was somewhat disheartening... (236). We don't hear much more about this, presumably because she didn't see the spawning (because there's guesswork involved in the timing). But why is night swimming with sharks not a phenomenal experience in and of itself?
I liked some of the writing; I loved learning about these different places and phenomena; at the end of the day, it wasn't really the book for me, but I expect it will work well for many others. (And perhaps there is a pilgrim in Spain reading it right now...)
*I checked first to make sure I could get a copy at my library, and I finished the book when I got home. This is also not as huge a reflection of Phenomenal as it could be—I left Jane Eyre, my last book, behind eventually, and that's my longstanding favourite book.
I received a free copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway.
Except...I got to page 153, thought about it, and left the book in Puente la Reina.* It turns out that reading about other people's adventures is not as interesting as having your own.
There are a couple of things going on here. The first, of course, is Henion's quest to observe natural wonder in the world. The second is her struggle to make sure she has an identity beyond Archer's mother. She goes on safari, visits an ice hotel, watches an eclipse, learns about phosphorescent water. The experiences range from envy-inducing to awe-inspiring.
And yet I struggled to maintain interest. I'm not entirely sure why, but I would guess that this was in part because I didn't connect well with her efforts to figure out who she was as, and apart from, a parent (sympathised with -- but didn't connect with); in part, too, it sometimes felt like there was...too much? Too many manufactured experiences? I'm not sure. If I were not having phenomenal experience after phenomenal experience, Henion says, I would not be parenting in this way. If I were not being led by wonder, it is not the source from which I would teach (195). What does that say, though? Why are all these such...scheduled incidences of 'wonder'? Why is it 'wonder' to see lions in the Serengeti but not to see deer in the NC mountains? What about the wonder of a saturated, orange-pink sunset?
Towards the end of the book, Henion mentions trying to see coral spawning. The failed attempt—which required night swimming with sharks—was somewhat disheartening... (236). We don't hear much more about this, presumably because she didn't see the spawning (because there's guesswork involved in the timing). But why is night swimming with sharks not a phenomenal experience in and of itself?
I liked some of the writing; I loved learning about these different places and phenomena; at the end of the day, it wasn't really the book for me, but I expect it will work well for many others. (And perhaps there is a pilgrim in Spain reading it right now...)
*I checked first to make sure I could get a copy at my library, and I finished the book when I got home. This is also not as huge a reflection of Phenomenal as it could be—I left Jane Eyre, my last book, behind eventually, and that's my longstanding favourite book.
I received a free copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway.
curiosityp's review against another edition
4.0
Based on the present tense and detail of the events, this reads like undated journal entries. But I could have done without the "motherhood as martyrdom" substory.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed "Eat, pray, love" by Elizabeth Gilbert because this book has a similar setup of theme-to-place relevance and overall cohesion.
I've put a few of her phenomena on my Curiosity List (aka bucket list). Truly inspiring!
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed "Eat, pray, love" by Elizabeth Gilbert because this book has a similar setup of theme-to-place relevance and overall cohesion.
I've put a few of her phenomena on my Curiosity List (aka bucket list). Truly inspiring!
kae76's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this immensely - a gentle and honest journey, intertwined with fascinating and enthralling facts.
kaydee's review against another edition
5.0
Mother, traveller, nature lover. I connected with this book on so many levels. My heart broke as Leigh Ann recounted that tumultuous period of early motherhood and soared as she experienced each of the phenomena she sought out in her search for wonder.
A truly inspiring read. One that I'll be dipping back into again and again.
A truly inspiring read. One that I'll be dipping back into again and again.
xilaalix's review against another edition
3.0
There were moments in this book that resonated for me particularly being a new mom but overall I found it lacking. Her descriptions of the phenomena she sought out did not live up to their grandeur. Mostly I was irritated by how condescending she could be about fellow travelers and her clear distaste for science.
kdnowak's review
The events discussed seemed so cool in real life yet I was so bored reading about them and dreaded picking the book up. I would give it a 2.5
adamfortuna's review against another edition
2.0
I went in expecting a memoir about travel interwoven into someone life - which is what this was. However, it seemed disjointed, with explorations into various trips the author took over many years. The attempts to join the trips in a larger idea fell short for me. I did finish this wanting to visit a number of places I’d never seriously considered before.
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