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chris_dech's review against another edition
4.0
Quality poems depicting childhood memories, maturation and a sense of gradual understanding about what life is like.
juliacallan's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
dullshimmer's review
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I had kind of a mixed experience with Seamus Heaney's Death of a Naturalist. There were a number of poems that I did really like, or at least found very powerful. There were also a number that just didn't really hit me very much at all.
The ones that I really enjoyed or found striking were Digging, Follower, and Mid-Term Break. There were others that I liked to some degree or another, but these three stood out the most to me. Three out of a whole collection of poems isn't super amazing for me.
I think that a large part of it is the topic of his work. It's a very farming and agriculture centered poetry. While there are poems on the raw beauty of nature like in the poem Waterfall, much of it is not and is more centered on the growing of crops, the various animals around a farm, or miscellaneous other events (like finding a rat on the walk home) that just didn't really resonate with me that much.
The ones that I really enjoyed or found striking were Digging, Follower, and Mid-Term Break. There were others that I liked to some degree or another, but these three stood out the most to me. Three out of a whole collection of poems isn't super amazing for me.
I think that a large part of it is the topic of his work. It's a very farming and agriculture centered poetry. While there are poems on the raw beauty of nature like in the poem Waterfall, much of it is not and is more centered on the growing of crops, the various animals around a farm, or miscellaneous other events (like finding a rat on the walk home) that just didn't really resonate with me that much.
issyharvey's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Death
iainiainiainiain's review against another edition
5.0
Favourites: Digging, An Advancement of Learning, Ancestral Photograph, For the Commander of the Eliza, The Diviner, Scaffolding, Personal Helicon
cartimandua's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death and Child death
leasummer's review against another edition
2.0
This rating is based on my view of the book and not the skill of the poet.
This poet was recommended by a friend. After I checked this one out, solely based on the word “naturalist”, she said this was her least favorite.
I would say I have a different view of the word naturalist. This looks at family, farming and to the ocean after schooling, assuming it’s chronological. Also lost me at drowning kittens.
Recommended by CW
This poet was recommended by a friend. After I checked this one out, solely based on the word “naturalist”, she said this was her least favorite.
I would say I have a different view of the word naturalist. This looks at family, farming and to the ocean after schooling, assuming it’s chronological. Also lost me at drowning kittens.
Recommended by CW
tearsinmylatina_eyes's review against another edition
5.0
He is a real people's poet. None of this vain romantic stuff. We like digging in the dirt and mourning our losses and reminiscing our childhood. Oh wait is that romantic?