melissabeth's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed experiencing the National Parks through the authors eyes and life experiences
bethgiven's review against another edition
4.0
Some people might think this is gimmicky (twelve national parks in twelve months, then write a book about it!), and others might find it dramatic (this wasn't the get-outdoors book the author expected; instead, it became a coping-with-losing-a-parent-to-cancer book) (I seem to read a lot of those books lately??). Still -- I found myself really enjoying this memoir.
I loved the feeling of bittersweet nostalgia that permeated the book. I found a lot of his grief relatable, and loved that he found healing in being outdoors. I learned a lot about different national parks, monuments, and seashores. I thought there were pieces of prose that were just beautiful. He goes to the parks for both connection with family and for solitude; he goes for hours sometimes and days other times. He goes to the desert and the mountains and the beach and even the city -- it's a thoughtful little portrait of America.
I found myself thinking a lot about this book even while I wasn't listening to it. In our frenzied pace of life, it is such a gift (and a challenge!) to be completely still -- but the parks encourage stillness, if you let them. They encourage us to remember our history. They encourage us to set apart special places. It made me want to go visit a few national parks, or at least to keep learning about them by watching PBS's documentary on them (The National Parks: America's Best Idea).
My only hesitancy in recommending this book unreservedly is that I know there are people who trust my recommendations because they are clean reads, and unfortunately there are a handful of profanities in the "July" chapter ... four or five f-words (more than I usually tolerate) and some s-words. I suppose the author included it because it was from the mouth of a New Yorker and it made him more authentic.
I loved the feeling of bittersweet nostalgia that permeated the book. I found a lot of his grief relatable, and loved that he found healing in being outdoors. I learned a lot about different national parks, monuments, and seashores. I thought there were pieces of prose that were just beautiful. He goes to the parks for both connection with family and for solitude; he goes for hours sometimes and days other times. He goes to the desert and the mountains and the beach and even the city -- it's a thoughtful little portrait of America.
I found myself thinking a lot about this book even while I wasn't listening to it. In our frenzied pace of life, it is such a gift (and a challenge!) to be completely still -- but the parks encourage stillness, if you let them. They encourage us to remember our history. They encourage us to set apart special places. It made me want to go visit a few national parks, or at least to keep learning about them by watching PBS's documentary on them (The National Parks: America's Best Idea).
My only hesitancy in recommending this book unreservedly is that I know there are people who trust my recommendations because they are clean reads, and unfortunately there are a handful of profanities in the "July" chapter ... four or five f-words (more than I usually tolerate) and some s-words. I suppose the author included it because it was from the mouth of a New Yorker and it made him more authentic.
buryman's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.25
zeezeemama11's review against another edition
3.0
I'm just not in a good places to read a loss of a loved one book right now. Tied in beautifully with the importance of national parks and spending time with family. Even have need ideas for new vacation destinations but... Just but.
casehouse's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book. Part memoir, part travelogue, the author went into the project intending it to be about not the history of, but the future of America's National Parks. It spent a lot of time weaving the story of personal events in the author's life through the story of his traveling to visit National Parks over a single year.
hollypablo's review against another edition
4.0
It's been one month since I read Lassoing the Sun, and it's still heavy on my mind. The memoir will stay with me a long time because of my own affection for public lands. If you're an outdoor enthusiast, I suspect you will enjoy this book.
Within a year, Mark Woods visited 12 national parks and spent time with key players of each destination, discussing the origin and future of each park. These people are deeply connected and dedicated to the land. The way Woods pens these encounters, you feel you're walking right alongside them.
We learn briefly about challenges faced. Some examples: how to get more people of color to visit the parks, overcrowding, loss of funding, endangered species and native plants, and how exterior light sources have hindered our ability to truly experience complete darkness and with it, the starry starry night.
Startlingly, they even talk about when it's time to call it quits and abandon a national park. That I wasn't expecting so it makes me eager to visit the particular park in question.
Now on to the feels:
The memoir largely deals with the then-impending loss of his mother. They were an outdoorsy family, and Woods used his time in nature to reflect and pay tribute to the woman who introduced his love for the outdoors. If you're someone who feels emotions deeply as I do, you might find yourself tearing up on a few occasions reading this book.
Early on, Woods alludes that life and death can be found side by side in nature, seen for instance in the Saguaro National Forest where dying cacti can be spotted next to others newly sprouting. It's comforting and hopeful, in some strange way.
Within a year, Mark Woods visited 12 national parks and spent time with key players of each destination, discussing the origin and future of each park. These people are deeply connected and dedicated to the land. The way Woods pens these encounters, you feel you're walking right alongside them.
We learn briefly about challenges faced. Some examples: how to get more people of color to visit the parks, overcrowding, loss of funding, endangered species and native plants, and how exterior light sources have hindered our ability to truly experience complete darkness and with it, the starry starry night.
Startlingly, they even talk about when it's time to call it quits and abandon a national park. That I wasn't expecting so it makes me eager to visit the particular park in question.
Now on to the feels:
The memoir largely deals with the then-impending loss of his mother. They were an outdoorsy family, and Woods used his time in nature to reflect and pay tribute to the woman who introduced his love for the outdoors. If you're someone who feels emotions deeply as I do, you might find yourself tearing up on a few occasions reading this book.
Early on, Woods alludes that life and death can be found side by side in nature, seen for instance in the Saguaro National Forest where dying cacti can be spotted next to others newly sprouting. It's comforting and hopeful, in some strange way.
kayladuford's review against another edition
3.0
Unique perspective, 12 parks in 12 months. Not the most popular parks but each with a unique issue the national parks are facing!
patsaintsfan's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book with the impression that it was about National Parks. Well, it is, but it definitely IS A memoir first. Once I realized (and accepted) that I found myself enjoying it more. I love NP, and I appreciated Mark's journey. Solid 4 stars.