thebacklistborrower's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
Like most in Canada, I grew up lake swimming. In mountainous BC, this resulted in few options: small, high-altitude lakes like Nancy Greene and Champion, large glacier-fed lakes like the Slocan and Kootenay Lakes, and the “warmest tree-lined lake in Canada,” Christina Lake (citation needed, but never, ever found XD). But this has been limited to the warm summer months.
At 28, Lee found herself pursuing a degree in Berlin, and struggling. In Turning, we learn her mixed history with swimming and lakes, but also her determination to swim 52 lakes near Berlin in an effort to help her anxiety, and her heartbreak, and improve her self-confidence. “Turning” is a reference to the lifecycle of a lake through the year -- the warm water at the top in summer, how it sinks and mixes through the fall to freeze in the winter, and then mixes again through the spring. Framed around these four stages and seasons, Jessica’s mental and physical health transforms as well, as she jumps in lake after lake, season by season, traversing blistering summer heat and breaking through ice.
I love Lee’s writing style. The combination of human and natural history, entwined with her own personal history, makes for a very interesting, yet still relaxing read. Her descriptions of the different water on her body throughout the year were intriguing and inspiring, prompting me to push the limits of my comfort zone, dunking in colder water, later in the year than I previously had.
There’s a large community of lake dunkers around Nelson (impressive, as Kootenay Lake is thrillingly cold at the best of times), and I already have a queue of people to loan this book to.
Having caught up on Lee’s books, I now have to eagerly wait for spring 2024 for her next book to be published: Dispersals: On Plants, Borders, and Belonging. Can’t wait!
paulap's review
medium-paced
3.0
Very well written and interesting thoughts. But also meandering and with a lack of focus or direction at times.
pja_gsh's review
4.0
Reading this memoir reminded me of a childhood favourite, Ruskin Bond. While he wrote of the crisp mountain air, she writes about the temperamental Berlin lakes. I love Jessica's honesty about the messy parts of her life- the strong associations she makes with every part of her journey - from packing the boiled eggs to stepping out of the lake and making small talk- It's all so deliberate and raw. The descriptions are vivid and at such a molecular level, if that makes sense? I do wish it was a bit more metaphorical and less literal at points. All in all, it is a book that pushes me to jump on my bike and explore the wild side of Berlin's landscape. Recommended!
redheadreading's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Reflective. I love all of Jessica J Lee's associations - taking the core challenge of swimming 52 lakes in a year we also explore nature writing, linguistics, history and more.
blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review against another edition
3.0
This is a quiet book, and I started it when I was in need of a quiet book. By the middle of the book I was no longer in the mood for a quiet book, I was looking for a bit of action, but I didn't want to give up on this book simply because my mood had changed. I kept with it, and it remained a quiet book throughout.
Spoiler
The whole thing with the failed relationship with Jacob was a red herring. The author seemed to indicate there would be something, SOMETHING, that made the relationship fail, because clearly it was in the past, but when the big moment arrives it's simply that he doesn't seem that into her. Bit of a letdown.annalopes's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
malloryfreeberg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0