mayatatiana's review
5.0
I would give it 6 stars if I could! I didn't even know my soul was so tired until this book woke it back up! Dillard's writing is magical and makes you look at the "ordinary" with fresh eyes and excitement. It was like washing my face with freezing cold water. A paragraph about a sheet of ice moved me to tears. When I finished it I just flipped back to the beginning and started it over again. I can't wait to go back and read all the full books that these excerpts are from. (Pro tip: Read it out loud if you can.)
andforgotten's review against another edition
4.0
Being a 'best of' collection, the essays included in The Abundance lack the thematic and narrative structure I think would be present in the original collections. It does, however, serve as a great introduction to Annie Dillard's work by including essays on a broad spectrum of topics. I was especially fascinated by her nature writing, which is, I think, where her prose is the most thrilling and electrifying. I will definitely find more of that to read in the future.
ohnoflora's review against another edition
5.0
The jump between essays from different collections can be a little jarring - going from the sublime "Paganism" to the smaller scale pieces about her childhood, for example. However, the quality of the writing, the imperative to look (really look) and see (really see), more than makes up for this.
I don't quite gel with her more theist religious pieces but I appreciate the quest she takes us on.
I don't quite gel with her more theist religious pieces but I appreciate the quest she takes us on.
torydoughty's review
5.0
I adore Dillard’s writing, and this collection of essays was no exception. The way she sees the life around her is enchanting, and the way she describes it is absolutely magical.
sarahelisewrites's review against another edition
5.0
Dillard's writing always astounds me with its thoroughly researched ties to history and science. She is uniquely capable of telling her personal experience through lenses as broad as the collective viewing of the eclipse, Arctic exploration, and her time spent living in Virginia. She brings the human element into every topic she researches.
Some of these essays were already familiar to me; others were new. Each was brilliant.
Some of these essays were already familiar to me; others were new. Each was brilliant.