mattbeatty's review against another edition
5.0
Terry has the rare ability to see her life through series of connected, relatable events. She puts small examples into grand ideas, and makes those pertinent to her readers.
In this, she connects her mosaic studies in Italy with her passionate and thorough study of endangered prairie dogs at Bryce Canyon, and then her humanitarian journey through Rwanda. The portion on prairie dogs is daunting at first--it's truly a transcription of her journal entries--but becomes magical as it weaves each individually named prairie dog into a separate narrative (just be patient).
Her theme here is brokenness, the unavoidability of destruction, but the need to find and define beauty in our own ways, regardless of the things we cannot control.
This is truly a human story at its heart, with the prairie dogs standing in for our own communities, and Rwanda a stark contrast to the peace and privilege we are lucky to experience in our very different nations. Terry is profound and beautiful in her insights.
"Arrogance is arrogance, and cruelty committed to a person or an animal is cruelty." (90)
"The extermination of a species and the extermination of a people are predicated on the same impulses: prejudice, cruelty, arrogance, and ignorance. If we cannot begin to see the world whole in all its connectivity, honoring the sacred nature of life, then I fear we will further fracture and fragment the integrity of our communities, as we continue to cultivate the seedbed of war." (261)
"... The vehicle for joy is Beauty. Beauty is a right--an angelic quality that heals. ... When your environment is beautiful, it gives you dignity. ..." (270)
"What people do is much more important that what people say." (306)
In this, she connects her mosaic studies in Italy with her passionate and thorough study of endangered prairie dogs at Bryce Canyon, and then her humanitarian journey through Rwanda. The portion on prairie dogs is daunting at first--it's truly a transcription of her journal entries--but becomes magical as it weaves each individually named prairie dog into a separate narrative (just be patient).
Her theme here is brokenness, the unavoidability of destruction, but the need to find and define beauty in our own ways, regardless of the things we cannot control.
This is truly a human story at its heart, with the prairie dogs standing in for our own communities, and Rwanda a stark contrast to the peace and privilege we are lucky to experience in our very different nations. Terry is profound and beautiful in her insights.
"Arrogance is arrogance, and cruelty committed to a person or an animal is cruelty." (90)
"The extermination of a species and the extermination of a people are predicated on the same impulses: prejudice, cruelty, arrogance, and ignorance. If we cannot begin to see the world whole in all its connectivity, honoring the sacred nature of life, then I fear we will further fracture and fragment the integrity of our communities, as we continue to cultivate the seedbed of war." (261)
"... The vehicle for joy is Beauty. Beauty is a right--an angelic quality that heals. ... When your environment is beautiful, it gives you dignity. ..." (270)
"What people do is much more important that what people say." (306)
sheev_says_dewitt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
jerrica's review against another edition
3.0
When I got this book for summer reading in June, I didn't know what to think about it. In general I tend to go for fiction, as more elements can be added and it's more exciting. You kind of feel the book's patterns, its foreshadowing.
I get that this book was supposed to be a mosaic itself, but that realization, the "oh, that's cool" didn't keep me interested in the book. In fact, I found the language at times to be sloshy, moving through it slowly and needing breaks to rest my eyes. It's wordy. And why didn't this "TTW", as she called herself, indent the paragraphs as opposed to spaces? It gave me the impression of reading a very, very long newspaper article.
As for the whole mosaic structure, it kind of made the book seem choppy and unfocused rather than "artsy". One minute she's making mosaics in Italy, the next watching prairie dogs from a creaky tower, the next teaching orphan children in Rwanda about Jell-O.
That said, I didn't hate the book. There were times, especially the prairie dog part, that were eye-opening and make you think. She does present valid points on the human condition, points I had to put sticky notes on for my assignment. I'll have a lot to write about, which is always a good thing.
To conclude: if you have a choice, I wouldn't choose this book. It's not as "visceral" and "demanding" as the praise states, at least for me. But if you're forced to read it like I am, it's not the end of the world. Just like TTW can find beauty in a broken world, you too can find enjoyment in a boring book.
I get that this book was supposed to be a mosaic itself, but that realization, the "oh, that's cool" didn't keep me interested in the book. In fact, I found the language at times to be sloshy, moving through it slowly and needing breaks to rest my eyes. It's wordy. And why didn't this "TTW", as she called herself, indent the paragraphs as opposed to spaces? It gave me the impression of reading a very, very long newspaper article.
As for the whole mosaic structure, it kind of made the book seem choppy and unfocused rather than "artsy". One minute she's making mosaics in Italy, the next watching prairie dogs from a creaky tower, the next teaching orphan children in Rwanda about Jell-O.
That said, I didn't hate the book. There were times, especially the prairie dog part, that were eye-opening and make you think. She does present valid points on the human condition, points I had to put sticky notes on for my assignment. I'll have a lot to write about, which is always a good thing.
To conclude: if you have a choice, I wouldn't choose this book. It's not as "visceral" and "demanding" as the praise states, at least for me. But if you're forced to read it like I am, it's not the end of the world. Just like TTW can find beauty in a broken world, you too can find enjoyment in a boring book.
erintby's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the part about Rwanda.. though it was heartbreaking to read.. But I really didn't think a hundred pages on prairie dogs was necessary..
elsiebrady's review against another edition
4.0
I loved how Terry used mosaics to teach how to make beauty from broken pieces. Even the paragraphs on the page were made with space around them to duplicate the feeling of a mosaic. The prairie dogs became important to me through her observation and then how they related to genocide in Rwanda. She shows how broken our world is but there is hope to make something beautiful from the pieces. My favorite quote was from Mother Teresa "If I look at the mass, i will never act. If I look at the one, I will." From Jane Goodall, referring to her beloved gorillas but applicable in many situations: "Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved."
evan_thewilder's review against another edition
5.0
This is my second of Terry’s books, and again she impacts me deeply by profoundly linking stories that are essentially human and stories that arise from the natural world. Her style takes patience, but if you’re willing to come along for the journey, she will help you see in new ways. Halfway through this book I wasn’t sure if I would like it; by the end it feels complete and universally resonant.
If not this book, take the time to read something of Terry’s with open eyes and heart. And create beauty from it.
“Finding beauty in a broken world is creating beauty in the world we find.”
If not this book, take the time to read something of Terry’s with open eyes and heart. And create beauty from it.
“Finding beauty in a broken world is creating beauty in the world we find.”
regferk's review against another edition
4.0
If beauty can be found in Rwanda, it can be found anywhere.
vverbatim7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
2.5
leahccourtney's review
Read everything I needed for class. Not interested in finishing.