Reviews
The Ponies At The Edge Of The World: A story of hope and belonging in Shetland by Catherine Munro
lialeestmeer's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
oceanxbluess's review
emotional
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Catherine Munro, studying the concept of domestication for her Phd, moves to the Shetland Islands to research the connections between Shetland crofters & their ponies and sheep.
She discovers the unique relationships the islanders have with the animals & the importance of allowing them to grow into hardy, independent individuals, whilst still maintaining healthy bonds and respect for both animal and human.
At first moving from bustling city life, where everyone keeps to themselves, to the community-focused Whalsay, (just off mainland Shetland) where every door is left unlocked for unannounced guests to visit at any time of day & the only way on or off the island is a questionably small car ferry, Munro starts her island journey feeling like she doesn't belong.
Whilst carrying out her research, connecting with neighbours, crofters & pony breeders and getting used to island life, she finds herself unwinding from the stress of chasing jobs and the trauma of a personal loss and begins to find peace in walking the island, reconnecting to the natural world and ultimately healing in nature - with the wind & waves as her medicine.
Learning to notice, to look up and see interactions between pairs of seabirds or a herd of sheep welcoming a newcomer, Munro learns the ability to read the nature and landscape around her - knowing the time of day by which birds are calling, knowing when a storm is due by where the ponies & sheep decide to take shelter, knowing where the biggest swarms of fish are by where the birds are circling the water.
This was a beautiful book, a love letter to Shetland and all the animals and people that live there. The Shetland Islands have now been added to my life list of places to visit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
prosewhore's review
4.0
Thank's to Netgalley I got to read a copy of this wonderful book!
It was fantastic to follow the author on her journey to build a new home in Shetland, where she'd decided to lead her thesis on the island's beloved ponies. She truly emphasises the importance of a back and forth relationship with our beautiful nature that gives us so much. Every page resonated with love and care, history and tradition. From the relationship she's built with the native islanders, with the ponies, the sheep, to the landscape and weather. Her approach to domestication is one that is gentle and understanding rather than violent and using strength. Catherine Munro highlights that it is possible and even preferable to raise animals in a place that is already theirs, where their instincts will be stronger (thanks to past generations who will pass down their knowledge to their little ones) all the while keeping in mind their deeper needs, only teaching them what is necessary and with profound respect.
I was glad to gain knowledge on a part of the world I knew next to nothing about but really wound up mesmerized by the loving exchanges between the different species bringing a true sense of symbiosis between man and nature. The author shares a beautiful journey to try and understand the island and all the living creatures that compose it.
Highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed "Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland" by Sarah Moss. This is also not quite a travelogue, not quite a memoir but a pleasant and insightful mix of both!
It was fantastic to follow the author on her journey to build a new home in Shetland, where she'd decided to lead her thesis on the island's beloved ponies. She truly emphasises the importance of a back and forth relationship with our beautiful nature that gives us so much. Every page resonated with love and care, history and tradition. From the relationship she's built with the native islanders, with the ponies, the sheep, to the landscape and weather. Her approach to domestication is one that is gentle and understanding rather than violent and using strength. Catherine Munro highlights that it is possible and even preferable to raise animals in a place that is already theirs, where their instincts will be stronger (thanks to past generations who will pass down their knowledge to their little ones) all the while keeping in mind their deeper needs, only teaching them what is necessary and with profound respect.
I was glad to gain knowledge on a part of the world I knew next to nothing about but really wound up mesmerized by the loving exchanges between the different species bringing a true sense of symbiosis between man and nature. The author shares a beautiful journey to try and understand the island and all the living creatures that compose it.
Highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed "Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland" by Sarah Moss. This is also not quite a travelogue, not quite a memoir but a pleasant and insightful mix of both!
myliteraryshelf's review
4.0
TW: Pregnancy Loss
Catherine moves to Shetland as part of her research for her PhD, studying the relationships between animals and humans. This is a beautiful account of her time among the islanders, both human and animal.
The nature writing is exquisite, particularly the descriptions of the weather and sky. She introduces the reader to a range of Shetland wildlife and domestic animals; puffins, otters, seals, sheep, and of course Shetland ponies. We learn of the connections between the land and the people who live there and their relationships with their animals.
The Ponies at the Edge of the World is a celebration of the symbiotic relationship between animals and humans. The healing and restorative power of surrounding yourself in the natural world is a common thread throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, although I hadn't realised before reading that the loss mentioned would be a miscarriage. As this is a sensitive topic for me, I skipped these pages - but this did not detract at all from my overall delight in the book.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC.
Catherine moves to Shetland as part of her research for her PhD, studying the relationships between animals and humans. This is a beautiful account of her time among the islanders, both human and animal.
The nature writing is exquisite, particularly the descriptions of the weather and sky. She introduces the reader to a range of Shetland wildlife and domestic animals; puffins, otters, seals, sheep, and of course Shetland ponies. We learn of the connections between the land and the people who live there and their relationships with their animals.
The Ponies at the Edge of the World is a celebration of the symbiotic relationship between animals and humans. The healing and restorative power of surrounding yourself in the natural world is a common thread throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, although I hadn't realised before reading that the loss mentioned would be a miscarriage. As this is a sensitive topic for me, I skipped these pages - but this did not detract at all from my overall delight in the book.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC.
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