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karaloyd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
3.0
trulybooked's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
pageturningpaige's review against another edition
4.0
I loved reading this especially outside on the balcony when the weather was a little cooler looking at the birds or looking out the window on the couch. Gave a lot of insight about what plants to use when wanting to fend off certain insects in your garden, not to rake your leaves as to disturb wildlife habitat, and just overall was so cozy.
eileen_critchley's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
4.5
****1/2
In the spring of 2020, I was living in the Dayton, OH area. We had a tree right outside our living room window and I put a bird feeder on it and watched the birds as they came and went. Of course, this was a time when we were all spending plenty of time at home, lots of people got into backyard bird watching. At the time we had to order online bird food from the local Wild Birds Unlimited and they would leave it outside the store for us to pick up. Strange days indeed, but this, along with taking three walks a day with my family, are things I remember about the early COVID days. These were both ways of getting to know our little suburban nature microcosm.. we had rabbits who were unafraid of people being out and about, a beaver living in the (small, manmade) lake by our house, geese and their goslings, and of course our backyard birds. We only lived in that house a year, but ironically probably spent more time physically in that house than any other we have lived in. And I do miss the backyard bird feeders, it's probably the one thing I miss about having a "real" yard. I don't miss the grass and the care and expense involved with it at all.
This book reminded me of all of that. I live in a very similar climate to the author (my Ohio to her Nashville) and many of the animals and trees and flowers she mentioned are the same things I see around here. Now I don't really have a yard (although we still see a fair amount of wildlife, even living closer to the city with a courtyard). I read the bit about daylight savings time ON the day we turned back the clocks. Also, we experienced a similar drought this year, leading to a less colorful fall, which she also mentions. At one point in the book she mentions she is reading "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating" and I can not think of a more perfect book for her to read. This book reminded me in some ways of "An Immense World" with less of a scientific tone; this one is more memoir.
I am also reminded of my father-in-law's large and rural yard, where I have spent so much time it feels like going "home". Some of it is grassy, but much of it is wild, and he always has stories of animals he's seen and things he's growing. It's quiet there and when we visit, I usually find myself on the swing in the backyard, reading.
This book is really beautifully written, the descriptions of nature graceful and well done. It's also about family, relationships, and the passage of time and the changes it brings to our lives. I really appreciated her description of the house she has lived in for decades. I don't have that in my own life, and I can't imagine living in the same house where my daughter was born (we've lived in six houses since then). What a gift that must be in many ways. Not to put too fine a point on it, but it's about seasons and the seasons of life (which is hard to say in a non-corny way but it's true that we are all going through a season) and she talks about relationships of all facets, from neighbors to in-laws. It's beautiful but also quite sad in parts, both on a personal level with her kids leaving the nest and the change that brings, as well as on a global level with climate change and the changes she is observing in her own backyard.
Is there a bit of a judgmental tone here? Yeah, some. Not everyone is going to want to or can live their lives in such a way that minimally disturbs wildlife and she definitely drives the point home that she goes out of her way to do just that. But, I doubt it bothers her at all, this slightly judgmental tone. She is living the "right" way after all.
I enjoyed this book. I also liked the art (by her brother I believe?)--this made me wish I had one of the new color Kindles.
Also, I would like to spend some time in a cabin in the woods. My in-laws' backyard is typically the closest I get to that.
{library, Kindle}
In the spring of 2020, I was living in the Dayton, OH area. We had a tree right outside our living room window and I put a bird feeder on it and watched the birds as they came and went. Of course, this was a time when we were all spending plenty of time at home, lots of people got into backyard bird watching. At the time we had to order online bird food from the local Wild Birds Unlimited and they would leave it outside the store for us to pick up. Strange days indeed, but this, along with taking three walks a day with my family, are things I remember about the early COVID days. These were both ways of getting to know our little suburban nature microcosm.. we had rabbits who were unafraid of people being out and about, a beaver living in the (small, manmade) lake by our house, geese and their goslings, and of course our backyard birds. We only lived in that house a year, but ironically probably spent more time physically in that house than any other we have lived in. And I do miss the backyard bird feeders, it's probably the one thing I miss about having a "real" yard. I don't miss the grass and the care and expense involved with it at all.
This book reminded me of all of that. I live in a very similar climate to the author (my Ohio to her Nashville) and many of the animals and trees and flowers she mentioned are the same things I see around here. Now I don't really have a yard (although we still see a fair amount of wildlife, even living closer to the city with a courtyard). I read the bit about daylight savings time ON the day we turned back the clocks. Also, we experienced a similar drought this year, leading to a less colorful fall, which she also mentions. At one point in the book she mentions she is reading "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating" and I can not think of a more perfect book for her to read. This book reminded me in some ways of "An Immense World" with less of a scientific tone; this one is more memoir.
I am also reminded of my father-in-law's large and rural yard, where I have spent so much time it feels like going "home". Some of it is grassy, but much of it is wild, and he always has stories of animals he's seen and things he's growing. It's quiet there and when we visit, I usually find myself on the swing in the backyard, reading.
This book is really beautifully written, the descriptions of nature graceful and well done. It's also about family, relationships, and the passage of time and the changes it brings to our lives. I really appreciated her description of the house she has lived in for decades. I don't have that in my own life, and I can't imagine living in the same house where my daughter was born (we've lived in six houses since then). What a gift that must be in many ways. Not to put too fine a point on it, but it's about seasons and the seasons of life (which is hard to say in a non-corny way but it's true that we are all going through a season) and she talks about relationships of all facets, from neighbors to in-laws. It's beautiful but also quite sad in parts, both on a personal level with her kids leaving the nest and the change that brings, as well as on a global level with climate change and the changes she is observing in her own backyard.
Is there a bit of a judgmental tone here? Yeah, some. Not everyone is going to want to or can live their lives in such a way that minimally disturbs wildlife and she definitely drives the point home that she goes out of her way to do just that. But, I doubt it bothers her at all, this slightly judgmental tone. She is living the "right" way after all.
I enjoyed this book. I also liked the art (by her brother I believe?)--this made me wish I had one of the new color Kindles.
Also, I would like to spend some time in a cabin in the woods. My in-laws' backyard is typically the closest I get to that.
{library, Kindle}
andreamariaanderson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
I read this book slowly reading the seasonal sections during that season of the year. Pacing in this way made this book a five star read.
asamandawanders's review against another edition
5.0
Gorgeous, lush writing. Gorgeous artwork. One to read slowly.