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A review by lukuisa
To the River: A Journey Beneath the Surface by Olivia Laing
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
3.5
One midsummer morning, Olivia Laing sets out to walk 42 miles the length of the river Ouse, from its source to the sea. Over the week, she reflects back at what the river has seen and how history, literature and mythology interlink with it. It’s about how past is a part of the landscape; how a river and it’s surroundings may change, but still remain the same. It’s also very much about Virginia Woolf, who drowned herself in the river Ouse.
How meditative and lovely this book was! Somehow it fitted my mood well in this rainy and gloomy October weather, but at the same time it got me miss the summertime and strolling around in nature. It was melancholic at parts but also amusing.
Laing is such a terrific writer! I can’t help but admire the extent of Laing’s interests and knowledge what comes up to writing. Still, if she had went deeper into certain topics, I’d have loved this book more. It also occasionally meandered a bit too slowly for my taste.
How meditative and lovely this book was! Somehow it fitted my mood well in this rainy and gloomy October weather, but at the same time it got me miss the summertime and strolling around in nature. It was melancholic at parts but also amusing.
Laing is such a terrific writer! I can’t help but admire the extent of Laing’s interests and knowledge what comes up to writing. Still, if she had went deeper into certain topics, I’d have loved this book more. It also occasionally meandered a bit too slowly for my taste.