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Landmarks
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE 2015 Landmarks is Robert Macfarlane's joyous meditation on words, landscape and the relationship between the two. Words are grained into our landscapes, and landscapes are grained into our words. Landmarks is about the power of language to shape our sense of place. It is a field guide to the literature of nature, and a glossary containing thousands of remarkable words used in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales to describe land, nature and weather. Travelling from Cumbria to the Cairngorms, and exploring the landscapes of Roger Deakin, J. A. Baker, Nan Shepherd and others, Robert Macfarlane shows that language, well used, is a keen way of knowing landscape, and a vital means of coming to love it. Praise for Robert Macfarlane: 'He has a poet's eye and a prose style that will make many a novelist burn with envy' John Banville, Observer "I'll read anything Macfarlane writes" David Mitchell, Independent 'Every movement needs stars. In [Macfarlane] we surely have one, burning brighter with each book.' Telegraph '[Macfarlane] is a godfather of a cultural moment' Sunday Times
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TheEllieMo
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

29 likes1 stack add
review
Emilymdxn
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Pickpick

#24b4monday @Andrew65 @SumisBooks @jb72

I fell asleep with my timer going again 😬 I think I was at about 3 hours so will try again from 0 today and add 3 to it

I always love Robert McFarlane and this book of glossaries of landmark words from various British languages could have been hard to read but never was. His explanatory chapters were magical and have put a LOT of new books on my tbr.

This was my #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

Andrew65 A perennial problem with readathons. 😔 5y
TheAromaofBooks This book sounds amazing!!! Totally stacking it. #BookSpin is actually ruining my goals of reducing my TBR haha 5y
81 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Booksnchill
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Here with the #NashvilleLittens at our quarterly meetup at Landmark Books in Franklin TN- owner Joel is thrilled to see us and is passing out water and preparing a historical talk! @britt_brooke @BooksTeasAndBookishThings @HeatherBookNerd @mom2bugnbee @Elma @clconn17 @LouLouLane

britt_brooke Cool! I‘m bummed to miss this. 😩 5y
Booksnchill @britt_brooke we missed you! 5y
63 likes3 comments
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bookandcat
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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#backpackeurope wrap up continued:

Favorite sites seen:
Northern Lights in Iceland
Szechenyi baths in Hungary
Hagia Sophia in Turkey
Sistine Chapel in Vatican City
Anne Frank House in the Netherlands
Eiffel Tower in Paris
Sagrada Familia aka Gaudi Cathedral in Spain

Least favorite: I don't like to say, but it was awfully hard for me to find tourist-type landmarks in Kosovo and Moldova.

@jenp @BookwormM

Thanks for following my journey! 💙

bookandcat P.S. @jenp @bookworkm I posted my wrap up/special challenge posts on the readers room site in one comment - it told me it was awaiting moderation. Not sure if due to length, a bit.ly link to my Goodreads backpackeurope shelf that I included, or something else. Wanted to give you a heads up. 6y
BookwormM Thanks for taking part 6y
43 likes2 comments
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JillR
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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I‘ve been spoiled for choice for lovely books to give as Christmas gifts this year. Bookish gift #1: this is for my now-retired boss to read with his granddaughter. “Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children...If the right words are spoken, the lost words might return...” This is a stunningly lovely book for all ages - my children love it and my teacher husband is using it in class too ❣(actual book not in database)

LeeRHarry Stunning cover! 😊 7y
50 likes1 comment
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DreesReads
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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I'm late!! Ok technically it isn't one of the #landmarksofmycity because I am in LA and Randy's is in Inglewood. But I live less than a mile from it, and indeed we use it as a landmark. Picture courtesy of Wikipedia--due to a busy intersection, power poles, power lines, and light posts, it is incredibly difficult to get a good picture here without a good lens!

37 likes1 stack add
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quietlycuriouskate
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Pickpick

As much a celebration of other nature-writers that he admires (e.g. Nan Shepherd, Roger Deakin, J.A. Baker, Barry Lopez) as a collection of glossaries of landscape-specific vocabulary, this is a book that adds to the TBR stack.

The only disappointment was that I have no idea how to pronounce many of the words (in Gaelic, for instance) and so they remain bound to the page and not given flight on the breath.

39 likes2 stack adds
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tricours
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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I forgot to post for #landmarksofmycity! This is Slottsfjellet (Castle Mountain) in Tønsberg, considered Norway‘s oldest town, from before 871. The tower on the hill was raised in the 1880s though, all original buildings are now ruins!

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Clwojick
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Another view of my favourite landmark of Thunder Bay. This view is from my apartment building. 💕 #LandmarksOfMyCity #SleepingGiant #ThunderBay #Ontario #Canada

MrBook Beautiful! Look, @BookBabe ! 7y
Clwojick @MrBook we call it The Sleeping Giant. ❤️ 7y
Cplewns Great view! Aren‘t too far from me - I‘m in a suburb of Buffalo (edited) 7y
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Dolly Awesome! I'd love to see how that view changes with different light and seasons. Just beautiful. 7y
Miss_Kim I was just listening on CBC to someone who had just visited Thunder Bay and they said it was amazing! I would love to visit someday! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 7y
Gina WoW 7y
TricksyTails My future view! 😁 7y
113 likes7 comments
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merelybookish
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Giant Blue Bear sculpture outside the Denver Convention Center.
One of many large outdoor sculptures here.
#landmarksofmycity @Clwojick

Clwojick That is absolutely adorable 7y
Bookzombie I like how it‘s peeking in the window! 7y
LibrarianRyan That is my fav a Denver art. I have a pic of him from inside. 7y
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Jess7 Cool! 7y
readordierachel That is charming! 7y
Marchpane So cool! 7y
merelybookish @Clwojick @Jess7 @ReadOrDieRachel @Marchpane There are several playful statues around Denver but he's the most famous. 7y
merelybookish @Bookzombie It is a great effect! 7y
merelybookish @LibrarianRyan I don't know that I've seen him from inside. I will check it out. The only time I was in there was for Comic Con and there was lots to look at! 😊 7y
Joanne1 😍 7y
OrangeMooseReads That‘s neat! 7y
readinginthedark 😯❤️ 7y
kspenmoll Love this! 7y
120 likes14 comments
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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This farmer‘s market is located in a lovely 120 year old building, and is the oldest one in the U.S. we have several, but this one is a true #landmark in Lancaster, PA. #landmarksofmycity #lancastercentralmarket #lancasterpa

Myhusbandhatesreading We live in southern Delaware and love visiting Lancaster!! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Myhusbandhatesreading We‘re all so close together here in the MidAtlantic! 7y
MarriedtoMrT I grew up in Lancaster! Lived there until 8th grade and still have family there. I still miss it sometimes. Really the best of city/small town living plus close(ish) to the coast and NYC. 7y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage @MarriedtoMrT Yes, we have so many great cities nearby and our little city just keeps getting cooler. Let me know if you come back to visit and have time for a coffee! 7y
alisiakae I love Central Market! 7y
Pamwurtzler I was there a couple times traveling for work. It is a cool city. 7y
MarriedtoMrT @BarbaraTheBibliophage It‘s been about 10 years since we‘ve made it back. My grandparents (who lived there) passed away and then we had kids and it got harder to make the trip. We talk about it every year, though, so I‘ll let you know if we finally make it! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft Me too! I used to work about a block away and shop there every week. Now I‘m not there often. 😥 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @MarriedtoMrT I know how that can go. Maybe some year!😍 7y
emtobiasz I miss the market! It was so convenient when I lived in Lancaster city, although the crowds made it hard to do real shopping there. 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @emtobiasz I agree about the crowds. Saturday mornings are the worst! I‘d try to go other times but it wasn‘t always possible. 😎 7y
124 likes12 comments
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alisiakae
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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I have lived in many places: Brisbane, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and now Charlotte, but at heart I am still Pennsylvania Dutch.

And this has always been my favorite hometown landmark. We used to go here for ice cream on hot summer days! #landmarksofmycity #therewasanoldladywholivedinashoe

MinDea So cool! 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Such a great spot! I live in Lancaster County. 😀 7y
kricheal I live near Pittsburgh! 7y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage @kricheal I grew up outside Pgh. 7y
alisiakae @BarbaraTheBibliophage I would pass the shoe every time I ventured to Lancaster! (usually to go to Park City mall, lol). @kricheal I grew up in York, PA, but met my hubby in undergrad at Pitt! One of my sisters is currently at Duquesne. (edited) 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage And I pass the shoe every time I go to York for Target (although we have one closer now). 😀 7y
kricheal @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft I'm about 20 min north of the city on rt 65 Ohio River BLVD. I can see the river Ohio River from my house. 7y
MarriedtoMrT I spent many of my tween/early teen days at Park City Mall! I don‘t remember the boot, though. My mom was born in York but grew up in Lancaster and I lived in Lancaster. I don‘t remember us ever going to York. We left PA for OH when I was 13ish. 7y
Joanne1 There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.... thought of this nursery rhyme as soon as I saw this photo. So cute. 7y
umbrellagirl My dad was PA Dutch, from a small town near Reading. His family has been there since the colonial era 🙂 7y
98 likes10 comments
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alisiakae
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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A landmark that leaves no doubt about what city you are standing in.😜 #landmarksofmycity

DGRachel I love that park!! 7y
Clwojick Hahahahahah! Love it 7y
Chelleo That's so cool! 7y
alisiakae @DGRachel Me too! My daughter is a big fan of the fish fountain. 😊 7y
CoverToCoverGirl Love the signage! 😁 7y
94 likes5 comments
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Marchpane
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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#landmarksofmycity @Clwojick

This jetty is the closest thing to a local landmark we have.

Clwojick Oh my gosh. So pretty 7y
tammysue ❤️ 7y
mcipher Beautiful!! 7y
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Kaye 😮 Wow. My pictures of cows sure aren‘t going to look as good as these. 🐄 7y
Itchyfeetreader Pretty stunning landmark. I can imagine sitting there watching the world go by / reading for hours at a time. Beautiful 7y
RohitSawant Beautiful picture! 😍 7y
SandyW Your photography is beautiful! 7y
146 likes7 comments
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AnneCecilie
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Kaye Very pretty. Thanks for sharing. I might get out tomorrow to snap some photos if the weather cooperates. It was a mix of sleet/ freezing rain today. Very dark and grey out. (edited) 7y
AnneCecilie @Kaye I found the picture on the internet. I had the same weather as you. 7y
Kaye Oh.. well I live in a tiny town without any majorly exciting tourist type stuff, but I don‘t mind wandering around the area to snap some photos. I‘ll see what I can find that may be of interest. How about the oldest house in town, supposedly haunted? I know of another that is haunted. We have a really old church and beautiful scenery if you like grass and trees. I‘ll try to think of something entertaining. (edited) 7y
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Joanne1 Wowsers, that building is incredibly striking. What/where is it? 7y
AnneCecilie @Joanne1 thanks. I think that was the idea when they built it. It's the opera house in Oslo 7y
Joanne1 @AnneCecilie now adding Oslo to the bucket list. 7y
32 likes6 comments
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jpmcwisemorgan
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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The Frost Bank Tower is one of my favorite buildings in Austin. I don‘t recall if I‘ve shared my theory on Litsy but I‘ve decided that if Ghostbusters were to happen in Austin, this is where it would happen. (I took this on my birthday and we weren‘t in the best place for a good picture). #landmarksofmycity

Soubhiville You are totally right! It‘s perfect for Ghostbusters! I‘ve heard it called the owl building as well. 7y
Clwojick Oh that totally a ghostbusters building 😆 7y
Itchyfeetreader We stayed near here when I visited last year - I have lots of attempts trying to get a good photo as the sunset for the same reason! 7y
jpmcwisemorgan @Soubhiville Yes it gets called the owl building. I think that‘s also why I like it, it does have a bit of an owlish look from a certain angle. I‘m glad you and @Clwojick agree with my Ghostbusters theory. 😀 @Itchyfeetreader I take a picture of it nearly every time I‘m near it so I absolutely understand! 7y
47 likes4 comments
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Susanita
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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US Capitol building. #LandmarksofMyCity

Clwojick So beautiful. 7y
36 likes1 comment
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quietlycuriouskate
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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As I've just finished the tagged book... here's a photo of Gloucester cathedral for you.
#landmarksofmycity
@Clwojick

Clwojick 😍 7y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Oh gorgeous 7y
Itchyfeetreader We were posted near Gloucester for a while. Loved the cathedral, such a wonderful place 7y
67 likes3 comments
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squirrelbrain
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Not a landmark as such but a building with a literary connection that I thought you‘d all like....
The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate where Agatha Christie was found hiding 11 days after she disappeared in 1926, thought to be because her husband was having an affair. #agathachristie #landmarksofmycity

Clwojick Oh my gosh. It SO pretty. I'd love to see it in person. 7y
squirrelbrain I actually got married here too - it is beautiful! 7y
LauraBrook Gorgeous! 7y
Itchyfeetreader @squirrelbrain that is a cool claim to fame ! 7y
SilversReviews Love it!! 7y
32 likes5 comments
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Clwojick
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Share a picture of one of your city or towns landmarks #landmarksofmycity

This is my favourite in Thunder Bay. The Sleeping Giant on Lake Superior❤️

AshleyHoss820 We visited Lake Superior for a family vacation when I was 19 & that area is beautiful! I love this picture! 7y
OrangeMooseReads I have lived in Michigan for 33 years and have never seen Lake Superior. 7y
Clwojick @AshleyHoss820 thanks! I actually took the pic from my doctors office. 7y
See All 7 Comments
TricksyTails Home!! 🏡🏔♥️ 7y
AlaMich @OrangeMooseReads OMG it's so beautiful!! We visited the southern coast/UP portion. I would go back often if it weren't such a long drive from Chicago. 7y
OrangeMooseReads @AlaMich I have only ever been to the UP once. My problem is the bridge. I wouldn‘t mind the drive at all, just the bridge. 7y
AlaMich @OrangeMooseReads Yeah, I hear you. It's a looonnnngggg bridge. 7y
109 likes7 comments
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quietlycuriouskate
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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"Books, like landscapes, leave their marks in us."
Sensible man, that Robert Macfarlane!

Cathythoughts That is so interesting, & so true. 👍 7y
40 likes1 stack add1 comment
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quietlycuriouskate
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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So excited! These marvellous people are going to be at Cheltenham Lit. Fest. next week! They're talking about their new book, The Lost Words, released on 5th October (and not in the database yet).

Cathythoughts Someone is excited 👍 7y
rockpools Teensy bit jealous! One day I'll organise myself and the Cheltenham LitFest won't sneak up and take me by surprise. Sadly, it doesn't look like this will be the year 🙁 7y
34 likes2 comments
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quietlycuriouskate
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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What a beautiful morning! #thisisnotamerica it's my back garden in Gloucestershire, England. I started the tagged book last night; it is "about the power of language - strong style, single words - to shape our sense of place."
#septembowie @Cinfhen @Marchpane

batsy Lovely! All that green 💚 7y
Cinfhen So beautiful 💕 7y
72 likes2 comments
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MrSnacks
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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pretty cool service from #bklynbookmatch

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GoneFishing
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane

Books , like landscapes, leave their marks in us. (...) Certain books, though, like certain landscapes, stay with us even when we left them, changing not just our weathers but our climates.

22 likes2 stack adds
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Mairi
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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This book isn't on the catalogue, it's just a wee essay released for Independent Bookseller's Week in the UK. Am essay about the gift of reading. It one of the most beautiful things I've ever handled, perfect and tiny and full of truth. Today has been a weird and devastating day, this has helped.

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Mairi
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Pickpick

A beauty of a book, one to contemplate and savour. It's about words and nature and the relationship we have with both and relationship they have with each other. It's littered not just with glossaries of place words but references to other books, sure to increase you TBR list dramatically.

3 likes1 stack add
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Mairi
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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"I had a strong sense of darkness rising, of the winter solstice not far distant, and of the world as disturbed."

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SusanInTiburon
Landmarks | Robert Macfarlane
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Reading this wondrous book about language and place: how having a specific name for a natural feature allows us identify it, see it, know it, and cherish it. Ex: "smeuse", a gap under a hedge made by the passage of a small animal. Next time you see one, think about how the word changes your world.

BestOfFates I have already told two people about smeuse! 9y
brendanmleonard I love books about language so I gotta check this out! 9y
Ms.Story What an interesting blurb! I'm intrigued and must see if my library has this one! 9y
28 likes12 stack adds3 comments