Litsy

Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds | Bernd Heinrich

I love when a library hold comes in just in time to start a book club. February will be the first month I‘ll actually be on schedule! 🎉

#naturalitsy

AllDebooks

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Graywacke

Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World | Patrik Svensson

pick

A nice book. Well written, interesting trivia (Aristotle, Freud…no, really, Freud), a wonderful little bit on Rachel Carson, some memoir with dad in Sweden, and a really strange animal that undergoes 3 metamorphoses, whose breeding is practically impossible to study (oh, dear Freud), can live 100 yrs, and is going extinct, but no one knows exactly why. A lot packed in, but Svensson keeps it short and readable. Enjoyed this with #naturalitsy

AllDebooks

batsy Intriguing review! And love the image. Adding it to my list 🙂 3d

Bookwomble Beautiful painting 3d

AllDebooks That painting is stunning 😍 Great review x 3d

Graywacke @batsy @Bookwomble @AllDebooks the painting is by Kimura Buzon. The image is from the Smithsonian Institute: https://asia.si.edu/eels-in-july/ 3d

Bookwomble @Graywacke Thanks for the link - that was an interesting read 😊 2d

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AllDebooks

Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World | Patrik Svensson

#Naturalitsy

Our final discussion thread before we leave the eels behind. What stood out for you? What were your thoughts on the final chapter regarding the threat of extinction?
Was this a worthy read in your opinion?

AllDebooks @wordslinger42 @rockpools @Chrissyreadit @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @BookwormAHN @Blackink_WhitePaper @Deblovestoread @MilesnMelodies @Graywacke @Dilara 3d

AllDebooks @Mitch @jenniferw88 @Chelsea.Poole @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @jlhammar @MelisK @LeeRHarry @Soubhiville @wanderinglynn 3d

AllDebooks @SamAnne @claudiuo @PageShifter @Addison_Reads @BarkingMadRead @CaitZ @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Aimeesue @tdrosebud @Yuki_Onna 3d

See All 36 Comments

AllDebooks @Soscha @ElizaMarie @Larkken @Caterina @sebrittainclark @bnp @daena @TEArificbooks @BookBelle84 @Jess861 3d

AllDebooks @TheKidUpstairs @Hooked_on_books @Julsmarshall @Readergrrl @AmandaBlaze @Cazxxx 3d

Graywacke It‘s curious that he puts the extinction possibility at the end, and makes no effort to inspire the reader for possible action. He presents it as a sort of forgone conclusion. And one impact is it lets the reader off the hook. We have an excuse to not be alarmed. I enjoyed the book. 3d

Julsmarshall I enjoyed the book. While it may have been slow in parts, it was definitely worth the read. While extinction and climate change may be a forgone conclusion, I agree @Graywacke, that I would have appreciated a suggestion of how to respond or personally acknowledge our role in some way. That may not have made for a positive ending either, but I would have appreciated a call to action in some way. 3d

SamAnne @Graywacke yes, completely agree. I wanted more on what's been done to help them. He mentions bans on harvesting of glass eels (and then I find a tin of them here in Hawaii while on vacation!). And brought up hatcheries or farming briefly, with no other details. But I did enjoy this book and am so glad to have read it! 3d

jlhammar Very worthy read. Yes, I loved learning about eels - completely fascinating, but what I think I loved most about this book, and what he really brought home in these final chapters, was the symbolism. The very apt title (both US and UK) echoing the New Testament. Eels and time fishing for eels with his father as something holy/sacred, the mystery, the ritual, the resurrected eel, something about which he feels compelled to evangelize. (edited) 3d

AllDebooks @Graywacke I really enjoyed the book, too, but felt completely let down by the last chapter. The digression into the dodo and sea cow were completely irrelevant. What would have been more pertinent would have been an exploration of solutions or examples of how we can help the eel adapt. 3d

jlhammar I really appreciated the very end. How though his father said “there must be eels here“ about the cabin, believed they were there, he never saw one, never caught one. How he hoped that Patrik would keep the cabin and continue to fish there, and that he actually sees one at the end, shortly after his father's funeral. 3d

AllDebooks https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/eel-conservation 3d

jenniferw88 I admit to smiling/cheering when I saw the reference to one of your #auldlangspine books! 😂😂😂

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

AllDebooks @jenniferw88 lol, yes, I had a little cheer to 😊 3d

Jess861 Scary that Eel numbers have dropped so much and so quickly - although sadly, not surprising. I agree with the comment above and it would have been nice to see a bit more about extinction and Eels at the end of the book.

Overall I enjoyed this book and learned quite a bit about how little we know about Eels. Although there is a lot of filler in the book I feel that I came out of this read more knowledgeable about Eels. 3d

ElizaMarie I loved this book. I thought I was behind and so I rushed to finish this one. But it makes me think about my place in the world. My “footprint.“ And just how we consume blindly and, at times, do not think about the consequences of our consumption (it might be presumptuous to say we/our, maybe more I/my). I worry about the extinction of any/all species. - I do like the father/son aspect of bonding, but I ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ 3d

ElizaMarie I feel this might have been better as two different books. I don't know. It felt like filler at some parts, profound at others, um... confusing at others. I don't know what I am trying to say, but that's a sign of a good book, having things to talk about, questions to ask, and discussions to be made. Thank yall for picking it up and allowing me to join in on this discussion. 3d

Chrissyreadit I‘m worried about how much we are losing and the lack of responsibility that have caused climate change and decimated a variety of animals. 3d

wanderinglynn I liked parts of the book. Some parts I skimmed through. I do feel I learned a lot about eels. Although I felt the ending was evasive—he discusses, in a bit too much detail, extinction of 2 other species and yet doesn‘t follow through on what extinction of the eel might mean or how it might be prevented. 3d

Aimeesue @jlhammar Yes! I thought the ending was so well done. I don't think that we have much chance of saving the eels as a species, although I wish that were not the case. We don't know enough about them, can't find them, and are not cooperative enough as nations to band together to save them. I thought the dodo + Stellar's sea cows were absolutely on point - we're aware of their annihilation and tsk at those who killed them off, but can't get beyond ⬇️ 3d

Hooked_on_books I really enjoyed this book. I had seen it around my libraries, rather heavily promoted, and had no intention of reading it, so I‘m glad our buddy read pushed me to do so! I learned a lot and feel I‘m better for having picked this one up. @jlhammar excellent point about the title! 3d

Hooked_on_books @ElizaMarie I‘ve seen this trend a lot over the past few years in various books, especially true crime, wherein the author inserts themselves and their memoir as part of the book. I‘m not sure how I feel about it, as it often does feel like filler or a natural extension of navel-gazing social media life. I thought this was done a bit better than others, as the content is germane, but I‘m still not sold on the trend. 3d

Aimeesue ⬆️ourselves and our daily concerns to save them. I completely understand the wish that Svensson had included some solutions, but realistically, do any exist? You can take step to protect a species with a limited range, like buffaloes at Yellowstone, but how do you protect a species that travels worldwide in the dark depths of the seas? I truly, TRULY hope science comes up with some answers, but I think time is running out. Reminded me a lot of ⬇️ (edited) 3d

Aimeesue Doulas Adams' book

Last Chance to See

jlhammar @Aimeesue Yes, such great points! That Douglas Adams book is definitely going on my TBR. Sounds excellent. 3d

Aimeesue @jlhammar It's excellent, but sad. I vividly remember the Chinese river dolphins. I just looked them up and they were declared extinct in 2006. BUT a 10 year fishing ban for the Yangtze River went into effect in 2021, so maybe there's hope for other species there. (edited) 3d

BookwormAHN I enjoyed the book but I would of liked a slightly more hopeful ending or at least some ways to help. 3d

CaitZ Overall I enjoyed the book and learned so much about eels. I never thought they could be so interesting. The last chapter was hard for me as I was also with my Dad when he died. It brought back some painful memories. 3d

ElizaMarie @Hooked_on_books ooo I see what you are saying . I mean I get that they use it as way to personalize the narrator, which is understandable, but I agree it‘s was done better than I‘ve seen with other books/authors 3d

Ann_Reads Overall, I like the way the book was composed with alternating chapters about science and the author's experiences with his dad relating to eels. I never really thought much about eels before, except photos of them in nature shows kinda gave me the creeps (sorry) so I learned a lot from this book. I was surprised how many scientists had tried and failed to tackle perplexing questions about eels. The chapter on Freud was weird and fascinating. Eek! 1d

Larkken @Hooked_on_books yess! It‘s often kind of off-putting. A particularly bad example was a Patterson book about Nefertiti and Tutankhamen. Just ugh for me

The Murder of King Tut

Larkken I liked learning about the eels, but like y‘all above ⬆️ I found the bits of autobiography threw me off a bit. Some parts fit more than others, like how the author and his dad used to fish for them. My favorite part was learning about the Sargasso Sea, and I think I remember seeing a news story that at least partially confirmed that this is the nesting spot for all eels. Amazing! 1d

AllDebooks @CaitZ I'm sorry this triggered painful memories of your Dad. X 1d

AllDebooks @Ann_Reads I'm sorry, I didn't tag you in these discussions, I thought you were sitting this one out. My bad 🙈 1d

Ann_Reads @AllDebooks Don't worry about it. I read the book in December, when I could borrow it through my library system, so I didn't participate in the weekly discussions as much as I usually would. Anyway, I did enjoy the book overall. 🙂 1d

AllDebooks @Ann_Reads glad you enjoyed it 😊 1d

35 likes36 comments

LitsyEvents

Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds | Bernd Heinrich

Repost for @AllDebooks

#Naturalitsy

We have a winner!!! We will be reading Mind of the raven - Investigations and Adventures with the wolf-birds by Bernd Heinrich.

Thank you all for your enthusiasm and fantastic book recommendations. This was a really tough choice!
I will start this #buddyread from the 6th Feb - 31st March. I'll post a schedule soon.

AllDebooks Thank you so much for the share x 4d

36 likes1 comment

Julsmarshall

The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World | Patrik Svensson

pick

This was surprising, compelling, and thoughtful book. A little slow in places and gross in others but kept me reading and I enjoyed the conversation about it with the #naturalitsy folks. One of those “did you know” books where you share facts with anyone who happens to be nearby. The bits when he shares his relationship with his dad were my favorite. #Pantone2023 #skylight @Clwojick @AllDebooks #NonFiction2023 #RollingintheDeep

AllDebooks Lovely review. I enjoyed the stories of his Dad too, very touching x 4d

56 likes1 comment

AllDebooks

Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds | Bernd Heinrich

#Naturalitsy @LitsyEvents

We have a winner!!! We will be reading Mind of the raven - Investigations and Adventures with the wolf-birds by Bernd Heinrich.

Thank you all for your enthusiasm and fantastic book recommendations. This was a really tough choice!
I will start this #buddyread from the 6th Feb - 31st March. I'll post a schedule soon.

Anyone on Scribd, the audiobook is available.
https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/333236581
Cont. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

AllDebooks To confirm I will be hosting #NaturaLitsy #buddyreads for the above tagged book from 6th Feb. Also from 30th Jan:- *week 1 - 3

Poseidon's Steed: The Story of Seahorses, From Myth to Reality

AllDebooks *week 4 - 8

On a Farther Shore: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson

AllDebooks @wordslinger42 @rockpools @Chrissyreadit @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Blackink_WhitePaper @BookwormAHN @Deblovestoread @MilesnMelodies @Graywacke @Dilara 4d

See All 29 Comments

AllDebooks @Mitch @jenniferw88 @Ann_Reads @Chelsea.Poole @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @jlhammar @MelisK @LeeRHarry 4d

AllDebooks @Soubhiville @wanderinglynn @SamAnne @claudiuo @PageShifter @Addison_Reads @BarkingMadRead @CaitZ 4d

AllDebooks @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Aimeesue @tdrosebud @Yuki_Onna @Soscha @ElizaMarie @Larkken @Caterina @sebrittainclark @bnp 4d

TheBookHippie It‘s at my library !! Just put it on hold! 🤞🏻 4d

Caterina Ooo, for anyone with Hoopla, both audio and ebook are available! I'll try to join in! 😊 4d

AllDebooks @daena @TEArificbooks @BookBelle84 @Jess861 @TheKidUpstairs @Hooked_on_books @Julsmarshall @Readergrrl @AmandaBlaze @Cazxxx 4d

TheBookHippie I got the Poseidons Steed too! 4d

jlhammar Thanks, Debbie! Looking forward to it. 4d

AllDebooks I'm trying to keep seperate tag lists for these books, so please do comment if you wish to be added/removed. 😅 4d

AllDebooks @jlhammar me too 😊 4d

AllDebooks @TheBookHippie 🙌 4d

AllDebooks @Caterina thanks for the tip. We can't get in the UK, which is annoying 🙄 4d

Hooked_on_books Hooray! Looking forward to it! I‘ve already read the biography, but I‘ll be reading the other two with the group. You don‘t have to worry about tagging me on the biography posts, if that makes things a little easier for you! 4d

Soubhiville I‘ll read them all. Thanks! 4d

Ann_Reads I'll be sitting this one out but you all enjoy the book. 4d

sebrittainclark Mind of the Raven is the only one I can get from my library, so I'll sit the other two out this time. 4d

Graywacke I‘m interested but probably need to chose one - Raven or Steed. Is On a Farther Shore another group read? 4d

Graywacke Mind of the Raven is free for audible subscribers right now. It‘s long, 16:46. But perhaps i can join that way. 4d

AllDebooks @Graywacke yes, On a farther shore will be in March. I added it as a few people expressed interest in Rachel Carson. Poseiden's Steed is quite short at 220 pages. 4d

AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books 🙌 4d

AllDebooks @Soubhiville 🙌 4d

AllDebooks @Ann_Reads 👍 4d

AllDebooks @sebrittainclark 👍 4d

Cazxxx Ooh I just found it free with my audible membership 😊 4d

Graywacke @AllDebooks ok. I‘ll just need to be selective. Rachel Carson appeals to me far more than the others. I‘ll sample all three when we start and give myself permission to choose not to read them if they aren‘t working for me. 3d

AllDebooks @Graywacke that sounds like a perfect plan. Please don't feel pressured though. Life is so much easier when you finally decide it's ok to bail on something you're not enjoying x 3d

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sebrittainclark

The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World | Patrik Svensson

pick

3.5/5

This book is as much about the author's father as it is about the fascinating mystery that is the eel. It's both informative and contemplative as for the author the eels is tied up with his relationship with his father. It's not a book I would have picked up if not for #naturalitsy, but I'm glad to know a bit more about eels.

AllDebooks Great review x 4d

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SamAnne

Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World | Patrik Svensson

Look what I found walking around Kapaa Kauai! Uh, no I did not purchase a tin of baby eels to nosh on. Product of Spain. I visit lots of fish markets and have never seen these. @AllDebooks #naturalitsy

Pageturner1 🤔not sure what i think about this. those are eels in a can? 5d

SamAnne @Pageturner1 yes, tiny, little baby eels. In a can. 😳😳😳 5d

Pageturner1 @SamAnne Hmm! interesting 😳🥴 5d

See All 7 Comments

wanderinglynn 😳 hm, think I‘d pass. 😆 5d

Hooked_on_books That‘s awful to see, considering that the European Eel is critically endangered. 5d

SamAnne @Hooked_on_books exactly. The book discusses efforts to stop the harvest of these “glass eels.” if they weren‘t endangered I might have bought a tin just to try. 5d

AllDebooks This makes me so angry and sad 😔 5d

56 likes7 comments

AllDebooks

The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World | Patrik Svensson

pick

#NaturaLitsy

Well, this short book is such a revelation about the enigmatic and intriguing European eel, Anguilla Anguilla. Svensson disperses the science, culture and myth of the eel through the centuries with short chapters detailing his experiences of eel fishing with his father in Sweden. Some of the science stories are absolutely mindblowing. I knew nothing of eels before.
⬇

AllDebooks I really enjoyed the stories behind some of our greatest minds trying so hard to discover the eel's lifecycle and mostly being defeated. Aristotle, Sigmund Freud and other eminent scientists dedicated years of their lives to studying this elusive creature. Today, little is known about the reproduction of eels. Herein lies the rub that despite extensive research this little, evolutionary miracle is still very much a mystery. 5d

AllDebooks The book can be a little repetitive in places on the whole 'we just don't know' discourse. There is also a segment in the last chapter on environmental change and the risk of extinction that irritated me greatly. Svensson is discussing the highly endangered eel but goes on a tangent about the dodo and Bering's sea cow, which seems completely irrelevant to the eel's status or preservation. It reminded me of a little padding to extend the word count 5d

AllDebooks Given how well this creature has evolved over the centuries, the best thing we can do for the eel would be to reverse the effects of pollution and climate change; restore their habitats to a healthy status and leave these creatures be, to do what they do best, which is survive.
5d

See All 10 Comments

SamAnne Great review @AllDebooks. I esp. agree with your last comment. I enjoyed the book. I didn‘t like his one throwaway comment about maybe we can farm eels like salmon and that is such a good thing. Salmon farms might provide us with cheap salmon but those farms have wreaked havoc on wild salmon habitat, spreading disease to wild salmon that have to swim past the farms. And are full of antibiotics. “Say no to drugs. Don‘t eat farmed salmon!” 5d

AllDebooks @SamAnne thank you. I agree 💯 we shouldn't be farming anything intensively. Salmon farming has cause so many catastrophic problems. 5d

Graywacke @SamAnne i didn‘t know farmed salmon hurt wild salmon. Weird. Sad. (I don‘t eat fish, personal issue) 3d

Graywacke @AllDebooks nice review. I hope we discuss that extinction chapter in the group post. It‘s a curious chapter. 3d

AllDebooks @Graywacke thank you. I thought the same re extinction chapter. I'll add something to the comments on last discussion thread. 3d

SamAnne @Graywacke yes, a big problem on the West coast of Canada. Thankfully they are getting kicked out of Puget Sound. A salmon farm was my very first job in high school. I don't eat it! And I've spent a career working on wild salmon restoration. I did see some advertised recently claiming a respected seafood sustainability outfit had said they were “the best.“ From New Zealand...will need to verify. 3d

TheBookHippie I learned a ton and I‘d never had picked this up! 2d

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