somethingaboutnature

Meadowland: The Private Life of an English Field | John Lewis-Stempel

Here goes - this might be a long one. But isn‘t it pretty?!

John Lewis-Stempel is ambivalent about foxes, having both hunted them on horseback and ‘sabbed‘ fox hunts. I have similar (but less extreme) feelings about this book!

This is a diary of fragments, a year in the life of a meadow on JLS‘s farm on the Welsh-English border, observing the plants, the wildlife, the livestock... I‘ve been reading this over a couple of months, and it‘s made me

rockpools want to be still, to write, to watch things grow. I‘ll miss reading it. There are so many fascinating tidbits in here - last night I fell down a badger funerals rabbit-hole. Which isn‘t a phrase I ever expected to write!

The flip side, and I think i‘m in a minority of me here, is that I don‘t much like his writing. At times it feels like he‘s demonstrating how very clever he is, as he incorporates poems and random obscure words (edited) 4y

rockpools (prestidigitator, anyone?) - it doesn‘t always flow naturally for me.

He did win me round with this book. I was moved by the demise of Margot 🐮💔, and I ended up enjoying spending time on his farm. I have another UK farmer, James Rebanks, lined up in the near future, and I‘m looking forward to seeing how that compares.
Thank you for sending this to me @Oryx I‘m glad I‘ve read it.

This is #SomethingAboutNature for #NonFiction2021 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4y

rockpools Also, bother. That really should have been a review post, but I‘m way too lazy to change it! It‘s a pick!! (edited) 4y

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squirrelbrain Great review. You‘ve made me want to read it but was it similar to Common Ground? You loved that one, me not so much...! (edited) 4y

rockpools @squirrelbrain Ha! No, I would say this was totally different. For one thing it‘s not set on your doorstep! It‘s quite ‘straight‘ diary entries of what he‘s seen and related thoughts- much less of the flights of fancy and personal/emotional stuff (except 🐮 of course). And he‘s got a bit of a thing about nature writing being written for/by townies so he‘s out to prove that‘s nonsense. (I suspect he may be referring to CG-type books!) 4y

rockpools @squirrelbrain I would send it, but I‘ve promised it to a friend who‘s about to start a year-long art project in a meadow. Unless you‘d like to read it first? (She makes me look like a speed reader, so it won‘t be coming back from her this side of Christmas!) 4y

squirrelbrain Oh no, thank you for the offer Rachel though - I might order a copy soon as it sounds like #mummysquirrel would like it too. It sounds quite different to CG. Wow, your friend‘s project sounds fascinating! 4y

Caroline2 Sounds good. Although the showing off, flowery language puts me off a bit. What a beautiful cover tho! 😍 4y

Centique Great review! I feel the need to read a book that mentions badger funerals 🤯 Stacked! 4y

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BarbaraTheBibliophage

The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here | Hope Jahren

so-so

Created originally as an introductory class for college students, it reads this way with a lot of science, some history, a bit of humor, and a smattering of opinion. Is it the best book I‘ve read on climate change? No. But if you want a book that‘s fairly short and explains the basics, this is a good choice.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2021 #nonfictionchallenge2021 #somethingaboutnature #booked2021 #nfsciencebyawoman

Cinfhen, Riveted_Reader_Melissa, alisiakae

Cinfhen Fantastic review ♥️ 4y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen Aww. Thanks! I‘m trying to catch up on all the stuff I‘ve missed here. Weird how busy I feel and then I‘ll look back and say “did I really do anything all day?” 4y

ElleSkel Great review. I loved Lab Girl and was looking forward to this one. Sad to see it fell a little flat but really appreciate your reasoning! 4y

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BarbaraTheBibliophage @ElleSkel Thanks! I loved Lab Girl too. So I was excited for this one. And now I‘m glad I borrowed from the library instead of buying it. 4y

alisiakae @BarbaraTheBibliophage @ElleSkel I felt much the same way! It's definitely a #borrownotbuy 4y

BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft Yes, I saw your comment about struggling to finish. I felt the same way. She could have done so much more. (Pun intended!) 4y

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Cinfhen

Into Thin Air | Jon Krakauer

pick

I have a feeling 25 years ago, when this book was originally published, it must have been considered groundbreaking. A new blend of history, investigative reporting and personal experiences all told in the first person narrative. The agonizing recounting of a mountain climb gone terribly wrong. I was completely captivated by the events before, during & after the ordeal. I never considered how much money and ego is at stake amongst the guides👇🏼

KarenUK, Riveted_Reader_Melissa, Librarybelle, alisiakae, BarbaraBB

Cinfhen And don‘t get me started on the horrible treatment and exploitation of the Sherpa. 🤬So glad I finally picked up this book for #ReadingAsia2021 #Nepal #pop21 #BestsellerFrom1990s #NonFiction21 #SomethingAboutNature (edited) 4y

alisiakae I loved this book when I first read if! Haven‘t read a Krakauer book in years 🤔 4y

AlaMich And I think it‘s all even worse now than it was then, in terms of how many climbers they allow, the amount of trash and debris left behind, and the exploitation of the Sherpas. 4y

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Velvetfur Wow.... I think I'll have to read this book this year. Great review 👍🏻 4y

Cinfhen I definitely recommend this book @Velvetfur it‘s good!! I‘m thinking of trying this one next @4thhouseontheleft

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

Cinfhen That makes me so sad @AlaMich you‘re probably right 😢 4y

BarbaraBB Under de Banner is shocking and fantastic. I was completely obsessed by the LDS Church afterwards (when I visited Salt Lake City last year). 4y

Cinfhen I‘m excited to read it @BarbaraBB 4y

Kalalalatja I really like Krakauer, so he will definitely be on my 2021 reading list 🙌 4y

Cinfhen Would totally work for #setoutdoors @Kalalalatja 😁How was work today???? 4y

Kalalalatja It was great, but I‘m so tired due to all the new people and information 😅 I have a good feeling, though, and I can‘t wait till I have settled in 👍 4y

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