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I was only vaguely aware of Barry Lopez‘s nature writing and have never read anything by him until this essay collection. These are mostly about his career and love of nature, mentioning other authors and naturalists. However, at the end of the book, Lopez recounts the horrific sexual abuse he suffered as a child, which was a surprise to me, as I hadn‘t read detailed reviews prior. Though tough to read, that section will stick with me most.

Thank you so much @ShelleyBooksie ! I am so looking forward to curling up with this book (and my 🐶). The chocolate looks delicious, I love peppermint bark 😋. Hope you have a wonderful holiday! #JolabokaflodSwap
@MaleficentBookDragon

I‘d never read anything by Barry Lopez before. I bought the book for the title which expressed my sentiments about living during the Anthropocene. This simply surpassed all my expectations! The first 2 sections show Lopez in his element as a nature writer. But the final sections take the reader deep into Lopez‘s heart where he contends with childhood sexual abuse and the art of healing. The essays showcase his development as a writer and human. 😍

1* tagged
2* Tender essays about the healing power of love and nature
3* Highbury, UK (from “Emma”)

#WondrousWednesday

Play along @iread2much @UwannaPublishme @corireadslife

Very moving and personal essay collection. The stand-out for me was his reflection on his horrific childhood experience of sexual abuse and the legacy of trauma. He was a wonderful writer. I look forward to reading more of his work. I listened to the audiobook and would recommend that format - excellent narration by James Naughton.

As much nature writing as I read I‘m sorry to admit that I‘ve never read Barry Lopez before this. I had him pigeonholed in my mind as a writer of the western US specifically and he is so much more than that. He is a one of those soulful, virtuosic writers who can effortlessly surf from talking about a penguin to climate policy to childhood trauma to the philosophy of place before bringing you back to the hike he started on. I‘m hooked!

When he was reflecting on the environment and his travels, I loved this essay collection. But about 75% in, he began alluding to some sexual abuse he experienced as a child. Then at 90% in, during the essay Sliver of Sky, he begins an EXTREMELY graphic account of his sexual abuse that I had to skip, so strong CW on that.

However, I very much enjoyed the first 90% and his end-of-life (he has since died) thoughts about the world he‘s leaving.