nitroglycerin's Reviews (952)

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Next to Nature

Ronald Blythe

DID NOT FINISH: 8%

Too dry. Too many references to Christianity and artists and poets that I have no context for.
hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

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To meddle or not to meddle?

Somehow this is my first book by Mabey, despite him being one of the stalwarts of the nature writing genre, and I can see why. 

He may be of the old-white-male standard of nature writers (and I’m glad to see more and more diverse writers in this genre!), but that’s not without merit. It was a joy to read this, and I loved it. 

While I’ve been reading The Accidental Garden, I was also listening to The Swimmer: The Wild Life of Roger Deakin by Patrick Barkham, who chronicles Deakins life. Deakin was good friends with Mabey, who is referenced quite a bit. 
Reading the two in tandem has been an immersive experience that I’ve enjoyed. The similarities in perspectives between the two men was very obvious. 
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced
hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I just love a Benjamin Myers book!

Following the crop circle making antics of Calvert and Redbone while listening to folk music was definitely the best way to ride the first heatwave of summer 2024. Loved it. Absolutely gutted at the ending. 

Myers using the book to point at the lack of action on the climate crisis and all it’s implications via Calvert while Redbone remained completely optimistic was so tongue in cheek as we know, sitting here in 2024, that very little has been done since 1989 when the book was set to put things on the right track. Redbones optimism seems so foolish to us, but how would he have known any better eh. 


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Such a gripping read! It’s easy to forget it’s a non-fiction as you read it because you just get so sucked into the story Segtnan is telling you, you forget it’s her research and her life she’s sharing. 

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Any book that makes science accessible is a great book by my esteem. 

And I’d never really thought about eggs but they’re everywhere! And without them we wouldn’t be. A fascinating read.