patlo's Reviews (1.32k)

Good for a kids' discovery journal, but that wasn't what I expected to be.

This is by far the best book on watercolor sketch techniques that I have read in the last year. The word urban in the title is something of a misnomer, because the book is for more broad than sketching on site. The book is a broad discussion of watercolor as an art technique, and is more thoughtful and deep than any that I've read on the subject. At the same time, it is applicable engaging. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering or pursuing watercolor painting as part of their artistic and creative endeavor

A surprisingly winsome memoir of a young man who grew up in one of South Africa's leading nature conservationist families. I grabbed the CD version of this book by happenstance, before a long road trip, and was hooked from the first chapter. It's an excellent memoir, excellent at the transition between hunting lodges to nature conservation in South Africa in the last 50 years. It also touches on South African politics, apartheid, male bonding and rituals, the spiritual transcendence of land and creation.

Highly recommended especially in audiobook form, read by the author.

A very well told tale, of a frustratingly immature young woman trying to figure out how to grow up. On the outdoor story theme, the book reminds me of the documentary movie Grizzly Man, but it is heartening to see the author's change and maturation process.