Reviews

Rain: Four Walks in English Weather by Melissa Harrison

ninethreeo's review

5.0

A lovely book that I can see myself going back to again and again. I read this over the course of a year, attempting to match the chapters to a rainy day in each season. Though I confess I just finished August’s so this could contribute to my reading challenge count.
Poetic and evocative, and each chapter just the right size for a short, snuggly read on a rainy day - at any time of year.

geegee_74's review

4.0

It is difficult to write a book about going for a walk. This is an attempt to reflect the fact that the countryside is worth walking in all sorts of weather. In fact I like going out walking when the weather is inclement as most dawdlers and takers of photographs tend to remain firmly indoors on days like these, so I admire the author's theme. She captures the sense of place well.

beanypole's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

3.25

piedwarbler's review against another edition

5.0

Such a beautifully written book. It made me long to hear rain pattering on the roof; long to go for a walk in the rain. The book is about four walks taken in the rain, and each one is quite different. How Melissa Harrison finds so many exquisite words for describing rain is amazing.
I learned about lonely leeches too!
A real five star keeper of a book. One of my favourites of this reading year.

mariepye's review against another edition

4.0

Lovely evocative writing (I found best read in Wales listening to rain outside)

bluestarfish's review against another edition

3.0

Four rainy walks provide a guided tour of wet landscapes in the English countryside with observations of nature and wildlife along the way. Melissa Harrison tries to convince us to be more than fair-weather walkers - and I think she's done a great job. The British Rainfall Organisation gets a mention too as well as a wealth of other interesting facts and it's a great little book for a quick read.

mightymeep's review against another edition

4.0

3.5

aliciae08's review against another edition

informative reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.75

I was surprised at how much I adored this meditation on Rain.  It’s not a book I would normally pick up, but as we’re moving towards Autumn in the UK, and I am dreading the rain it will bring living in the wettest part of the country, I needed something that would bring a sense of gratitude/peace. 

Melissa does a great job of interweaving facts on rain and landscape with what is actually happening on her rain laden walks. 

simlish's review against another edition

5.0

Was a 4 until the last page made me work very very hard not to cry. A delight of word play. Wonderful sample of nature writing.

exlibrislynne's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.25