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edjgrierson's review
3.75
It's a high three star. I'd certainly recommend it for a psychoanalysis of the Anthropocene. There's some similar themes to "Ghostland" by Edward Parnell, but applied to a country. But some chapters are certainly more engaging than others. Skara Brae in particular is so fascinating, but the chapters on Medieval villages didn't hold me quite as much.
I also think the personal aspect at the end is a bit shoehorned in. I wasn't picking up on that in the rest of the narrative.
Still, pretty solid for what it is. I would say read it.
I also think the personal aspect at the end is a bit shoehorned in. I wasn't picking up on that in the rest of the narrative.
Still, pretty solid for what it is. I would say read it.
shelfofunread's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Colonisation, Pandemic/Epidemic, and War
evfav's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This book was more densely academic than I’d been expecting when I first picked it up, but I was very glad to find myself fascinated by the history and the stories Green tells alongside it.
I attended an event for the book tour and it was wonderful! Green’s discussions were engaging and his speech just as poetic as my favourite passages from the book. He obviously has curated an incredible talent as a wordsmith and storyteller!
I did find the first chapter the weakest point of the book for me, though I think this may have largely been down to me adjusting to an unfamiliar reading experience. If other readers experienced this, I could recommend jumping ahead to the second chapter, as I personally found the story of Old Winchelsea more exciting and engaging. Each chapter of the book tells a tale of a different abandoned settlement, and while there are references to past chapters that meaningfully build the themes of the book, I believe each can be read as a standalone tale.
Overall, Shadowlands is a thrilling and fascinating read with beautiful writing and meaningful contemplations on these abandoned settlements and our relationship with them as individuals, as communities, and as an island.
I attended an event for the book tour and it was wonderful! Green’s discussions were engaging and his speech just as poetic as my favourite passages from the book. He obviously has curated an incredible talent as a wordsmith and storyteller!
I did find the first chapter the weakest point of the book for me, though I think this may have largely been down to me adjusting to an unfamiliar reading experience. If other readers experienced this, I could recommend jumping ahead to the second chapter, as I personally found the story of Old Winchelsea more exciting and engaging. Each chapter of the book tells a tale of a different abandoned settlement, and while there are references to past chapters that meaningfully build the themes of the book, I believe each can be read as a standalone tale.
Overall, Shadowlands is a thrilling and fascinating read with beautiful writing and meaningful contemplations on these abandoned settlements and our relationship with them as individuals, as communities, and as an island.
pam_sartain's review
4.0
Shadowlands; A Journey Through Lost Britain by Matthew Green looks at places in the UK that are deserted or abandoned, and puts them in the context of their history.
This is an interesting book with the author visiting each site, so you get to know what they look like today.
I found this to be a good book, and liked the mix of setting it in it's historical place, and what it's like today.
Shadowlands; A Journey Through Lost Britain was published on 17th March 2022, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.
You can follow Matthew Green on Twitter and Instagram.
I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Faber and Faber.
This is an interesting book with the author visiting each site, so you get to know what they look like today.
I found this to be a good book, and liked the mix of setting it in it's historical place, and what it's like today.
Shadowlands; A Journey Through Lost Britain was published on 17th March 2022, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.
You can follow Matthew Green on Twitter and Instagram.
I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Faber and Faber.