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Reviews
Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte
panashe's review against another edition
5.0
Highly recommend the audiobook version, read by the author
jenlouden's review against another edition
3.0
At times cloying, at others startling, a useful book to read a few pages at time before writing or journaling.
mikalawoods's review against another edition
3.0
I originally purchased this book for a philosophy class and didn't think much of it, but after I finished reading it I knew I had to talk about this book personally and outside of the classroom. Though this book is very different from what I usually read on my free time, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it even though it was for a class.
One thing I want to say is this book isn't meant to be read all the way through consistently. All of these "chapters" are just meant to be meditated on and thought about, and I would recommend reading them about 1-3 at a time per day either early in the morning at breakfast or getting ready for bed at night.
For me, I really enjoyed reading a lot of Whyte's takes on different words, places, and emotions. The thing that I found the most interesting was how a lot of the words that usually have negative connotations were spun around to have a more positive outlook. It always left me inspired or at least with something to think about and reflect on.
The problem that I had while reading this book was that sometimes the language seemed almost too "flowery" in a sense. Sometimes I felt like Whyte would stretch too far to try to turn something like Despair into something that we all should embrace. For me personally, it took me out of the reading and lead me to read the passage more analytically instead of meditatively.
Overall, I think this is a great book to have on your nightstand and for when you just want something to make you think and reflect on life.
One thing I want to say is this book isn't meant to be read all the way through consistently. All of these "chapters" are just meant to be meditated on and thought about, and I would recommend reading them about 1-3 at a time per day either early in the morning at breakfast or getting ready for bed at night.
For me, I really enjoyed reading a lot of Whyte's takes on different words, places, and emotions. The thing that I found the most interesting was how a lot of the words that usually have negative connotations were spun around to have a more positive outlook. It always left me inspired or at least with something to think about and reflect on.
The problem that I had while reading this book was that sometimes the language seemed almost too "flowery" in a sense. Sometimes I felt like Whyte would stretch too far to try to turn something like Despair into something that we all should embrace. For me personally, it took me out of the reading and lead me to read the passage more analytically instead of meditatively.
Overall, I think this is a great book to have on your nightstand and for when you just want something to make you think and reflect on life.
velokyrie's review against another edition
5.0
Please find my review at: http://echoes-empty-mind.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-consolations-by-david-whyte.html.
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thomassmith's review against another edition
4.0
Yes, Whyte has written a beautiful and true exploration of the human experience. Each essay reads as if it was etched out of cold, clear Arctic ice. That is the strength of this book, and also its weakness. Among the truth and beauty, Whyte the person is nowhere to be found. He writes about vulnerability, but he himself is not actually vulnerable in the text. It's like he made the conscious choice to sacrifice authenticity for form. This is not to say I didn't like it. I'm still thinking about it, and was deeply moved by his writing, but I do feel it would've been better if Whyte would've placed himself more into the narrative.
edsantiago's review against another edition
5.0
Exquisite. I cherished this book for a few brief but intense months, opening it on random pages, sometimes reading sequentially but always slowly, always savoring. Whyte makes the quotidian new again, granting fresh perspectives on words and feelings we thought we knew.
I wanted to hold on to it longer; forever, maybe, to continue perusing and learning from. Each moment with it was different. But it was not mine to keep—is anything? It is now in the hands of someone who will, I know, adore it as well and possibly also let it go when appropriate. (I could buy my own copy. I won’t: it somehow feels right to pass it on, even though it hurts too.)
With deep gratitude, on this International Women’s Day, to the remarkable woman who introduced me to this book and allowed me to visit with it.
I wanted to hold on to it longer; forever, maybe, to continue perusing and learning from. Each moment with it was different. But it was not mine to keep—is anything? It is now in the hands of someone who will, I know, adore it as well and possibly also let it go when appropriate. (I could buy my own copy. I won’t: it somehow feels right to pass it on, even though it hurts too.)
With deep gratitude, on this International Women’s Day, to the remarkable woman who introduced me to this book and allowed me to visit with it.
thecaffeinatedreader's review against another edition
4.0
https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2019/12/12/consolations-arc-review/
This book is a bit of a different one compared to most I review. It's not poetry, nor is it a novel, it's a book of prose, a book with words, about words. These pages are filled with many words that we use every day and gives us pause now upon them.
It's great, it's the perfect meditative read. You can seek these words at your own pace and leisure, to explore one word a day or more, and to quietly meditate and seek solace in them as you do.
This book is a bit of a different one compared to most I review. It's not poetry, nor is it a novel, it's a book of prose, a book with words, about words. These pages are filled with many words that we use every day and gives us pause now upon them.
It's great, it's the perfect meditative read. You can seek these words at your own pace and leisure, to explore one word a day or more, and to quietly meditate and seek solace in them as you do.
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