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I listened to the audiobook and listening to Diana narrate her stories was such a joy. I love her way of storytelling and her desire to share the immense knowledge she holds made it a wholesome listening experience.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This book was just what I was looking for to dip my toes into some sciencey memoir. I learned so much about Celtic culture, the trees, and I enjoyed the vignettes and stories from the authors childhood. It made this book much more easy to read than any sciencey book.
2.5 stars. I read this with an eco-justice book club at my work. I wanted it to be more about the trees. Instead it was very much about the author, more an autobiography.
Absolutely life changing. The author exposes us to her unhappy, but meaningful Celtic childhood during which she learns a great deal about the ancient power of the forest. Fast forward, in adulthood, she becomes an accomplished scientist studying the old growth forests and working to build a seed bank of disappearing species. Among the things I learned is that trees are not distinctly different than humans in DNA composition. That trees communicate with each other and with the animals that live among them. Unbelievable.
What a life. So this was pretty niche in it's way, but also pretty fascinating. It's one of those books I guess I liked personally, but I'm not sure I'll ever recommend it.
This was interesting to an extent, but I found the second part repetitive and the first part grated a bit on me for a couple of reasons.
The first is that it felt a bit self serving in its tone. That's probably purely subjective and other people may not feel that way. I just felt the author inserted herself and her achievements into the narrative a lot. I know this is a memoir, but it's possible to write a memoir without making the reader feel like you're extra special because of your heritage and upbringing.
The second reason I didn't fully get on with this was for the way it was made to seem like Ireland was a lost cause in terms of protecting the environment. It was presented as someone with 'The Sight' proclaiming this, but it still made me annoyed with the book.
Glad I read it, but don't think I would read anything by her again.
The first is that it felt a bit self serving in its tone. That's probably purely subjective and other people may not feel that way. I just felt the author inserted herself and her achievements into the narrative a lot. I know this is a memoir, but it's possible to write a memoir without making the reader feel like you're extra special because of your heritage and upbringing.
The second reason I didn't fully get on with this was for the way it was made to seem like Ireland was a lost cause in terms of protecting the environment. It was presented as someone with 'The Sight' proclaiming this, but it still made me annoyed with the book.
Glad I read it, but don't think I would read anything by her again.
The author's story is astonishing. With the life she's lived, she had to write a book! This arboreal memoir is full of passion and fascinating insight. The book doesn't inspire me with the hope it intends - the author's solutions are a little too general and individualistic - but it has deepened my appreciation of trees.
informative
slow-paced