Reviews

Waterlog by Roger Deakin

btaylorb's review against another edition

I was enjoying this but had it checked out for a long time and needed to return it to the library; going to switch to the audio edition. The joyful descriptions of swimming and bodies of water and wildlife are lovely so far and make me want to get into wild swimming. There are occasionally some tedious details about small town fishing clubs and fishing club drama that are verbalized in an extremely "dry British humor" which is not my thing (although it might come across better in audio), along with some more melancholy thoughts on how things like tourism and technology have eroded some of the charms of the swimming holes he visits. 

cassienolan's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.0

Although Waterlog is a beautiful book, I really struggled to stay engaged and found that I had to force myself to read on. It is slow, but poetic and I think would appeal more to an English audience, as sometimes had too much detail of place for me to follow.

lydiabeingalive's review against another edition

funny inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

emvoor's review against another edition

adventurous informative inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

3.75

I enjoyed Roger’s recounts of all his swims in the UK. It has inspired me to seek out some of these local spots. But at times, I found the narrative slow and repetitive. 

lucyreading's review against another edition

informative inspiring

kirsty147's review against another edition

5.0

I can barely swim a length, but I adored this book. Roger makes everything feel so alive that I'm right there with him when he's swimming. His recollections of swimming in seas, rivers, pools and lidos are peppered with historical facts and interesting tit-bits, along with a serene narrative of his inner-most thoughts.

georgegracegibson's review against another edition

3.0

okay so obviously very beautiful — I listened to the audio book and probably ended up “reading” it about six times over as I used it to help me fall asleep! Not because it was boring at all, but just so soothing to hear someone talk to passionately about something so wonderful.

but past the obvious, I was so disappointed with how much this focused on the south of England! I can’t believe the chapter on Northumberland being just four minutes! Did he even go to the Lake District?! I would like a part two from a working class northerners who visits all the places matey boy here missed out.

ruthie_the_librarian's review against another edition

3.0

Really this is a 3.5 for me, almost a 4. It seems an unlikely book for me to read since I don't swim very well at all, and I generally read fiction rather than non-fiction. But I had seen it recommended by the author Claire Fuller, and I've been enjoying some great books through her recommendations, so thought I'd give it a try. Deakin is something of an eccentric. He's also of the class that lives in a house with a moat. A moat big enough for him to swim in. And yet, I found myself caught up in his tales of his swimming adventures around the country. I enjoyed some chapters more than others. It was definitely a 4 star book for much of the way through but then it just went on a little bit longer than I would have liked. But there were lots of fascinating historical snippets about swimming, and tales of villages where the locals still all learn to swim in the local swim hole. I'd always thought wild swimming & outdoor swimming was something of a rarity but no, it seems people are doing it everywhere! It did make me wish I could swim better. It also gave me chills when he went off swimming alone, especially when he was in deep waters with nobody else around! But there was something charming about it, the little descriptions of the wildlife, the interesting bits of information, and his utter joy in swimming.

girlfriday4's review against another edition

4.0

A fascinating plunge not only into the pools, lakes, rivers and oceans of the UK but also into the histories and ecologies of these places. I had to keep googling the places he writes of as I've never been to the UK, but am now even more keen to get over there and swim.

I also loved how Deakin captures the emotional/psychological and physical benefits of swimming - the ecstasy of being in water. A powerful incentive to get off the couch and into the water.

rubymaddog's review against another edition

5.0

I am a wild swimmer. This was just a beautiful read about the often hidden natural swimming spots across the UK.