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alivaster's review
5.0
I don't know what I entirely thought this book would talk about, but I really enjoyed the book. Not only did I learn a lot about snails, seriously, I learned more than I thought I'd want to know!, but I also really appreciated the way hope presented itself. It gave a different perspective of life by looking at chronic illness/being bedridden by a mysterious illness, and a snail. I was just very fascinated by the whole book and would recommend it.
adrianagoycoolea's review
1.0
Re-rated this book: it was boring and unmemorable. I wouldn’t recommend this book because there’s no plot and the emotional aspect of the book is lackluster. You don’t get to read the internal dialogue of someone in confinement or battling a terminal illness. You just hear mundane tasks they do to take care of the snail and learn a fun snail fact you’ll forget in approximately a week.
david66's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
4.0
This is a wonderful little book. 'Gentle' is how I'd describe it. It's the true story of a young women who contracts an unknown debilitating virus and becomes bedridden. One day a friend brings her a pot plant within which a snail has hidden. Over time she cares for the snail, learns all about them and comes to depend on it to keep her sane. I wanted to read this because I was interested in snails (and there is a lot of fascinating snail facts given), but it turns out the human story is just as engaging. Highly recommended as a quick read.
nerdygnome's review
4.25
What a beautiful homage to nature and to slowing down in life! While Elisabeth Tova Bailey's slowing was by all means involuntary thanks to her severe illness, she does a wonderful job of showing us the depth and wisdom that we can gain from this changed pace of life. I am a fast reader and often breeze from one book to the next, but I found that while absorbed in The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, even my reading sank to the speed of a snail — and I loved every slow minute of it. I will admit that I did get a bit bogged down in some of the factual information about snails (and yet deeply fascinated by some tidbits — 2,640 teeth?! What!), but it was easy for me to skim through these short chapters whenever they weren't fueling me. It was the author's observations on the snail's behavior that I found most endearing and enchanting. I highly recommend this little book for a breath of fresh air and a unique perspective on life.
laurenmichellebrock's review
5.0
I’ve read this twice: the first time in college and again earlier this year. A slow-burning tale of a bedridden woman who goes on a vast adventure of research about the gastropod. It’s much more charming and beautiful than it may sound. She presents her findings in a literary way that gives her experience with an unsuspecting snail a touching narrative.