Scan barcode
gossamerchild's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
amandale's review against another edition
2.0
Forest, like fairy stories, need to be chaotic - beautiful and savage, useful and wasteful, dangerous and free.
jamiezaccaria's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
I liked the idea behind this book but with each chapter being about a different topic, some were more interesting to me than others. The nonfiction chapters varied but I did like all of her takes on classic fairy tales.
katieejayne's review against another edition
4.0
This is perhaps one of the most 'out of my comfort zone' books I've ever read. It was brilliant.
I say out of my comfort zone because nature writing has never been something I choose to read. It's just not my thing. However, this one was. Gossip From the Forest I have been describing as quasi-non-fiction. It's split into chapters focusing on different woods around the UK and then a fairy tale retold taking inspiration from that previous forest. Hence, quasi-non-fiction.
I learned an awful lot about woods and the process of sustainable forestry. What I was really interested in was how Sara Maitland linked the forests of today with the fairy tales of years gone by. It was as though she walked into a time capsule and was able to perfectly explain how those woods still contain the magic of fairy tales. Then the stories she retold were so unique whilst still adhering to the nostalgia fairy tales hold.
A truly brilliant collection of stories and nature writing.
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
I say out of my comfort zone because nature writing has never been something I choose to read. It's just not my thing. However, this one was. Gossip From the Forest I have been describing as quasi-non-fiction. It's split into chapters focusing on different woods around the UK and then a fairy tale retold taking inspiration from that previous forest. Hence, quasi-non-fiction.
I learned an awful lot about woods and the process of sustainable forestry. What I was really interested in was how Sara Maitland linked the forests of today with the fairy tales of years gone by. It was as though she walked into a time capsule and was able to perfectly explain how those woods still contain the magic of fairy tales. Then the stories she retold were so unique whilst still adhering to the nostalgia fairy tales hold.
A truly brilliant collection of stories and nature writing.
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
ruthailuj's review against another edition
5.0
I haven't finished this one yet. I was reading chapter here and there, which was easy because each one is constructed around a different forest in England. I found it really interesting, the juxtaposing of the forest and storytelling was great. It's not fresh enough in my mind to articulate more. If folklore and fairy tales are what interest you, this might be right.
ieniminimuis's review against another edition
5.0
Another great example on the bond between humankind and forests. How forest are embedded in culture even if you don't realize it.
amyborch's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Discussion of UK forests and fairytales.
ljcostel's review against another edition
4.0
The connections between forests and fairy tales, particularly western european & the Grimm's fairy tales. Also some lovely facts and anecdotes about trees and mosses and forests
souppiggy's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. It felt whimsical and smart all at once. I really liked how the stories were woven into it which made it easier to digest.