Reviews - Is a River Alive?

292 reviews for:

This book is fantastic--right in the middle between a 4.5 and 4.75, but I have a perpetual fear of rating things too highly, so I've put it on the 4.5 side. [EDIT: I change my mind almost immediately because wow simply the writing of this book is fabulous] Robert Macfarlane is perhaps the best nature writer I have read, and his prose seems to get better, more complex, and more whimsical with each piece of his I read. This book is fundamentally about connection, whether with nature or those who adore it as much as Robert. He is also, as I found out, an excellent speaker, and it's clear his ability to write otherworldly, fantastical descriptions is a natural one. Unlike many books I've read recently, I honestly think that almost anyone could read this book and not only enjoy it, but also come away with a shifted perspective and a sense of urgency about the state of the natural world, especially in these times.

"Fireflies wander the middle distance. The night is glass-clear. Sheet lightning snaps blue-white across the sky to the south. I see a shooting star, and then two more. Three scratches on the world's tin. The next morning we walk into the forest and it swallows us whole" (78).

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arierosecast's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

A vision of hope for the environment without naive optimism. And a philosophical exploration of nature and our relationship with it that challenged me to think differently (about things I already think a lot about). The writing was gorgeous. A new favorite.

hillarycopsey's review against another edition

5.0

I went into this skeptical and found myself delighted and moved. Excellent narration by the author, and the audio format made the interstitial essays about the river near the author's home and his visits there with his son, more personal. A revelation.

jennp28's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful informative slow-paced

This was an absolutely fascinating book. It took me a while to read because the writing style is quite dense and poetic and makes extensive use of a very interesting vocabulary. However the stories told within it are fascinating and important. I felt like I was travelling along with the author on his journey - especially the part where he paddles through northern Canada because that’s familiar territory for me, but also in the unfamiliar lands of the other parts of the book. It has certainly changed the way I feel about hydro power - which is presented in Canada as a clean and natural energy source. I’ve always felt a kinship with water - the lakes and oceans of my home province of Nova Scotia - but this book has reinforced that and made me think of them as living rather than just as energy-having. An important and beautiful read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my voluntary and honest review.