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wtb_michael's review against another edition
3.0
This has some lovely moments - Deakin's love of wild swimming is infectious and his descriptive prose often beautiful - but I found myself frustrated by the overwhelming, almost reactionary, nostalgia of the book. Deakin is constantly pointing backwards to better times - freer, braver, simpler times - with a kind of simplicity that bothered me by the end. At one point he waxes lyrical about the way that mains water has ruined our connection to nature, which tipped me over the edge. Having clean water on tap seems like a pretty decent option to me. The whole book felt like it was yearning for a time that never really existed, or at least only existed for certain people.
harrietl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
4.0
edders's review against another edition
3.0
Took me too long to read this one.
Overall enjoyable but I wonder at the style and tone. Why are things so official? How does Deakin know so much about the areas he is is? He comes across as an artificial narrator because there is such a volume of items of description here which are clearly added afterward, composed rather than experienced.
Overall enjoyable but I wonder at the style and tone. Why are things so official? How does Deakin know so much about the areas he is is? He comes across as an artificial narrator because there is such a volume of items of description here which are clearly added afterward, composed rather than experienced.
buildingbridgels's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
This book has inspired me to swim more and to explore the land around me. There's so much WORLD to see!!!
muninnherself's review against another edition
5.0
I love Roger Deakin's writing and it makes me sad that he's dead.
I'm not a swimmer, so I wasn't sure if this would 'fetch' me as much as his books about trees etc. but I needn't have worried, it's delightful. I loved all the historical details particularly, now everyone swims inside it's important to remember this has only been the case for forty odd years. A lovely watery book full of fantastic descriptions.
I'm not a swimmer, so I wasn't sure if this would 'fetch' me as much as his books about trees etc. but I needn't have worried, it's delightful. I loved all the historical details particularly, now everyone swims inside it's important to remember this has only been the case for forty odd years. A lovely watery book full of fantastic descriptions.
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