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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Stories about animals the author has encountered in the wild along with information about the species as a whole. I enjoyed it a lot. Not as much as Finders Keepers by the same author, but this is a close second.
Lovely book, I like how one can pick and choose chapters based on what animal experience you want to read about. It's comparable to a book of short stories that way, it isn't linear so you can jump around as much as you like. That being said, it is a very calming book to read, I like to pick a chapter to read before bed some nights or just on a lazy afternoon when I am feeling like being outdoors but don't have the luxury of living near any woods to take a walk through. If you enjoy nature inspired books, Craig Childs tales of his own excursions will not disappoint. It is a relaxing but engaging read, he writes in a way that you can clearly imagine the scene around you. It makes me long to be able to fill my own days with travels through the forest.
I've never read a book like this before, but I'm very glad that I read this one. The author is an adventurer and naturalist who has spent most of his life outside, hiking, trekking, and even spending years living in a tipi in a rural mountainous area. As a result of that he's had countless encounters with wild animals - some scary, some puzzling, and others quite touching. This is a collection of encounters with three dozen different species that have taken place over the years, and I found them all quite interesting and enjoyable. Recommended.
Childs is an unusual combination of adventurous bad-ass and contemplative literary writer. He brings a sense of utmost respect, wonder, and intelligence to the retellings of his incredible experiences in the wild, whether he's staring down a mountain lion, getting lost in a snowstorm in backwoods Colorado with only the call of an owl as his guide, or finding himself under attack by a coven of ravens (among other encounters). I highly recommend this fascinating, eye-opening essay collection.
Easy to read the short stories whenever I wanted to. Can come and go as you please to read this book.
A fun collection of stories about up close and personal encounters with animals, mostly in the wild. The author seems obsessed with animals to the point of not respecting their needs and boundaries at some points (reading about him touching the antelope calf was particularly alarming to me, as was him stealing the skull of the mountain lion that he found in the desert). It made me reflect on what our role is in appreciating and understanding nature if our presence inherently changes the animals we interact with. I recommend it for anyone who hopes/fears encountering animals on their outdoor treks!
adventurous
Good, I liked the stories but the writing was fluffy... poetic ish? I rolled my eyes a lot.