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emilyforrer's review
5.0
This WONDERFUL book married so many topics perfectly to the overall subject of coral reef health. It addressed systemic issues, politics, race and privilege, climate change/global warming, and mental health in very conscious and careful ways. But also very meaningful ways. The way Juli was able to weave these discussions into the main topic was just perfection.
The overall topic of the coral reefs was amazing as well. This story told by someone else may not evoke such emotions toward corals, but I felt truly moved by how much the author truly seems to care about them. And adding in others' viewpoints was amazing! I appreciated the honesty that some people are in the conservation movement more for "legacy" or "selfish" reasons, but also the viewpoint that any action with whatever reason behind it is still action.
I haven't loved a nonfiction like this in a very long time. I'll be recommending it to everyone. Also thank you to Nathan (@schizophrenicreads) for relentlessly recommending this!!
The overall topic of the coral reefs was amazing as well. This story told by someone else may not evoke such emotions toward corals, but I felt truly moved by how much the author truly seems to care about them. And adding in others' viewpoints was amazing! I appreciated the honesty that some people are in the conservation movement more for "legacy" or "selfish" reasons, but also the viewpoint that any action with whatever reason behind it is still action.
I haven't loved a nonfiction like this in a very long time. I'll be recommending it to everyone. Also thank you to Nathan (@schizophrenicreads) for relentlessly recommending this!!
madalynn_owens's review against another edition
5.0
“Awash in color and texture, the reed was beyond Baroque, more complex than Gothic. It was floral, it was animal, and it was mineral too.”
Absolutely amazing. Beautiful writing of a complex topic. The author weaves in some of their personal life to create a complete and very unique story
Absolutely amazing. Beautiful writing of a complex topic. The author weaves in some of their personal life to create a complete and very unique story
julianairving's review
emotional
informative
slow-paced
2.5
Very informative
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
r33n's review
switched to audiobook partway, very dense with information but really informative. looking forward to more scientific books this year
awaywiththefairies's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
A solid 3 because it is packed with information. However I was not a fam of the writing style and it was a bit hard for me to get into. A lot more science information than anticipated - packed with historical and scientific facts.
Not my cup of tea but I think might be someone elses.
Not my cup of tea but I think might be someone elses.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
jordyn_lightyear's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
librarymouse's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
This was a fast, informative, and enjoyable read. I initial picked up this book for a reading challenge, having enjoyed Juli Berwald's other book Spineless, and wanting to see if I could get to understand my own OCD diagnosis better through understanding that of her daughter. While that isn't what I got out of this book, I still greatly enjoyed it. Framing coral health to the health of the planet, as mental health is to the health of the body, especially in how both have been consistently ignored until they reach near catastrophic extents clarified quite a lot about the coral reefs and what they do for the planet, that I had not been aware of before. That frame made the more scientifically dense sections easy to understand.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness