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jenmulholland's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
sindri_inn_arsaeli's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. I *wanted* to like this book. I see I'm not the only one, either, which makes me feel better! It's subject matter that I generally choose as sort of comfort reads: travel narrative, walking narrative, get back to nature/movement narrative, those sorts of things. And this claimed to also include a history of such topics, which sounded like a bonus.
But, ugh, just, her writing was soooooo dense! The vocabulary came off as weirdly out of date, like she should have sounded more natural but was maybe *trying?* to sound more "old fashioned". I don't know if that was a stylistic choice, or just the way she writes, but especially the fact that that particular voice came through heaviest in some of the chapters where she was talking about modern pilgrimages, one especially of which she as a cultural outsider still managed to be invited into, it felt REALLY off putting for me.
Some chapters were easier reading than others, but when I still wasn't half way through and hit some more of that especially dense reading, I just threw up my hands. This was supposed to be fun, and it stopped being so and felt like research, and I'm so positive I could find another title that covers this topic's research and manages to be fun.
But, ugh, just, her writing was soooooo dense! The vocabulary came off as weirdly out of date, like she should have sounded more natural but was maybe *trying?* to sound more "old fashioned". I don't know if that was a stylistic choice, or just the way she writes, but especially the fact that that particular voice came through heaviest in some of the chapters where she was talking about modern pilgrimages, one especially of which she as a cultural outsider still managed to be invited into, it felt REALLY off putting for me.
Some chapters were easier reading than others, but when I still wasn't half way through and hit some more of that especially dense reading, I just threw up my hands. This was supposed to be fun, and it stopped being so and felt like research, and I'm so positive I could find another title that covers this topic's research and manages to be fun.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
At some point this year, Rebecca Solnit's name and books came to my attention. I wish I could remember how or why this happened. All that really matters is that I gotten to read some fascinating books. This is my second, No Ordinary Land by Laura McPhee included an essay by Solnit.
Microhistories, detailed books about one subject have probably existed for a long time, but the genre has grown like crazy in the last decade. Who knew that a whole book on salt, pencils, turquoise or walking could be so interesting. Solnit has written an excellent example of narrative non-fiction.
Solnit did her research and seems to have covered walking as throughly as one could. This is not a dry book. Solnit covers walking from pilgrimages to hiking through the streets of cities to suburbia, and her thoughts and excellent writing makes the journey very enjoyable.
In an interview, Solnit is asked to define herself as a type of author. She is unwilling to define herself as a particular kind of writer. She says, "I realized there that the genres — first-person lyrical essay, reportage, critical analysis — couldn’t be separate, that I needed all the tools..." in this case when she was writing about the Nevada test site. I think this is why I like Solnit's writing. She uses what she needs to tell her story. I am grateful that Solnit does not have one field that she writes about, but applies her knowledge to what she encounters. I look forward to meandering with Solnit again soon.
I recommend this book to readers who like to learn, who find books as a way to travel to new places and encounter different viewpoints.
Microhistories, detailed books about one subject have probably existed for a long time, but the genre has grown like crazy in the last decade. Who knew that a whole book on salt, pencils, turquoise or walking could be so interesting. Solnit has written an excellent example of narrative non-fiction.
Solnit did her research and seems to have covered walking as throughly as one could. This is not a dry book. Solnit covers walking from pilgrimages to hiking through the streets of cities to suburbia, and her thoughts and excellent writing makes the journey very enjoyable.
In an interview, Solnit is asked to define herself as a type of author. She is unwilling to define herself as a particular kind of writer. She says, "I realized there that the genres — first-person lyrical essay, reportage, critical analysis — couldn’t be separate, that I needed all the tools..." in this case when she was writing about the Nevada test site. I think this is why I like Solnit's writing. She uses what she needs to tell her story. I am grateful that Solnit does not have one field that she writes about, but applies her knowledge to what she encounters. I look forward to meandering with Solnit again soon.
I recommend this book to readers who like to learn, who find books as a way to travel to new places and encounter different viewpoints.
kirbsyourenthusiasm's review against another edition
DNF on page 38 — will definitely revisit as I’m sure it’s a brill read. Just not gelling with it rn !