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keepreadingbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.75
I started Findings after reading Clear by Carys Davies because I wasn’t ready to let go of Scotland, and because I felt deeply nostalgic for our 16-day trip to the highlands last summer. And ah, what a balm to my soul it was; a straight-forward yet delightfully poetic meditation on a vanishing landscape in Scotland, the nature we meet outside our front doors, and our relationship with the natural world.
There is no overarching narrative, no mission, no discernible point – not even an introduction that explains why Jamie set out to write this nature book and no real bridges between the different chapters (or essays, rather) – but I think that’s one of the things I love about it. And also the fact that Jamie comes at nature in-between everyday chores and obligations, of family life and work; it makes it feel much more accessible, more achievable. Closer to what the reality is for the majority of us.
Will definitely be reading Sightlines.
shellydennison's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.75
Beautifully written collection of essays.
bluestarfish's review
5.0
"Between the laundry and the fetching kids from school, that's how birds enter my life. I listen. During a lull in the traffic: oyster-catchers; in the school-playground, sparrows." These beautiful essays link life and anecdote and observations. A passing upward glance catches a comet which then leads to a delightful exploration of the city's roofs. A pocket knife can cut off a (dead) gannet's head. Corncrakes crex-crex away... Delightful stuff, wonderfully written, and a joy to read.
aureliano_100's review
1.0
I was surprised to see this book has received so many five star reviews - I struggled to make it to the end. Occasionally there were bits that were slightly more interesting but most of it was tediously dull. Maybe I read a different book to everyone else as the poetic language didn't do it for me either.
aquapower's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A relaxing and thought provoking read, but considering the author's status I was expecting something a little more special from it.
The chapter about surgeons hall made me feel almost as ill as I did when I visited it in person though, so well described enough.
The chapter about surgeons hall made me feel almost as ill as I did when I visited it in person though, so well described enough.
dkai's review
3.0
The traveling thoughts of a middle-aged Scottish woman, Findings, like the source material of Scottish wilderness/ruins, feels very open and a little distant. Though peaceful, there is always a little unease in the back of the thoughts, whether about death, the natural world, or the unnatural world. At times, it falls prey to cliche and heavy use of simile/metaphor (as with many books chronicling thoughts of their authors). Still, there was enough interesting material in there that I did not feel disappointed. I would describe it as a piece that provokes questions, rather than answering them.