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eehancock's review against another edition
5.0
Best book I’ve read so far this year. Yay or nay...should I email the author to inform him we’re basically soulmates?
snickies's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t know why this took me so long to finish. I really like Tom Cox’s books and this was no exception.
bryce_is_a_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
For the most part it's a charming book, but I can't help but be suspicious of any "naturalist" intellectually dishonest enough to keep outdoor cats.
kait_lost_in_books's review against another edition
4.0
This book is incredibly difficult to describe. It’s not about anything in particular but it’s more like a diary entry with no sense of chronology. It jumps about all over the place, includes bits on nature, family anecdotes, social history and folk art amongst others.
Some of the passages I highlighted:
“In this way [woodpeckers] are the antithesis of grey squirrels, whose cuddling of trees masked a true agenda of rampant nihilism.”
“A lot of it is about sexual frustration, he tells me, the males get horny and they can’t find a mate so they go attack bark instead.”
“The narrative is of such a loud and experimental-jazz nature that I get easily tired. The theory has been put forward that my dad doesn’t speak words, he haemorrhages them.”
“Because of this and the tiny unseen people who live in my house and steal socks in the dead of night, my sock drawer resembles a diverse but ultimately unsuccessful dating site - socks of every shape and colour, each of them alone, failing to find love.”
Funny, heartwarming, comforting and familiar it’s a gentle read that smells like home.
Some of the passages I highlighted:
“In this way [woodpeckers] are the antithesis of grey squirrels, whose cuddling of trees masked a true agenda of rampant nihilism.”
“A lot of it is about sexual frustration, he tells me, the males get horny and they can’t find a mate so they go attack bark instead.”
“The narrative is of such a loud and experimental-jazz nature that I get easily tired. The theory has been put forward that my dad doesn’t speak words, he haemorrhages them.”
“Because of this and the tiny unseen people who live in my house and steal socks in the dead of night, my sock drawer resembles a diverse but ultimately unsuccessful dating site - socks of every shape and colour, each of them alone, failing to find love.”
Funny, heartwarming, comforting and familiar it’s a gentle read that smells like home.
1outside's review against another edition
4.0
'Tis the first book I've read to which publication I've contributed via Unbound, even if in just a small way. I've listened to albums and viewed art I helped finance (again, usually in just a small way), but this is still a first. Gotta admit, it was a tiny bit heartwarming seeing one's name among the many many others at the end of the book.
Unlike Tom's cat books, 21st-Century Yokel is more thematically varied, basically a collection of essays. Some I found I pretty much hoovered up, some interested me less, but I happen to like Tom's style and quirks (sorry, can't think of a better word ATM), and so even those outside of my interests were a pleasure to read.
Just as with the preceding book, it was quite cool time travelling & re-living stuff I've read on Tom's blog & seen on his social media accounts, here in a slightly different form or contexts.
Well, that's it for now, I'm all caught up, but I'm looking forward to more from Tom!
Unlike Tom's cat books, 21st-Century Yokel is more thematically varied, basically a collection of essays. Some I found I pretty much hoovered up, some interested me less, but I happen to like Tom's style and quirks (sorry, can't think of a better word ATM), and so even those outside of my interests were a pleasure to read.
Just as with the preceding book, it was quite cool time travelling & re-living stuff I've read on Tom's blog & seen on his social media accounts, here in a slightly different form or contexts.
Well, that's it for now, I'm all caught up, but I'm looking forward to more from Tom!