Reviews - On Time and Water

170 reviews for:

On Time and Water

Andri Snær Magnason

4.24 AVERAGE

Eh. I like the idea of making climate disaster a human and approachable subject by zooming in on ecology, but are the loose remembrances of family members really that helpful? I loved the parts focused on the enormity of the climate issue and how it materially affects our everyday lives, but these parts were spread far too thin amongst completely anodyne genealogical surveys and mostly irrelevant remembrances that aren’t so universal or profound.

straaawbs's review against another edition

5.0

This was wonderful. Climate change is a huge topic to grapple with, and Icelandic author (and former presidential candidate, apparently) Andri Snær Magnason blends together a mix of family memoir, science, travel, history and spirituality to try to impress upon his readers the urgency of the crisis. A set of recurring motifs are woven throughout, different representations of time and the interconnectedness of all life on earth, both spatially and temporally. The writing is urgent but there's also an intimacy, like having a conversation round a fireplace. I found myself highlighting a lot of passages, which I don't always do.

Definitely one my top reads this year, highly highly recommended.

hollygoltly's review

4.5

challenging slow-paced

monastera's review

4.0

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

laurelkane's review against another edition

4.25

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

swoody788's review

5.0

I heard a snippet of an interview with Magnason on NPR and knew that I had to read his latest book. The way he contextualizes climate change is beautiful and tragic. And effective. I wish everyone would read this book.