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ansemanco's review against another edition
2.0
This book felt like it was written by a young writer mimicking the voice of a writer they admired - which was surprising for how many books Childs has under his belt. The whole book felt deeply underdeveloped. There was an aspect of honesty and vulnerability missing from that work. It felt like it was trying too hard, and at times came off as incredibly arrogant and uninformed. The stories lacked depth and seemed forced.
archaeomancer's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite what I expected but not in a bad way; definitely food for thought as I whiled away the day in a dry canyon far from anywhere. The parallels in the threads woven throughout the essays were stark and beautiful, just how one would describe the land he wrote about! I could stare at the cover art for hours too, its lovely.
winglady's review against another edition
5.0
Childs' mesmerizing prose is reminiscent of Edward Abbey. If the desert and nature call to you, you'll love reading his work. This collection of essays about experiencing the desert will draw you into dry and ancient places in the Southwest, sharing archaeological observations and modern viewpoints of a unique and strangely-beautiful arid world.
Disclosure: I have been privileged to participate in two writing seminars taught by Craig Childs, and hope to enjoy the opportunity to learn from this accomplished writer again in the future.
Disclosure: I have been privileged to participate in two writing seminars taught by Craig Childs, and hope to enjoy the opportunity to learn from this accomplished writer again in the future.
miniwynnie's review against another edition
4.25
Really liked how every essay ended with a sentence that tied it into the next essay via the essay titles.
funnellegant's review against another edition
4.0
A love letter to dry places; to thirst, to bare things, and to the place of death in the order of the world. The author painted a picture of the desert that does justice to its diverse face and austere, but somehow beautiful inhospitality. I found the book poetic, striking, and even lyrical in some places. Highly recommended for anyone who thinks longingly of canyons, arches, and desert sandstone.
talesuponmyshelf_'s review against another edition
3.0
Very well written. The words used to describe different things was beautiful! The only reason for three stars is I didn't care much about the subject matter but I still enjoyed it.
fallonclimbs's review against another edition
5.0
A marvelous, raw ode to the desert. Childs knows the deepest music of the land and it shines through in his writing. Sorry, Abbey — this is my new favorite desert book.