Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ageorge1877 's review for:
The Shepherd's Life: A People's History of the Lake District
by James Rebanks
Homely and warming. An open and honest account of life as a shepherd, unafraid to get into detail on some of the more visceral farming techniques, but also engages with the more personal struggles and euphorias of the job.
I really love the blunt writing style and the structure. 4 fat chapters, broken up by tiny page n a half anecdotes. These anecdotes will be linked for little bit, then go off somewhere completely else. Chronology isnt a concern at all but over the 4 chapters there's still a clear narrative. It reads like the ramblings of a farmer, sitting in front of you with a brew and just letting loose. All helps with the v authentic feel of the book.
It gave me some thinks as to where this book would fit into the veganism debate. It's clear that this network of farmers do really care about their sheep and their wellbeing, but it did feel like engagement with the 'food' part of the job was omitted slightly. Did make me go all peery eyed and 'hmmmm' a few times.
But elsewhere Rebanks doesnt shy from big topics and v subtlety but critically engages with a lot of crackin class discourse. He reminds us that the big R Romantic ideals of the lakes come inherently from a place of privilege, but he's very balanced n fair about it. He aLSO reminds us that we should have a lot more pride in doing these academically 'low skilled' jobs that are, yknow, absolutely vital for the functioning of society (topical).
The whole time reading I was thinking of that Fleet Foxes lyric: 'I was raised up believing I was somehow unique, like a snowflake, unique among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see | but now after some thinking I'd say I'd rather be a functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me'. Rebanks' connection with the land and his flock goes back literally thousands of years through generations of shepherds. It's very comforting to read about farming techniques which, through all the changes of civilisation, have remained completely the same. The book, in this sense, teaches honour in doing something real and something helpful. It opens up a little ancient world that still thankfully exists in some pockets of society where honesty and respectability is valued above money. Where people are judged on how hard they work rather than what the work is. As an unemployed graduand it's a really hopeful read.
I really love the blunt writing style and the structure. 4 fat chapters, broken up by tiny page n a half anecdotes. These anecdotes will be linked for little bit, then go off somewhere completely else. Chronology isnt a concern at all but over the 4 chapters there's still a clear narrative. It reads like the ramblings of a farmer, sitting in front of you with a brew and just letting loose. All helps with the v authentic feel of the book.
It gave me some thinks as to where this book would fit into the veganism debate. It's clear that this network of farmers do really care about their sheep and their wellbeing, but it did feel like engagement with the 'food' part of the job was omitted slightly. Did make me go all peery eyed and 'hmmmm' a few times.
But elsewhere Rebanks doesnt shy from big topics and v subtlety but critically engages with a lot of crackin class discourse. He reminds us that the big R Romantic ideals of the lakes come inherently from a place of privilege, but he's very balanced n fair about it. He aLSO reminds us that we should have a lot more pride in doing these academically 'low skilled' jobs that are, yknow, absolutely vital for the functioning of society (topical).
The whole time reading I was thinking of that Fleet Foxes lyric: 'I was raised up believing I was somehow unique, like a snowflake, unique among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see | but now after some thinking I'd say I'd rather be a functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me'. Rebanks' connection with the land and his flock goes back literally thousands of years through generations of shepherds. It's very comforting to read about farming techniques which, through all the changes of civilisation, have remained completely the same. The book, in this sense, teaches honour in doing something real and something helpful. It opens up a little ancient world that still thankfully exists in some pockets of society where honesty and respectability is valued above money. Where people are judged on how hard they work rather than what the work is. As an unemployed graduand it's a really hopeful read.