A review by poorlywordedbookreviews
Ness by Robert Macfarlane, Stanley Donwood

hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

‘𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦’

   

I am here for anything that decides to use coccolithophores falling to the sea bed as a simile for something settling. Sadly I continue to not really be here for anything described as poetry. And that’s what MacFarlane has created here, very different to his nonfiction works I’ve read, assembling a modern myth of the natural worlds perpetual drive to reclaim. It is based on Orford Ness, a shingle spit and former military base turned nature reserve that has been ‘given over’ to coastal erosion. 

  

This is a short (less than 100 pages), illustrated novella - so if poetry is more your thing, and you have a fascination with, and appreciation for, the natural world I’d give it a go. It has flashes of Lanny in its accurate reflection of a world now forever marked by human activity, and some really interesting lines as it describes the facets of Ness. Loads of metaphors to analyse if that’s your thing. 

   

Overall, not really for me, despite its topic and themes it’s not my style. I actually think it could work really well on audio if well done with sound effects beyond straight reading, to bring the atmosphere to life. 

‘𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥’