A review by richardwells
Desert Notebooks: A Road Map for the End of Time by Ben Ehrenreich

4.0

Almost fantastic, and on my list for a second read sometime down the road. Mr. Ehrenreich writes from and of two locales, Joshua Tree, and Las Vegas, with Las Vegas taking up the bulk of the book, but with Joshua Tree being the most cogent and interesting of the two. The leitmotif of the book is the author's relationship with owls, and they create the primary metaphors in both sections, though they get pretty short shift in the second, and seem to be brought back for the sake of cohesiveness more than importance. The notebook title is apt, as it's written as brief entries that wander through subjects and meditations. Reminded me a little bit of reading Eduardo Galleano - but just a little.

I found the Joshua Tree section to be an absolutely fascinating dip into desert ecology, the myth and metaphor of owls, the science of climate change, eschatology, and personal history. I was sure I had a five star book in my hands, but then came Vegas. Part Two wandered, and at times I felt I was reading various Wiki entries as the author laid out a lot of info without the glue of personal reflection that he gives in part one. For awhile, it became a slog, but I must say, when Mr. Ehrenreich writes nature description, and contrasts it with the day and nightmare of Las Vegas, he shines.

So a lot of stars, as in the night sky of Joshua Tree, but not Vegas, but a lukewarm review, and a desire to re-read, especially the first section because it was so good, and possibly the second to see if I'm off, and because there is good stuff there. Mixed, then, but...

So close...