raineachreads's reviews
44 reviews

The Meaning of Geese by Nick Acheson

informative slow-paced

3.75

Nick Acheson worked in South America and touring the world in conservationist and nature related work. Having decided to give up flying for environmental reasons and returning to the U.K. he found himself becoming fascinated by and studying geese. As the Covid lockdowns started, like so many people, his relationship with nature further changed and as everybody became isolated he explored the countryside looking for and learning about geese.

I enjoyed this book, it was a real mix of memoir, nature study and also literature reviews too. Mainly written as a diary of Acheson’s daily discoveries and sightings during 2020-2021 this format worked really well. I learned a lot of information (Egyptian geese it turns out aren’t really geese and the Slimbridge bird sanctuary in England is responsible for Hawaiian geese not becoming extinct) as well as being horrified at the dangers of lead pellets, shooting practices and difficulties geese face. While mainly fact and information focused there are some beautifully written lines throughout this and it’s a book that’s easy to read through in just a couple of sittings.

Next time I see geese fly over I will definitely be viewing them with more insight and interest.

Thank you very much to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A People's History of Heaven by Mathangi Subramanian

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I absolutely loved this book. It was poetical yet realistic, beautiful yet heart wrenching. The characters were completely believable and I found myself rooting for each one. 

‘The People’s History of Heaven’ is set in a fictional slum in Bangalore (known as Heaven) that is about to be demolished. Growing up there, is a group of girls who protest against the demolition. The slum clearance in some ways is just the background to the story (though the slum itself is arguably the main character). We are given the history of each of their girls and get to know them individually and as a group; their hopes, dreams, troubles and daily realities. 

This book in many ways could have made multiple different books focusing on each character in more depth with more information about what happened to each one next. At first on finishing this I wished this had been the case as I wanted to learn more and felt that at least an afterward was needed. However on reflection I think the author got it right. What she did was show how in a place that could be overlooked there were so many stories weaving away. How every person you meet has fears, hopes, troubles and happiness too. That no one story is more important than enough and that all of them joined together is what creates a place, it’s history and the future of that place. The title could not be more perfect. 

I can’t wait to read what Mathangi Subramaniam will write next!

The Four Emotions of Christmas by Bob Lepine

hopeful fast-paced

3.5

The irony that I’m reading this after Christmas as I didn’t have time before was not lost on me as I worked my way through the pages of this book! ‘The Four Emotions of Christmas’ is a short book exploring that Christmas isn’t and doesn’t have to be perfect and that sometimes it’s more difficult. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype and sometimes going back to basics is the best thing you can do.

The Golden Mole: and Other Living Treasure by Katherine Rundell

informative medium-paced

4.0

This was such a fantastic book to start 2023 off reading! It’s set the bar very high for the rest of the books I might read this year. Informative, fascinating and such an important message this will be one I’ll pick up to reread again.

The Golden Mole is like many books in that it tackles the subject of nature, the Earth and how we are destroying it. Unlike many other books though it addresses this subject from a different angle. Rundell encourages us to become curious about the natural world and the creatures we share our planet with. Providing insights into their lives and all sorts of facts you can’t help but read this and wonder as well as become more curious about various animals. In doing so you want to protect them and also realise just what could (and already is) being lost. From sea creatures to insects, large land mammals to those that are hardly seen (and in the case of the Golden Mole no human has yet to see one alive) a surprising amount is covered in a fairly short book. The conclusion especially provided a powerful punch to make the reader go away and think. 

I really loved reading this. It’s left me feeling sad and frustrated about humans and the changes that are happening fast yet it’s left me hopeful too. Hopeful that if we learn more about the world around us we will realise just how incredible, wonderful and complex it is and then fight all the more to protect it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.