I like books that feature someone in isolation, especially out there in nature enjoying an unhurried pace. This book sort of fits the bill, with a fair amount of poetry and philosophy on top of it.
Written back in the 70s, this book tells all about the area around Tinker Creek, somewhere in the Ozarks. The author’s observations and experiences are included along with her musings on nature, religion, and philosophy. I didn’t really find myself interested in the religious aspect of the writing but there isn’t all that much to get through.
I was more interested in the idea of taking your own time to observe what is happening in nature all around you. How important to have the ability to notice what is all around you and have the curiosity to figure out what it might mean. To not be tempted by technology and instead rely on nature for your intellectual stimulation – what a concept. The nice thing about a book written predominantly about nature is that not much has changed in the 50 years or so since the book was written.
This bold young author really took some chances. While some parts became a little confusing for me, for the most part she takes the topics and thinks them through, occasionally beyond where you would expect it to go.
I can see why this book has been recommended as an important non-fiction work – I’m glad I could finally read it.
Next I am reading Call for the Dead by John le Carre.
