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keepreadingbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.75
I started Findings after reading Clear by Carys Davies because I wasn’t ready to let go of Scotland, and because I felt deeply nostalgic for our 16-day trip to the highlands last summer. And ah, what a balm to my soul it was; a straight-forward yet delightfully poetic meditation on a vanishing landscape in Scotland, the nature we meet outside our front doors, and our relationship with the natural world.
There is no overarching narrative, no mission, no discernible point – not even an introduction that explains why Jamie set out to write this nature book and no real bridges between the different chapters (or essays, rather) – but I think that’s one of the things I love about it. And also the fact that Jamie comes at nature in-between everyday chores and obligations, of family life and work; it makes it feel much more accessible, more achievable. Closer to what the reality is for the majority of us.
Will definitely be reading Sightlines.
shellydennison's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.75
Beautifully written collection of essays.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
5.0
"Between the laundry and the fetching kids from school, that's how birds enter my life. I listen. During a lull in the traffic: oyster-catchers; in the school-playground, sparrows." These beautiful essays link life and anecdote and observations. A passing upward glance catches a comet which then leads to a delightful exploration of the city's roofs. A pocket knife can cut off a (dead) gannet's head. Corncrakes crex-crex away... Delightful stuff, wonderfully written, and a joy to read.
aureliano_100's review against another edition
1.0
I was surprised to see this book has received so many five star reviews - I struggled to make it to the end. Occasionally there were bits that were slightly more interesting but most of it was tediously dull. Maybe I read a different book to everyone else as the poetic language didn't do it for me either.
aquapower's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A relaxing and thought provoking read, but considering the author's status I was expecting something a little more special from it.
The chapter about surgeons hall made me feel almost as ill as I did when I visited it in person though, so well described enough.
The chapter about surgeons hall made me feel almost as ill as I did when I visited it in person though, so well described enough.
dkai's review against another edition
3.0
The traveling thoughts of a middle-aged Scottish woman, Findings, like the source material of Scottish wilderness/ruins, feels very open and a little distant. Though peaceful, there is always a little unease in the back of the thoughts, whether about death, the natural world, or the unnatural world. At times, it falls prey to cliche and heavy use of simile/metaphor (as with many books chronicling thoughts of their authors). Still, there was enough interesting material in there that I did not feel disappointed. I would describe it as a piece that provokes questions, rather than answering them.