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pammella's review against another edition
3.0
Three stars for the birds--seriously, the parts I most enjoyed were descriptions of the birds and each bird's habitat.
lavoiture's review against another edition
4.0
I can't really explain why I enjoyed this book so much. It was mostly a series of vignettes from a fairly regular life, but they were beautifully written. Not exciting, not titillating…just nice.
kdhanda's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant memoir. Divided in 5 essays in which the writer ruminates on his past experiences. Each vignette reads like a segment of his coming-of-age and the vignettes are in chronological order. The writer is deft at handling issues of loss, death and coming to terms. I was especially intrigued by how birds played a role in the vignettes. My favorite story was Grey Geese Descending that mourns the loss of a relationship. Along the way, Norman drops quotes by other writers such as "the only way out is the way through" (Frost) and others. A quick read but one that has staying power.
rebecca2023's review against another edition
3.0
This memoir is divided into four or five sections, each recounting a specific time in the life of the author. The first vignette was my absolute favorite, as he recounts a summer of his boyhood when he worked on his city's book mobile.
bookingserious's review against another edition
4.0
Incredible writing. I read this in two sittings because I knew how hard it was for me to stop the first time. I feel as though I am dear friends with Mr. Norman. These memoir pieces invite you to sit at the table and listen to a man intimately disclose his life to you. As the title suggests, I hated to leave that beautiful place.
kdhanda's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant memoir. Divided in 5 essays in which the writer ruminates on his past experiences. Each vignette reads like a segment of his coming-of-age and the vignettes are in chronological order. The writer is deft at handling issues of loss, death and coming to terms. I was especially intrigued by how birds played a role in the vignettes. My favorite story was Grey Geese Descending that mourns the loss of a relationship. Along the way, Norman drops quotes by other writers such as "the only way out is the way through" (Frost) and others. A quick read but one that has staying power.
ohlookanowl's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful, thoughtful writings and ruminations on Howard's strange and eventful life. At times, small portions of the book (a paragraph here, a sentence there) seemed a little too self-absorbed or cold (a lacking of an empathy I wanted to believe the author constantly embodied), and I felt less affinity for the author than I would've liked. But on the whole, it's well worth reading.
"I loved, as I have always loved, watching sanderlings hustle about and forage with their bills as if trying to stitch in place the wavering margin between tide and beach, a margin that soaks away with every wave."(I Hate to Leave This Beautiful Place, p.178)
"I loved, as I have always loved, watching sanderlings hustle about and forage with their bills as if trying to stitch in place the wavering margin between tide and beach, a margin that soaks away with every wave."(I Hate to Leave This Beautiful Place, p.178)
sarahjsnider's review against another edition
4.0
Themes of death, abandonment, and the consolation of nature (especially birds) weave their way through this memoir. It's less of a life story than a story of a few moments in a life. It's not an exciting book I would tell everyone to run out and read, but it does give some interesting insights into a writer's mind and development. I think some of this will stay with me.
marisahowardkarp's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly? I had a hard time following the first few stories in here, but the last one just shone so much I had to give this 4 stars. I think I will try the first few again in a month or so.
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