Nature Literature discussion

World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments
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Book of the Month > World of Wonders discussion

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message 1: by Becky (new)

Becky Norman | 934 comments Mod
Please add your comments about World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments to this thread.


Cindy Ann (syndianne) Thanks, Becky! I was just beginning to wonder if we'd picked one for December yet. We are embarking on a round-trip NY to CA train ride and I think I might just have some time to read.


Cindy Ann (syndianne) I know there’s a popular side read this month, but who else is joining for the main read?


message 4: by Becky (new)

Becky Norman | 934 comments Mod
I'm hoping to, if I can figure out how to download it to my work tablet!


message 5: by Tamara (new)

Tamara Agha-Jaffar I've ordered it from the library and will join if it gets here on time.


Cara (cara16) | 43 comments I read this book several months ago and don't have the library copy anymore, but I will try to join the conversation or at least follow along!


message 7: by Julie (new) - added it

Julie M | 287 comments I read a year ago, but it really wasn’t for me, so I won’t be participating with this book.


Hayley | 72 comments I hope to start the book this weekend.


message 9: by Amrita (new)

Amrita Bhohi Hi everyone! I've just joined goodreads, and hoping that it will inspire me to do much more reading! My copy of World of Wonders has just arrived, and looking forward to joining this read for the month.


Cindy Ann (syndianne) I started it on the first, then got sidetracked. The chapters are really short, so I've read 10 already. I really enjoyed the memoir/science combination that was Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest, but this one is not as enjoyable yet. Perhaps it is the lack of continuity of the nature vignettes she has chosen.
Getting back into it on Tuesday. Anyone else have thoughts about it yet?


Hayley | 72 comments I just started this book last night and it's not what I thought it would be. It's good, but more personal memoir than nature book.


Cindy Ann (syndianne) I picked it up again yesterday and just realized she's a poet. Ohhhh.

I'm not used to reading poetry or prose by poets. Now I'm giving her a wider acceptance buffer and not holding her to my nerdy standards of nature writing.

I decided to skim through the angst and just read about the nature stuff. Although, as she recounts more of her adult life, the angst is reducing. The cara cara oranges, cockatiel, and octopus chapters seem better than the earlier ones. I'm mellowing towards her.


Hayley | 72 comments I read this book in two days, and enjoyed it; however, I thought it would be more of a nature book than a personal memoir. I wanted more information about the animals and less information about her family and childhood.


Cindy Ann (syndianne) Finished. I went from not liking the personal content in the beginning to really appreciating her personal perspective at the end.

I would have liked more nature content, but I think her blend was right for her. Ultimately, we are all interpreting nature in our own way.


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