Scan barcode
evanf's review
4.0
Other biomes, rainforests, mountains and the Arctic get a lot of love, especially regarding the climate crisis, so this was a great spotlight on these unsung heroes.
I think the main problem with this is the synopsis and how it's marketed. It's not a scientific journal article (and no offense but it's weird how many reviews here seem to have expected that from Annie Proulx). But as a light summary of the history, culture, and value of these ecosystems, it's great, so I'm reviewing it as if that was the goal.
I think the main problem with this is the synopsis and how it's marketed. It's not a scientific journal article (and no offense but it's weird how many reviews here seem to have expected that from Annie Proulx). But as a light summary of the history, culture, and value of these ecosystems, it's great, so I'm reviewing it as if that was the goal.
rrrraaayyyy's review
4.0
[ hardcover ]
3.5 rounded up
EDIT: *** I just realized it’s a history of Peatland DESTRUCTION, which makes sense. Still a bit drab in spots but far more fitting. My review is a bit misguided. Oops. ***
____
While this book does indicate it’s about the history in its subtitle: I found it more of a “how we relate to the peatland” story.
Personally, if I were to think about the history of swamps and wetlands it would be a natural history rich in stories of flooding areas, continents shifting, monsoons inundating … this book did mention a little bit on the natural history but mostly it was about how humans revered, feared, disregarded and destroyed the marshy areas. Then we also get TONS of info on the older writings of things that happened in and around these areas… only about 50% of which made me feel sleepy.
Overall a decent book. I’m thoroughly thrilled it exists.
Now if we can get someone to write that natural history piece that I was craving all the while, I would be doubly thrilled.
3.5 rounded up
EDIT: *** I just realized it’s a history of Peatland DESTRUCTION, which makes sense. Still a bit drab in spots but far more fitting. My review is a bit misguided. Oops. ***
____
While this book does indicate it’s about the history in its subtitle: I found it more of a “how we relate to the peatland” story.
Personally, if I were to think about the history of swamps and wetlands it would be a natural history rich in stories of flooding areas, continents shifting, monsoons inundating … this book did mention a little bit on the natural history but mostly it was about how humans revered, feared, disregarded and destroyed the marshy areas. Then we also get TONS of info on the older writings of things that happened in and around these areas… only about 50% of which made me feel sleepy.
Overall a decent book. I’m thoroughly thrilled it exists.
Now if we can get someone to write that natural history piece that I was craving all the while, I would be doubly thrilled.
tmilligan's review against another edition
3.0
Parts of this book are beautiful and fascinating, but other parts drag. A lot of interesting anecdotes and well-crafted language yet, despite the unifying theme, it never really came together as a whole for me.
ajparmentier's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
A really fascinating book. It talks a lot more about humanity's relationship with wetlands historically, anthropologically, and spiritually than I was expecting. I was expecting just straight science. And there is definitely science! But I was enthralled by the weaving together of the science with the modern relationship with the historical relationship. I was expecting bog mummies to be a mere paragraph, but when there was a whole chapter about bog mummies and a whole section about Doggerland???? I could have wept.
A sobering read, but also important. Also, it lead to me having a dream of eating dinner with my father, and my father alternately taking bites of his romaine lettuce salad and shoving leaves into his eye socket to "cure" some infection in it. This dream was brought to you by the powers of sphagnum moss!
A sobering read, but also important. Also, it lead to me having a dream of eating dinner with my father, and my father alternately taking bites of his romaine lettuce salad and shoving leaves into his eye socket to "cure" some infection in it. This dream was brought to you by the powers of sphagnum moss!
prizik's review
4.0
This book was meandering in the best way. Just someone who has researched a topic and has a lot of interesting factoids and idiosyncratic anecdotes strung together in an entertaining package. It has certainly helped me understand wetlands in a way I didn't previously
nr63vcd992_34drf's review
4.0
It’s hard to imagine that a compelling book could be written about fens, bogs, and swamps, but now we know. The book is partly about ecology but also about human interaction with the environment, historical, and religious impacts on people and the environment, and more.