Blue Rooms: Ripples, Rivers, Pools, and Other Waters

by John Jerome

The earth is beautiful because of water, says John Jerome, who sets out to explore the most ravishing examples of the element he can find. The search takes him from Oklahoma swimming holes to Adirondack lakes, from Canada to the Caribbean and from his earliest water memories to his mature reflections on what it is about water in its natural state that humans find so compelling.

Genres: Nonfiction

241 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1997

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 1 out of 5]

His thoughts wander. I love rivers and lakes but still found it difficult to finish.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who is more or less a "water" educator to students and the public at large, I was long overdue to read a tome on someone's experience with the marvelous substance that surrounds us.

I've never read Jerome before, but now I'll seek him out. This book was inspiring most of the way through, from all sides of me: educator, environmentalist/outdoorist and amateur/terrible writer. His language is gorgeous throughout, his asides and stories are the best marks. There is no doubt the effect water has had on him throughout his life - his obsession with the feeling of it across his skin. It's admirable he can recall all these memories so distinctly and saddening that I can't think for the life of me something in my life that has affected me in the same way.

Passionate writing, beautiful storytelling. He can waver a bit when he begins to wax philosophical or go a bit too far, but I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good swim, a good river, a clear night out.