Playing with Water

by Kate Llewellyn

Kate Llewellyn's world is one that concentrates on the simple things...the planting of flowers, the moving of a tree, the art of digging the perfect hole. this is a life that endows small things with grace and dignity. After moving from her much-loved home in the mountains, Kate starts to establish her new garden in a coastal town. Here she also plants roots in her new community and details the small acts of humanity that lead to friendship. In capturing a moment, such as mowing a lawn with a blind man in the moonlight, waiting for the sound of frogs in a backyard pond or watching a lyrebird disappear into the scrub, Playing with Water creates a meditation on nature, on community and on the cycle of life. With a poet\'9291s touch, Kate transports us so we feel the endless heat of summer; experience the smoky winds and the orange skies of the bushfire season; taste the salt that hangs in the air on the walk to the seapool; and hear the squelch of lifting arum lilies from the mud... In Playing with Water, Kate Llewellyn has created a lyrical memoir that is a celebration of the senses and the seasons.

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Kate Llewellyn is the author of nineteen books, including the bestselling The Waterlily: A Blue Mountains Journal and Playing With Water: A Story of a Garden. A distinguished Australian poet, she has published six books of poetry and is the co-editor of The Penguin Book of Australian Women Poets. Her travel books include Lilies, Feathers & Frangipani on the Cook Islands and New Zealand; Angels and Dark Madonnas on India and Italy; and Gorillas, Tea & Coffee: An African Sketchbook. Her books The Floral Mother & Other Essays, The Waterlily and Playing With Water have been made into talking books

She is one of Australia’s bestselling authors...

Reviews

[Anne Fenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m reading Kate Llewellyn’s books backwards, moving through the gardens she’s created. This one is in Woonona, on the south coast of NSW. She’s a woman obsessed with gardening and plants, I can’t believe how many times she shifts things around, and I’m talking trees. Her love extends to gardening in public places, she established a garden at the local railway station with the help of many friends, including blind David. Her book shows people are remarkable. I’m inspired, am soaking seeds in water as I write.

[Corey Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect Sunday morning or winter-with hot chocolate-by-the-fire book. It is slow moving in a luxuriously decadent manner.

[Hildegunn Hodne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant, slow moving stroll through a year of gardening, both in her own garden and an ad hoc garden at her local train station.

[Skyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every single line. As someone who does a lot of gardening in public places, including a couple of volunteer gardens, I especially related to her stories of dealing with vandalism in her volunteer garden at the railway station. I have now managed to order all of her prose books from Australia. I don't think I have ever spent so much money to acquire a set of books by an author. But she is well worth it.

[Colemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly finished this. If you are a real gardener you will appreciate this book and take a long time to read it because you are out gardening! If you aren't into the garden then this book should drive you out there come rain or shine. It's inspirational, crazy, heartfelt and delicious. It has restored my love of gardening after a hot and damaging summer in Australia! I'll never give it up. Must finish have some watering to do

[Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star, because I just couldn't finish it.

One of those awful "look how gentle and softly spoken I am" books. Thanks but no thanks.

In the end I tore all the pages out and turned them into paper roses. They (the roses) turned out well if that means anything?

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Gorgeous, poetic descriptions. But with no plot, alas, I found it stayed on my bedside table unread past the first few chapters.

[Velvetink]

1 0f 23 books all for $10

[Jennifer Mcbain · Rating 3 out of 5]

... As much of it as I can. Dreary book...

[Oanh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and lyrical. I read it slowly over many months because it kept making me want to garden, rather than read.

[Ros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful! To be savoured like a good wine or maybe with a good wine. I think we need a Want to Reread category. This would definitely qualify for that.