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Mountain Song: A Journey to Finding Quiet in the Swiss Alps
In the vein of Nan Shepherd's The Living Mountain and Mary Oliver's gentle writing on nature, Mountain Song is a love letter to adventure, slowing down, and quietly noticing the beauty of wild places and our place within them.
"Here in the silence and surrounded by mountains, I’m starting to find my answers, at least for now. I want to be moulded by the world: by the people I’ve loved and the places I’ve sat and listened quietly, watching leaves falling, the sun rising and stars appearing..."
After graduating university with no idea what she really wanted to do with her life, Lucy Fuggle made the unexpected decision to leave behind her home in the UK for the company of glacier-covered mountains, alpine flora and fauna, and soaring eagles in Switzerland's Berner Oberland. For three years, she made picture-perfect Meiringen her home.
Growing up painfully shy and with high-functioning autism, Lucy found new mental and physical courage in the natural world around her traditional Swiss chalet, living alone with a view of towering peaks and waterfalls. In summer, she explored every trail around her house, including the Via Alpina trail 400 km across Switzerland. The coldest time of the year saw her switch hiking for freezing lake swims, snowshoe hikes, and glacier treks.
As her relationships, career, and inner life changed – for better and for worse – she ventured further into the wild around her for comfort, answers, and acceptance. In the silence and loneliness, she found the space to step into who she really was, no matter what others thought of that.
This is her quietly inspiring and soothing story of the ups and downs of living simply, quietly and in tune with nature and the transformation it can bring, accompanied by beautiful photographs and pen and ink sketches. Surrounded by some of the most striking scenery in Europe, Lucy finds a slower pace of living and exchanges insecurity for courage, changing the course of her life beyond recognition.
"Here in the silence and surrounded by mountains, I’m starting to find my answers, at least for now. I want to be moulded by the world: by the people I’ve loved and the places I’ve sat and listened quietly, watching leaves falling, the sun rising and stars appearing..."
After graduating university with no idea what she really wanted to do with her life, Lucy Fuggle made the unexpected decision to leave behind her home in the UK for the company of glacier-covered mountains, alpine flora and fauna, and soaring eagles in Switzerland's Berner Oberland. For three years, she made picture-perfect Meiringen her home.
Growing up painfully shy and with high-functioning autism, Lucy found new mental and physical courage in the natural world around her traditional Swiss chalet, living alone with a view of towering peaks and waterfalls. In summer, she explored every trail around her house, including the Via Alpina trail 400 km across Switzerland. The coldest time of the year saw her switch hiking for freezing lake swims, snowshoe hikes, and glacier treks.
As her relationships, career, and inner life changed – for better and for worse – she ventured further into the wild around her for comfort, answers, and acceptance. In the silence and loneliness, she found the space to step into who she really was, no matter what others thought of that.
This is her quietly inspiring and soothing story of the ups and downs of living simply, quietly and in tune with nature and the transformation it can bring, accompanied by beautiful photographs and pen and ink sketches. Surrounded by some of the most striking scenery in Europe, Lucy finds a slower pace of living and exchanges insecurity for courage, changing the course of her life beyond recognition.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2020
12 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Fuggle
3 books280 followersI recommend books at tolstoytherapy.com, love going on adventures, and wrote Mountain Song about my time living in Switzerland.
I mostly read literary fiction and have a weakness for beautifully written and illustrated books.
I grew up on a farm in a quiet English village and now live in Copenhagen (and eat too many excellent pastries).
I mostly read literary fiction and have a weakness for beautifully written and illustrated books.
I grew up on a farm in a quiet English village and now live in Copenhagen (and eat too many excellent pastries).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 9, 2022
You have no idea how this review book gave me so much comfort today. This month has been so tiring for me. I am physically and mentally exhausted trying to handle so many things. I couldn't even read for fun or review even a short book properly for a while now.
I just got the ARC today.
First, the cover caught my eyes and the title gave me so much hope. I just opened the book and started reading it. I realised just reading the first 23 pages gave me so much comfort that I knew I was reading the whole book in one sitting. It's just like a friend is talking to you and you are just listening learning so much good from it.
I love the real pictures. I wasn't expecting a memoir. But it's so worth it.
The writing is beautiful. The presentation is perfect. Perfect for a good, short weekend read.
I just love this book.
Thank you, BooksGoSocial, for the review copy.
I just got the ARC today.
First, the cover caught my eyes and the title gave me so much hope. I just opened the book and started reading it. I realised just reading the first 23 pages gave me so much comfort that I knew I was reading the whole book in one sitting. It's just like a friend is talking to you and you are just listening learning so much good from it.
I love the real pictures. I wasn't expecting a memoir. But it's so worth it.
The writing is beautiful. The presentation is perfect. Perfect for a good, short weekend read.
I just love this book.
Thank you, BooksGoSocial, for the review copy.
June 15, 2022
Mountain Song: A Journey to Finding Quiet in the Swiss Alps by Lucy Fuggle opens with the author turning a familiar wish into reality, as she rents a quaint house, in a tiny village called Meiringen nestled in the Swiss Alps, to get away from it all. “I wanted to live somewhere with quiet views of the mountains, surrounded by nature and with plenty of time to sit, read, write and think. I wanted to see the light change on the horizon, to notice the pinky-orange alpenglow illuminating the mountains as the day fell away and to know the comings and goings of the birds… I wanted to live on my terms, no matter what people thought of that.”
Fuggle, a woman in her early twenties, had grown up in a flat farming town in England and wrestled with her desire to be away from people, in the quiet, for most of her life. An introvert on the autistic spectrum, she felt drained and constrained by traditional work and social environments. She desired to escape to nature to find her true self, the comfortable self that she embodied as a child but had lost along the way. “As soon as I heard about autism and what it can look like for women, things suddenly made more sense. By reading about others who were shining their own light and giving other people’s expectations the finger, I saw a different path.”
Her choice to live for three years in the Traumhaus, or dream house, as her boyfriend Iain named it, came with a lot of time to reflect on who she had become, what kind of life she wanted to live and permission to embrace her aloneness. Peppered with human interaction with a few male friends, her co-workers at her job where she worked three days a week on site (and eventually quit) and her boyfriend, whom she would see weekly, this book is largely about being alone.
And, on behalf of all introverts out there, I ask, why isn’t that okay? No one has to justify living in the company of people 24 hours a day… should someone who prefers glacial mountains, waterfalls, birdsong and wildflowers over the company of humans be thought less of? I, for one, think not. Fuggle writes, “The smallest and quietest choices can be the boldest moments – to no longer tolerate what’s holding us down, to commit to shining brighter and to jump wholeheartedly into the rip current of living.” This move into the alone turns out to be a time of freedom, reflection, reading, writing, dreaming, hiking and yes, living for her.
She is able to address the inevitable obstacle that presents itself in writing about a life spent alone–the problem of no problems–by describing the quiet rhythms of life and the changing of the seasons on her hikes through the Alps. Each chapter, really more brief reflections, are accompanied by beautiful photographs that visually describe her life.
Yet after three years, she comes to the conclusion, as most people who attempt a solitary life do, that alone is not her permanent destination. She sat with the uncomfortable duality of craving solitude, yet also human connection. While she doesn’t figure out what path she is going to take next, we see that her time in Switzerland helped her define the things she does want in her life. “I want to write about the beauty I notice on my journey, read widely and open my eyes as I step outside my corner of the world. And with time, if I’m lucky, I invite the mountains, galaxies and sand dunes to show in the furrows on my face.”
As a fellow introvert, reader, writer and bird lover, I really enjoyed this book. Though not a fast-paced adventure, it is a beautiful meander through the majesty and wonder of nature in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Also, an ode to simplicity and the quiet life; and that is enough for me.
"Cool forest air, mountainsides alight with alpenglow and the first evening stars coming into focus. It can hardly be called living simply when it’s worth so much."
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Fuggle, a woman in her early twenties, had grown up in a flat farming town in England and wrestled with her desire to be away from people, in the quiet, for most of her life. An introvert on the autistic spectrum, she felt drained and constrained by traditional work and social environments. She desired to escape to nature to find her true self, the comfortable self that she embodied as a child but had lost along the way. “As soon as I heard about autism and what it can look like for women, things suddenly made more sense. By reading about others who were shining their own light and giving other people’s expectations the finger, I saw a different path.”
Her choice to live for three years in the Traumhaus, or dream house, as her boyfriend Iain named it, came with a lot of time to reflect on who she had become, what kind of life she wanted to live and permission to embrace her aloneness. Peppered with human interaction with a few male friends, her co-workers at her job where she worked three days a week on site (and eventually quit) and her boyfriend, whom she would see weekly, this book is largely about being alone.
And, on behalf of all introverts out there, I ask, why isn’t that okay? No one has to justify living in the company of people 24 hours a day… should someone who prefers glacial mountains, waterfalls, birdsong and wildflowers over the company of humans be thought less of? I, for one, think not. Fuggle writes, “The smallest and quietest choices can be the boldest moments – to no longer tolerate what’s holding us down, to commit to shining brighter and to jump wholeheartedly into the rip current of living.” This move into the alone turns out to be a time of freedom, reflection, reading, writing, dreaming, hiking and yes, living for her.
She is able to address the inevitable obstacle that presents itself in writing about a life spent alone–the problem of no problems–by describing the quiet rhythms of life and the changing of the seasons on her hikes through the Alps. Each chapter, really more brief reflections, are accompanied by beautiful photographs that visually describe her life.
Yet after three years, she comes to the conclusion, as most people who attempt a solitary life do, that alone is not her permanent destination. She sat with the uncomfortable duality of craving solitude, yet also human connection. While she doesn’t figure out what path she is going to take next, we see that her time in Switzerland helped her define the things she does want in her life. “I want to write about the beauty I notice on my journey, read widely and open my eyes as I step outside my corner of the world. And with time, if I’m lucky, I invite the mountains, galaxies and sand dunes to show in the furrows on my face.”
As a fellow introvert, reader, writer and bird lover, I really enjoyed this book. Though not a fast-paced adventure, it is a beautiful meander through the majesty and wonder of nature in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Also, an ode to simplicity and the quiet life; and that is enough for me.
"Cool forest air, mountainsides alight with alpenglow and the first evening stars coming into focus. It can hardly be called living simply when it’s worth so much."
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2022
I was drawn to this for the Swiss Alps setting and the themes of autism and solitude. Though described as a memoir, it's more of a personal scrapbook of essays, poems and photographs.
Fuggle spent several years of her twenties living in a remote cabin opposite the Reichenbach Falls (famous as the site where Sherlock Holmes engaged in his final battle with his nemesis, Professor Moriarty). Even if you've never been to Switzerland, you can see from the photos that it's a beautiful and dramatic place. For an autistic introvert who struggled to fit in, the solitude was a relief. It was also a contrast to a stressful work life and her more adventurous travels to, e.g., Greenland and Mongolia. She challenged herself to complete the Via Alpina cross-country hiking route in bits over the years she lived there.
Her teenage mental health struggles and on-again, off-again relationship with her boyfriend are other topics. She also writes about the rituals of coffee drinking and reading by which she orders her life. This was a pleasant enough read to have on the go during my lunch breaks. The contents are a bit scattershot and I wasn't necessarily expecting the self-help/mindfulness angle. If you have a particular interest in the setting or the author's traits, you might want to have a look.
I received a review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Fuggle spent several years of her twenties living in a remote cabin opposite the Reichenbach Falls (famous as the site where Sherlock Holmes engaged in his final battle with his nemesis, Professor Moriarty). Even if you've never been to Switzerland, you can see from the photos that it's a beautiful and dramatic place. For an autistic introvert who struggled to fit in, the solitude was a relief. It was also a contrast to a stressful work life and her more adventurous travels to, e.g., Greenland and Mongolia. She challenged herself to complete the Via Alpina cross-country hiking route in bits over the years she lived there.
Her teenage mental health struggles and on-again, off-again relationship with her boyfriend are other topics. She also writes about the rituals of coffee drinking and reading by which she orders her life. This was a pleasant enough read to have on the go during my lunch breaks. The contents are a bit scattershot and I wasn't necessarily expecting the self-help/mindfulness angle. If you have a particular interest in the setting or the author's traits, you might want to have a look.
I received a review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 18, 2021
I can’t help but be captivated by this small book: I’ve heard the mountain calling me for most of my life, and it’s a homecoming. I grew up in the shadow of the Cascades in the NW US, and have always found a peace there, away from crowds, hiking alone among trees and glacial streams, thick with trout.
I discovered Fuggle through her Tolstoy Therapy website. An uber-fan of the Count, I searched out anything with his name. Instead of Tolstoy, she wrote about books and the effect they had on her. Mountain Song is something of an application of her Tolstoy Therapy journey, writ large, and a record of the Alps and of life there. Writing about snow and cold and love, as much as anything, Mountain Song is a record of her growing faith. “I have faith in dreaming,” she says. She reveals that faith in brief and eminently readable thoughts about vulnerability and adventure and warm showers.
Should you read it? I say yes, but if you are drawn to genre fiction, reading two or three books a week, starving for the excitement of a scripted climax, this might not be for you. But if you share a faith in dreaming, like Fuggle, you will like it and might come back many times, to restore and remember that faith.
To be known: I received a copy of the book from the author. Also to be known: I would have bought one anyway and would still recommend it heartily.
I discovered Fuggle through her Tolstoy Therapy website. An uber-fan of the Count, I searched out anything with his name. Instead of Tolstoy, she wrote about books and the effect they had on her. Mountain Song is something of an application of her Tolstoy Therapy journey, writ large, and a record of the Alps and of life there. Writing about snow and cold and love, as much as anything, Mountain Song is a record of her growing faith. “I have faith in dreaming,” she says. She reveals that faith in brief and eminently readable thoughts about vulnerability and adventure and warm showers.
Should you read it? I say yes, but if you are drawn to genre fiction, reading two or three books a week, starving for the excitement of a scripted climax, this might not be for you. But if you share a faith in dreaming, like Fuggle, you will like it and might come back many times, to restore and remember that faith.
To be known: I received a copy of the book from the author. Also to be known: I would have bought one anyway and would still recommend it heartily.
January 13, 2021
If you're looking for a break and to find some moments of internal peace, look no further. Mountain Song is a beautifully written book with stunning pictures to match.
Throughout the book, you can really feel the various different mindsets that the author went through while writing. When she is at home, in her blissful mountain retreat, you relax with her and feel at peace. When she questions herself, you can't help but want to reach through the pages to help, to encourage her. The combination of these, and the many more emotions that have been poured into the writing, make it exceptionally engaging, with an uncommon mix of both very soft and extremely raw moments.
Despite these powerful sections, it miraculously remains the kind of book that yearns to be read from a comfy armchair - preferably with a cosy mug of tea nearby.
It's a genuinely lovely, easy and relaxing read - perfect for a Sunday afternoon.
Throughout the book, you can really feel the various different mindsets that the author went through while writing. When she is at home, in her blissful mountain retreat, you relax with her and feel at peace. When she questions herself, you can't help but want to reach through the pages to help, to encourage her. The combination of these, and the many more emotions that have been poured into the writing, make it exceptionally engaging, with an uncommon mix of both very soft and extremely raw moments.
Despite these powerful sections, it miraculously remains the kind of book that yearns to be read from a comfy armchair - preferably with a cosy mug of tea nearby.
It's a genuinely lovely, easy and relaxing read - perfect for a Sunday afternoon.
May 30, 2022
Full review on my book blog, Market Garden Reader, if you want to read more waffling about Switzerland and a couple of extra quotes from the book.
Lucy Fuggle is living the dream! My dream. She not only moved to Switzerland and got a job as a writer, she isn’t living in one of the big cities like Zurich or Lucerne, she’s living in a quiet village largely off the tourist trail, with a view of two mountains and a glacier. At least, she was when she wrote this book.
Unexpected trigger warning: self harm.
The reason I requested a review copy of this book was firstly the beautiful cover illustration of mountains and a waterfall and the word ‘mountain’ in the title. But what really hooked me was when I saw that the author lives in Meiringen, a place I have visited several times, tiny though it is.
After reading just a few pages, it was obvious she can write, so the fact that her job in Switzerland was writing for a ‘travel software firm’ took no great leap of the imagination. Her job was based in Interlaken, but after living in shared accommodation for a while, she couldn’t wait to escape to somewhere more rural. Who can blame her? It always amazes me how other people manage to find these dream jobs in perfect places. Jealous, moi?
The book is told in the style of a personal journal, with flashbacks, poems, watercolours and beautiful photographs. Sometimes it is gently humorous, often poignant and shows a lot of self-knowledge. She describes her lonely and miserable school life, relieved by the respite of her own imagination and the woods near her home. She is a loner with social anxiety and says that she recognises many of her traits as being on the autistic spectrum. It’s unclear if she has an official diagnosis, but she is definitely someone who enjoys being alone, needs space and enjoys the calming influence of nature.
One chapter, titled Why, why, why consists of a single sentence: “I read A Little Life by Hanya Yanigihara and it destroys me.” I have read so many reviews of that book that say something similar, yet I don’t know why. Am I ready to be destroyed in the course of a doorstopper book or will I find out I am insensitive? One day I will read it and find out. This one-line comment is powerful in its starkness. Sometimes a chapter is a simple poem. Others contain reflections on life and relationships and self-belief. Nothing too startling, but I appreciated the intimacy of the things she writes.
Personally, I would have preferred a little more about life as an expat in Switzerland, about the quirky traditions and food specialities. There are always things you miss and discoveries you make when you live in a foreign country, even if you do keep yourself to yourself. Not to mention the irritations of foreign bureaucracy. As someone who has spent many holidays camping and walking in the Swiss mountains, I would have liked more discussion of walking. I can’t imagine she walked so far and so often in the mountains without having some adventures or disasters or getting lost.
“So much seems impossible until it happens. But perfect opportunities do exist and when they come into your life, you can either feel unworthy or not ready and push them away, or you can accept them with a heartfelt thank you. It’s so easy to say no to everything you’ve ever wanted. The hardest thing can be to say yes.”
I enjoyed reading Mountain Song for its thoughtful meditations on life and nature, none of which were life changing for me, but undoubtedly were for the author as she fashioned a life that fitted her needs. At the end of the book she was moving on. I wonder how her journey has continued.
Disclaimer: I received a free review copy as an ebook via Book Sirens. It is available on Kindle from Amazon.
Lucy Fuggle is living the dream! My dream. She not only moved to Switzerland and got a job as a writer, she isn’t living in one of the big cities like Zurich or Lucerne, she’s living in a quiet village largely off the tourist trail, with a view of two mountains and a glacier. At least, she was when she wrote this book.
Unexpected trigger warning: self harm.
The reason I requested a review copy of this book was firstly the beautiful cover illustration of mountains and a waterfall and the word ‘mountain’ in the title. But what really hooked me was when I saw that the author lives in Meiringen, a place I have visited several times, tiny though it is.
After reading just a few pages, it was obvious she can write, so the fact that her job in Switzerland was writing for a ‘travel software firm’ took no great leap of the imagination. Her job was based in Interlaken, but after living in shared accommodation for a while, she couldn’t wait to escape to somewhere more rural. Who can blame her? It always amazes me how other people manage to find these dream jobs in perfect places. Jealous, moi?
The book is told in the style of a personal journal, with flashbacks, poems, watercolours and beautiful photographs. Sometimes it is gently humorous, often poignant and shows a lot of self-knowledge. She describes her lonely and miserable school life, relieved by the respite of her own imagination and the woods near her home. She is a loner with social anxiety and says that she recognises many of her traits as being on the autistic spectrum. It’s unclear if she has an official diagnosis, but she is definitely someone who enjoys being alone, needs space and enjoys the calming influence of nature.
One chapter, titled Why, why, why consists of a single sentence: “I read A Little Life by Hanya Yanigihara and it destroys me.” I have read so many reviews of that book that say something similar, yet I don’t know why. Am I ready to be destroyed in the course of a doorstopper book or will I find out I am insensitive? One day I will read it and find out. This one-line comment is powerful in its starkness. Sometimes a chapter is a simple poem. Others contain reflections on life and relationships and self-belief. Nothing too startling, but I appreciated the intimacy of the things she writes.
Personally, I would have preferred a little more about life as an expat in Switzerland, about the quirky traditions and food specialities. There are always things you miss and discoveries you make when you live in a foreign country, even if you do keep yourself to yourself. Not to mention the irritations of foreign bureaucracy. As someone who has spent many holidays camping and walking in the Swiss mountains, I would have liked more discussion of walking. I can’t imagine she walked so far and so often in the mountains without having some adventures or disasters or getting lost.
“So much seems impossible until it happens. But perfect opportunities do exist and when they come into your life, you can either feel unworthy or not ready and push them away, or you can accept them with a heartfelt thank you. It’s so easy to say no to everything you’ve ever wanted. The hardest thing can be to say yes.”
I enjoyed reading Mountain Song for its thoughtful meditations on life and nature, none of which were life changing for me, but undoubtedly were for the author as she fashioned a life that fitted her needs. At the end of the book she was moving on. I wonder how her journey has continued.
Disclaimer: I received a free review copy as an ebook via Book Sirens. It is available on Kindle from Amazon.
June 11, 2022
I am a great fan of structure, order, and logic. When I started reading this book, I was disappointed because it read like a journal or a diary of disjointed and non-chronological entries. However, as I moved further along, I realized that the style suited the content.
Fuggle writes about how handled the problems that plagued her and succeeded. I like stories of second chances and rebuilding lives.
The geography and the climate of the Swiss Alps are so different from my part of the world that the setting felt dreamlike. I can never imagine climbing mountains or hiking through them, but I loved reading her descriptions of them.
With my head in the clouds and snow of the Alps, I was able to ignore most of the troubles I had when I was reading the book. It comforted me because I could relate to some of the different mindsets Fuggle went through while writing it.
The book has many quotes and poems, which are listed at the end. It also has great photographs taken by her.
It is an easy and relaxing book, written well.
Note: I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Fuggle writes about how handled the problems that plagued her and succeeded. I like stories of second chances and rebuilding lives.
The geography and the climate of the Swiss Alps are so different from my part of the world that the setting felt dreamlike. I can never imagine climbing mountains or hiking through them, but I loved reading her descriptions of them.
With my head in the clouds and snow of the Alps, I was able to ignore most of the troubles I had when I was reading the book. It comforted me because I could relate to some of the different mindsets Fuggle went through while writing it.
The book has many quotes and poems, which are listed at the end. It also has great photographs taken by her.
It is an easy and relaxing book, written well.
Note: I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2021
As a reader who often finds it difficult to hold interest in a book, ‘Mountain Song’ had me captivated by the first few pages, and I was unable to put it down.
It provided escape, peace, and inspiration in this time of calamity in the word, and I constant found myself reread chapters in sheer awe of where the words took me and how they made me feel.
I would recommend this to anyone - travellers, introverts, extroverts, or simply someone who just wanted to read something real, raw and passionate.
10/10
It provided escape, peace, and inspiration in this time of calamity in the word, and I constant found myself reread chapters in sheer awe of where the words took me and how they made me feel.
I would recommend this to anyone - travellers, introverts, extroverts, or simply someone who just wanted to read something real, raw and passionate.
10/10
January 1, 2021
A joy to read, Lucy writes with great warmth and honesty about her experiences during the four years she lived in Switzerland. Beautifully written and ccompanied by amazing photos, I read the book in one day.
December 19, 2020
A truly touching read with a fantastic mix of emotion and adventure. Read this in one sitting and loved every second of it.
Beautiful writing coupled with beautiful pictures taken by Lucy, a must read for all.
Beautiful writing coupled with beautiful pictures taken by Lucy, a must read for all.
July 4, 2022
Lucy Fuggle's book is a curious book as it is unlike any I have ever read. However, I liked very much what she sets out to do in this book about her life experience, which also happens to contain much philosophising and rumination about modern life, how we fit into it or not, as the case may be, and finding peace in the busyness around us.
As someone who has lived close to the mountains, I could identify with the author's pull towards them and the other natural features that they encompass. Part autobiography, part "meaning of life" discussion, part nature book, part poetry collection, part travel and hiking guide, this book is truly a hybrid of many different things and could become muddled as a result. And yet, it doesn't. All of those different forms work together to form an organic whole that works, mirroring in some ways the landscape in which Fuggle finds herself recollecting in her writings. It truly reads as an appreciation of her experience in the mountains.
But it is not all about the landscape. Fuggle also discusses relationships, and one in particular, as well as work life and coming to terms with who you are as an individual and how you fit into the world around you - do you adapt and blend, but if that's really not possible, should you shun it and retreat/regroup? As a reader too, I could intuit the influences that she cites in her writing, her choice of reading reflected in the way she chooses to tell her tale and I liked this, like an homage to what she likes and a literary representation of what makes her feel comfortable, wrapped up in the structure of her book, like a pleasing package.
I liked the discussion of ideas in this book. There is a sense that the author is relating a life journey (although I dislike that word) where she is coming to terms with who she is and in showing us where she has been and where she is headed, offering nuggets of wisdom to help us, if needed, in clarifying our circumstances and our needs in the same way that she is narrating hers.
Mountain Song was enjoyable on so many levels. It left me feeling thoughtful and warm and optimistic although I can't wholly identify why but I will revel in the bafflement.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As someone who has lived close to the mountains, I could identify with the author's pull towards them and the other natural features that they encompass. Part autobiography, part "meaning of life" discussion, part nature book, part poetry collection, part travel and hiking guide, this book is truly a hybrid of many different things and could become muddled as a result. And yet, it doesn't. All of those different forms work together to form an organic whole that works, mirroring in some ways the landscape in which Fuggle finds herself recollecting in her writings. It truly reads as an appreciation of her experience in the mountains.
But it is not all about the landscape. Fuggle also discusses relationships, and one in particular, as well as work life and coming to terms with who you are as an individual and how you fit into the world around you - do you adapt and blend, but if that's really not possible, should you shun it and retreat/regroup? As a reader too, I could intuit the influences that she cites in her writing, her choice of reading reflected in the way she chooses to tell her tale and I liked this, like an homage to what she likes and a literary representation of what makes her feel comfortable, wrapped up in the structure of her book, like a pleasing package.
I liked the discussion of ideas in this book. There is a sense that the author is relating a life journey (although I dislike that word) where she is coming to terms with who she is and in showing us where she has been and where she is headed, offering nuggets of wisdom to help us, if needed, in clarifying our circumstances and our needs in the same way that she is narrating hers.
Mountain Song was enjoyable on so many levels. It left me feeling thoughtful and warm and optimistic although I can't wholly identify why but I will revel in the bafflement.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 14, 2022
This was such a wonderful book. It is about the authors life in Switzerland. It covers her 3 years spent there plus a few trips to Greenland and Japan. It's a mixture of autobiography, stunning pictures, a few artist images or photos of plant and animals there. Also some great quotes and short poems. I just loved the authors writing style she brought through great emotions in her writing and you could see how much passion for the area she had. It was a dream come true for her. I just can't believe she managed so walk the whole length of the country that's just amazing. I loved the pictures showing her journey they really relaxed me as I loved the stunning scenery. This book was a very relaxing book it had great pace and flowed brilliantly. The layout of the book was fantastic with a great mix of pictures to text. I actually loved it that much i wish there was a 6th star as I did the unthinkable. Instead of rushing to finish the book, I slowed my reading right down to savour each moment. I didn't want it to end. I felt like I was on an incredible journey. I really can't recommend this book enough uf you love reading autobiographies that are around people who travel. I Judy love how you can travel from the comfort of your own chair.
Only the highest of praise goes out to this independent author and publishing team for taking me on this wonderful journey you certainly lived an amazing 3 years and I'm somewhat jealous. I do hope she writes more books. Maybe try alaska lol wink.
Only the highest of praise goes out to this independent author and publishing team for taking me on this wonderful journey you certainly lived an amazing 3 years and I'm somewhat jealous. I do hope she writes more books. Maybe try alaska lol wink.
August 14, 2022
I had a few second thoughts about picking up Mountain Song, a book about the author’s time spent in the Alpine region of Switzerland. My main hesitation was that I had been to the said area and wondered if there would be anything new to discover. However, I am glad I picked up Mountain Song, for it a much more than a travelogue. Lucy’s book is more of a memoir, an homage to the beauty of nature, and an in-depth study of finding love, peace, and calmness in solitude. There are times in the book when the story slows down, but then in a weird way, it resonates with the author’s life, who seems to find a sense of calm in the changing gorgeousness of her surroundings. Moreover, Lucy is often descriptive about the views she comes across during her hikes. It thus helps with the visualization if you’ve visited Switzerland or at least some beautiful mountainous part of the world. The short chapters, occasional quotes and thoughts, as well as photographs, are all brilliant and something I wish more authors include in their travel journals. Mountain Song is an almost lyrical read about life, longing to find oneself, and exploring our planet in search of that one place that makes us feel at home. It is a love letter to Switzerland and self-love.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 2, 2022
I love the open simplicity of Lucy Fuggle’s thoughts in Mountain Song. The chapters invite you to journey with her as she finds peace and quiet in the Alps. Finding a small place in the heart of Interlaken, Lucy shares her experiences in Meiringen. Her chapters capture day to day experiences and her thoughts within, or because of, those experiences. I enjoyed her authenticity and vulnerability as she learns to settle into a new culture without knowing the people or the language. Initially, she was searching for a place to be alone, separate from the chaos and expectations that others place upon us. Gradually though, she comes to find herself and finds joy in that person. She shares insights into fully experiencing life through her experiences and learning to be kind to herself, focusing on the things she can do, rather than focus on her limitations. I really liked the occasional photo that is shared to bring contextualization to her descriptions.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.
August 17, 2022
This is the perfect book for anyone that loves to create a cozy, happy vibe. Lucy does such a good job describing how she made time to appreciate life.
The pictures alone are breathtaking. I can’t imagine being surrounded by such beautiful scenes every day.
I think the biggest message of this book is practicing self love and self care. You can have a big job title and make lots of money but if you aren’t happy, you’ll never be satisfied. Lucy had a dream that seemed unrealistic but she took a chance and gained so much. None of the “important things” matter if they drain you of the energy needed to do the things you love.
My favorite parts were her sharing her rituals for morning and evening. The time she devoted to making a cup of coffee. All about appreciating the little things that make us smile.
I love that she focused on how we can be so mean to ourselves. We need to be our own friend too.
I highly recommend Mountain Song if you love nature, cozy moments and self care. I was fortunate to be given an ARC for free by Book Sirens. I have written this review voluntarily.
The pictures alone are breathtaking. I can’t imagine being surrounded by such beautiful scenes every day.
I think the biggest message of this book is practicing self love and self care. You can have a big job title and make lots of money but if you aren’t happy, you’ll never be satisfied. Lucy had a dream that seemed unrealistic but she took a chance and gained so much. None of the “important things” matter if they drain you of the energy needed to do the things you love.
My favorite parts were her sharing her rituals for morning and evening. The time she devoted to making a cup of coffee. All about appreciating the little things that make us smile.
I love that she focused on how we can be so mean to ourselves. We need to be our own friend too.
I highly recommend Mountain Song if you love nature, cozy moments and self care. I was fortunate to be given an ARC for free by Book Sirens. I have written this review voluntarily.
June 3, 2022
Mountain Song is Lucy Fuggle's reflections during her time living alone in the Swiss Alps hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and writing. She strips away anything that isn't serving her: living with others, her unfulfilling job, even the relationship that pulled her to this part of the world. This is an easy, slow collection of short journal-like chapters. I would have liked to hear more of the struggle to get to where she is mentally. The smooth, relaxed writing makes it seem like she went from desiring solitude to feeling at peace with solitude, but there are allusions to the angst she must have gone through to get there: a pretty significant breakup, past struggles with self-harm, the financial precariousness of leaving a steady job for freelance work. The Swiss Alps seem like a lovely place for introspection and solitude.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial.
October 19, 2022
It’s hard for me to decide how to rate this book. It’s a collection of very brief personal essays, some as short as just a sentence or two. It felt like reading a young woman’s diary, full of personal ponderings, pep talks, and poetry, as well as photographs and quotations. My favorite aspects were the photographs of the gorgeous Swiss scenery and the author’s dreamy descriptions of her time communing with nature or indulging in soothing pastimes such as mindfully brewing a cup of coffee or baking pastries.
I know very little about Switzerland, so I also enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the area, but she usually didn’t go into as much detail as I would have liked. She casually mentions trips to other countries, but again, seldom provides much detail.
You might enjoy this if you like contemplative memoirs and are craving something with a cozy feel.
I received a free review copy through BookSirens, and I volunteered to leave this honest review.
I know very little about Switzerland, so I also enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the area, but she usually didn’t go into as much detail as I would have liked. She casually mentions trips to other countries, but again, seldom provides much detail.
You might enjoy this if you like contemplative memoirs and are craving something with a cozy feel.
I received a free review copy through BookSirens, and I volunteered to leave this honest review.
May 6, 2023
Mountain Song is a memoir that speaks to the heart of anyone who loves nature, particularly the Alps. Lucy Fuggle's writing style allows readers to connect with her on a personal level, as she explores her identity and shares her experiences piecing together who she is through small clues of things she enjoys or engages in.
I stumbled upon this book after randomly browsing the Tolstoy Therapy blog, whose newsletter I had been receiving for a few months. I found myself drawn to this particular theme and it just really resonated with me.
After putting on my Sherlock hat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of validation when I discovered that our shared books on Goodreads are some of my favorite stories. Overall, I give this book a 5-star rating.
I stumbled upon this book after randomly browsing the Tolstoy Therapy blog, whose newsletter I had been receiving for a few months. I found myself drawn to this particular theme and it just really resonated with me.
After putting on my Sherlock hat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of validation when I discovered that our shared books on Goodreads are some of my favorite stories. Overall, I give this book a 5-star rating.
March 18, 2025
This book was romantic escapism as I dream of one day visiting my top bucket list destination, Switzerland. The writing is very poetic as the author charts three years in her early 20s living in a remote mountain town in southern Switzerland, hiking the mountains by day and reading in her cozy cabin by night. The chapters are extremely short, sometimes only a sentence, which made for a quick reading experience. The photos she includes are breathtaking. I just wish she had included more about her day to day life and the issues she was facing, because she mostly glossed over any real challenges she was facing during this time in Switzerland. But maybe that was the point. Overall, it was a magical little read.
March 14, 2021
Reading Lucy Fuggle's account of her years living in a small Swiss mountain town was both entertaining and inspiring! Her descriptions of the nature that surrounded her, the mountains she traversed in her many hikes, and the quiet and simplicity of living on her own terms is enough to make anyone (well, at least us introverts) pack up and move to Switzerland! She speaks with warmth, vulnerability, and insight of her work life, her romantic life, and -- best of all -- her interior life. The photos and illustrations are gorgeous, too! Highly recommend!
January 24, 2021
I loved this book right from the word go, Lucy's style of writing just drew me in and brought back so many memories of my time living, walking and skiing in the mountains of Switzerland.
The photographs are stunning too. I could barely put the book down, so much so the second I finished it , my husband started reading it too.
The photographs are stunning too. I could barely put the book down, so much so the second I finished it , my husband started reading it too.
February 1, 2021
A wonder
This book spoke to me. Having read from cover to cover I don’t think I have ever come across a book that resonates with me so much. If you enjoy quiet and solitude then read this book.
This book spoke to me. Having read from cover to cover I don’t think I have ever come across a book that resonates with me so much. If you enjoy quiet and solitude then read this book.
Read
June 17, 2022I loved this book. The way it was written and the gentle nature. Makes me want to run away to a hideaway in the mountains too!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 3, 2021
Wow, Amazing book and struggled putting it down! Lucy tells an amazing story of her time living in Switzerland, finding love, hiking and moving out of her comfort zone in many ways!
February 21, 2021
Just perfect
A beautiful and honest book. Thank you Lucy for sharing your story. You have made me think and smile and be grateful.
A beautiful and honest book. Thank you Lucy for sharing your story. You have made me think and smile and be grateful.
December 13, 2024
3.5, a cozy life in the Swiss Alps. Finding who you are. Deciding your place.
June 14, 2022
Who doesn’t yearn once in a while to leave their current life circumstances at times, beginning again in another place where—away from it all—you are met with restful and reflective moments in the midst of beautiful scenic views? I know I often do!
Mountain Song is just such a journey and one that let me escape to Switzerland’s beauty alongside the author for awhile.
Though of course not present there physically, I felt as if I had joined author Lucy Fuggle as she made her home in the Swiss Alps. The masterful way in which she descriptively pens the sights, sounds and moods of life there from her perspective nearly engage the senses as if you could experience every sight, every smell, every nuance presented before you.
At times, Mountain Song is a book of almost poetic, flowing prose. Reading like a melody of words, it is just the type of writing I enjoy reading most. At other times, the author’s self-reflection and honesty spurred me to get out a pen and paper and do the same. It was encouraging to read her reflections and challenges, much of which I related to more than I ever expected I would.
Mountain Song is a delightful read that will have you resting, reflecting and adventuring along with the author. I’m glad to have discovered Lucy Fuggle’s writing and this book.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
Mountain Song is just such a journey and one that let me escape to Switzerland’s beauty alongside the author for awhile.
Though of course not present there physically, I felt as if I had joined author Lucy Fuggle as she made her home in the Swiss Alps. The masterful way in which she descriptively pens the sights, sounds and moods of life there from her perspective nearly engage the senses as if you could experience every sight, every smell, every nuance presented before you.
At times, Mountain Song is a book of almost poetic, flowing prose. Reading like a melody of words, it is just the type of writing I enjoy reading most. At other times, the author’s self-reflection and honesty spurred me to get out a pen and paper and do the same. It was encouraging to read her reflections and challenges, much of which I related to more than I ever expected I would.
Mountain Song is a delightful read that will have you resting, reflecting and adventuring along with the author. I’m glad to have discovered Lucy Fuggle’s writing and this book.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
April 8, 2025
3.75 stars 🌟
"I'm more alone than I’ve ever been. But the thing is, I know I am recharging and slowly finding my way back to where I need to be. Back to myself."
Beautiful cover.
The author was wise well beyond her years when writing this book. While reading, I thought she was middle aged, at least. Only to find out she was barely in her 20s! I'm flabbergasted.
This young woman experienced a daily existence, in the most divine little cabin, I have only ever been able to live out in my dreams.
I am literally still in awe.
Not everything in this book resonated with me, but that's because everyone's journey is different, and that's okay. But the parts that did - good golly.
There was so much to fall in love with in this book. The experiences and feelings felt at the cabin are everything I could ever wish for.
*A warm hug from your soul.
*Alone but not lonely.
*Cold nights under a blanket on the balcony, watching the stars, moon, and constellations 🌙
*Everything wood.
*Silence.
*Darkness.
*Sunny mornings.
*Snow ❄
*Windows.
*Wildlife.
*Breathing.
*Fireplace.
*Coffee.
*The ritual that is coffee.
"This is a place made for rituals, the slower and more mindful the better.
To enjoy coffee, with my full devoted attention."
*Herbal tea.
*Watching the steam dance on a cold morning from your chosen brew ☕
*Olden style rooms.
*Olden style cooking.
*Baking.
*Flowers.
*Trees 🌳
*Views of the castle.
*Peace.
To have a life of "just being".
I'd never leave.
"To just be, quietly, simply and slowly.
That’s enough."
*Free e-copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"I'm more alone than I’ve ever been. But the thing is, I know I am recharging and slowly finding my way back to where I need to be. Back to myself."
Beautiful cover.
The author was wise well beyond her years when writing this book. While reading, I thought she was middle aged, at least. Only to find out she was barely in her 20s! I'm flabbergasted.
This young woman experienced a daily existence, in the most divine little cabin, I have only ever been able to live out in my dreams.
I am literally still in awe.
Not everything in this book resonated with me, but that's because everyone's journey is different, and that's okay. But the parts that did - good golly.
There was so much to fall in love with in this book. The experiences and feelings felt at the cabin are everything I could ever wish for.
*A warm hug from your soul.
*Alone but not lonely.
*Cold nights under a blanket on the balcony, watching the stars, moon, and constellations 🌙
*Everything wood.
*Silence.
*Darkness.
*Sunny mornings.
*Snow ❄
*Windows.
*Wildlife.
*Breathing.
*Fireplace.
*Coffee.
*The ritual that is coffee.
"This is a place made for rituals, the slower and more mindful the better.
To enjoy coffee, with my full devoted attention."
*Herbal tea.
*Watching the steam dance on a cold morning from your chosen brew ☕
*Olden style rooms.
*Olden style cooking.
*Baking.
*Flowers.
*Trees 🌳
*Views of the castle.
*Peace.
To have a life of "just being".
I'd never leave.
"To just be, quietly, simply and slowly.
That’s enough."
*Free e-copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2023
I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Twenty something Lucy Fuggle found solitude and joy in the Swiss mountains, far from the rat race of busyness and crowds. She walks miles, journals her thoughts and reads. In three years, she comes to understand herself better, though little actual change takes place. in my opinion, she likes it that way. Acceptance. Experience the mountains through her observations, the sensory information only a mountain top experience can give. Though not religious, she sees some value in spirituality. Take what you may, leave the rest. Dip into this book as you would a clear stream. Grab a tea and a blanket and cozy up to a fine example of travel/memoir.
Twenty something Lucy Fuggle found solitude and joy in the Swiss mountains, far from the rat race of busyness and crowds. She walks miles, journals her thoughts and reads. In three years, she comes to understand herself better, though little actual change takes place. in my opinion, she likes it that way. Acceptance. Experience the mountains through her observations, the sensory information only a mountain top experience can give. Though not religious, she sees some value in spirituality. Take what you may, leave the rest. Dip into this book as you would a clear stream. Grab a tea and a blanket and cozy up to a fine example of travel/memoir.
April 5, 2025
This was one of those books that came along just at the right time. Reading Mountain Song provided me with a beautiful escape in some very uncertain times, and helped me reconnect with the one thing that is certain, the natural world. Learning about Lucy's experience of doing so in such a dramatic landscape was both comforting and inspiring. It so beautifully written, with poetry and quotes I will keep with me. Lovely read!
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