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The River Is Us
For years, midwesterners have paged eagerly through the Chicago Tribune, searching for the latest finely wrought piece by nature columnist Bill Stokes. His slice-of-the-season essays are always worth savoring. Sometimes, like tart cherry pie, they are laden with sharp reminders of human shortcomings; at other times, they may remind the reader of sweet, homemade apple pie, filled with flavors and textures of a perfect day.
The River Is Us offers a caliber of writing not often found in daily newspapers - succinct, yet rife with philosophy, nature-driven poetics, and unforgettable metaphors. Like E.B. White, Stokes has the knack of making "ordinary" events resonate with detail; like Annie Dillard, he explores the unexpected revelations inspired by the simple yodel of a loon, the sight of skeletal winter trees, or a walk through the woods with his granddaughter.
With the publication of The River Is Us, the writings of Bill Stokes assume their rightful place on the shelves of libraries and bookstores, and in the homes of thoughtful readers everywhere. There are words for all people and all times -- words that must not and will not end of in the recycling bin with yesterday's news.
From Ben Logan, author of The Land Remembers - Bill Stokes is a lucky man. He knows how to be a participant in the events and storytelling details of nature. In The River Is Us, his simple, elegant prose gives us what he calls "little peeks" at what is going on all around us when we attune ourselves to see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and be in touch with the natural world. .Stokes demonstrates something even more important: He responds to nature, sharing feelings and deep thoughts. That is the heart of this book -- the message that we who "miss most of what is happening behind the green curtain" can become participants in the wonders of the land, which Aldo Leopold once defined as everything "on, over, or in the earth."
The River Is Us offers a caliber of writing not often found in daily newspapers - succinct, yet rife with philosophy, nature-driven poetics, and unforgettable metaphors. Like E.B. White, Stokes has the knack of making "ordinary" events resonate with detail; like Annie Dillard, he explores the unexpected revelations inspired by the simple yodel of a loon, the sight of skeletal winter trees, or a walk through the woods with his granddaughter.
With the publication of The River Is Us, the writings of Bill Stokes assume their rightful place on the shelves of libraries and bookstores, and in the homes of thoughtful readers everywhere. There are words for all people and all times -- words that must not and will not end of in the recycling bin with yesterday's news.
From Ben Logan, author of The Land Remembers - Bill Stokes is a lucky man. He knows how to be a participant in the events and storytelling details of nature. In The River Is Us, his simple, elegant prose gives us what he calls "little peeks" at what is going on all around us when we attune ourselves to see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and be in touch with the natural world. .Stokes demonstrates something even more important: He responds to nature, sharing feelings and deep thoughts. That is the heart of this book -- the message that we who "miss most of what is happening behind the green curtain" can become participants in the wonders of the land, which Aldo Leopold once defined as everything "on, over, or in the earth."
- GenresEssaysNonfiction
223 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1993
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Bill Stokes
33 books9 followersBorn in Barron, Wisconsin, on September 11, 1931, Bill Stokes grew up on a small dairy farm between Barron and Rice Lake. He began his official writing career as an outdoor writer and general reporter for the Stevens Point Daily Journal, where he served as columnist, reporter and outdoor writer. In 1961 he moved to the Wisconsin State Journal, in Madison, where he wrote outdoor and personal columns, some of which were collected in a book "Ship The Kids On Ahead." (added by Bill Stokes). In 1969, the Milwaukee Journal became his venue and as a feature writer and columnist, and he found new ground to cover in 1982 at the Chicago Tribune. After 11 years there, Bill retired to pursue free-lance projects.
During his long journalism career, Bill won many conservation awards, including the Ernie Pyle Memorial Award from Scripps-Howard News Service in 1972. His work has appeared in many national publications, among them Readers Digest, Outdoor Life and Sports Afield. He has compiled three anthologies of his newspaper writing and authored two children's books.
Bill has lived on Madison's west side since 1959, a home he shares with his wife, Betty. They have a 45-acre "back 40" on a trout stream near Westfield, where Bill engages in his hobbies of trout fishing, photography, bicycling and grandfathering. They have five grown children and 12 grandchildren. Bill and Betty also enjoy traveling.
During his long journalism career, Bill won many conservation awards, including the Ernie Pyle Memorial Award from Scripps-Howard News Service in 1972. His work has appeared in many national publications, among them Readers Digest, Outdoor Life and Sports Afield. He has compiled three anthologies of his newspaper writing and authored two children's books.
Bill has lived on Madison's west side since 1959, a home he shares with his wife, Betty. They have a 45-acre "back 40" on a trout stream near Westfield, where Bill engages in his hobbies of trout fishing, photography, bicycling and grandfathering. They have five grown children and 12 grandchildren. Bill and Betty also enjoy traveling.
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December 30, 2014
Bill Stokes is a former columnist with the Milwaukee Journal and Chicago Tribune. This is a collection of his nature essays. I love the pictures he is able to paint with his words. If you enjoy nature, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.
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