Field Notes from a Hidden City Discussion

[Becky]

Hi everyone,

Please make your comments about Field Notes... here. Since we're late getting started on this one, I'll keep it as our Book of the Month through June and July. Enjoy!

[Andree]

thank you! Looks great and the extra time is appreciated.

[Paul]

I started the book. It was available at the library, which was nice to see. The first 30 pages or so are interesting. The author talks about the natural world in and around Aberdeen, Scotland, where she resides. She discusses pigeons and other "wildlife" that many of us don't pay much attention to, as many of us likely think there is nothing new to discover about such animals.

[Becky]

"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads" ? :)

[Paul]

Becky wrote: ""Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads" ? :)"

Becky, that's an apt quote! HDT could probably have also found the intricacies of nature in a city as Woolfson has (had he ever actually tried!).

[Paul]

I have a copy of this from the library too. Just a small heap to finish first though and will join in soon.

[Becky]

It doesn't look like my library is going to be able to locate a copy of this. Y'all are going to have to praise this up highly in the next couple of weeks if I'm going to invest in it. :)

[Paul]

Read the first chapter this afternoon. So far it is beautifully written, and she notices the tiniest details through her window.

[Paul]

Sorry to say I gave up on the book. As I mentioned earlier, it started out well, but eventually seemed to become nothing much more than ordinary observations that anyone might make. Nothing too unique about it.
That is a pit that I have noticed a lot of nature writers fall into a bit too easily, simply making observations that are far too commonplace.

[Becky]

Thanks for the feedback, Paul. Think I will pass on purchasing it, then.

[Paul]

About half way through it. As I said above, some of the writing is beautiful and lyrical, but there have been less well written sections. Generally it is ok, but not going to be outstanding though.

[Andree]

I read the entire thing and in fact, I could barely put it down (after I got used to the author's writing style). She talks a lot about cycles in life: seasons on earth, sun cycles, Jewish calendar cycles and how they all intersect. I found that part so interesting that I wish I had the time to explore it further in other literature.