I bought both books but only managed to read Soil by Camille T Dungy during July. I hope to read Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil soon. I loved Soil. Five star read for me too. I felt her heart in this book. I love how she interweaves her nature writing with history, social justice, politics and her life. It wasn't always comfortable reading but it was a great read. Also five stars for the cover. It is beautiful! Another fabulous book naturalist pick - thank you! Quotes: "Whether a plot in a yard or pots in a window, every politically engaged person should have a garden. By politically engaged, I mean everyone with a vested interest in the direction the people on this planet take in relationship to others. We should all take some time to plant life in the soil. Even when such planting isn't easy." "The green of growing things calms me. Plants stabilize me. And I am interested in the patience that is required as I wait for growth. For the poltically engaged person - any of us - such patience is a key to survival. Patience is a kindness that carries me through long days and longer nights." "Someone asked me yesterday what hope looks like. Yesterday could be any day. The hollyhocks had not bloomed, were blooming, were already spent. Tomorrow began years ago. When yesterday, someone asked me what hope looks like, they expected an answer that had something to do with protests, elections, and classroom pedagogy. But I'd just been outside. Even inside, the air from outside flowed through my fabric, close to my skin. "My garden," I answered, recalling the pine siskins rustling in the sunflowers. The bulbs I plant four to six inches deep every fall, whose blooms I believe in, though they won't manifest for months to come. The wildly whipping hollyhocks are welcome here, and so are the little purple larkspurs, the snapdragons, the birds, and the bugs, and the rabbits. I don't know who everyone is yet or where they will stand with my neighbours and me. But I am learning how to see, and how to count them, more abundantly."
I always appreciate your thoughtful reviews! I agree with your assessment of both these titles. I think it was the tone of A.N. book that was off for me, but I really loved her first book. Soil was so comforting and I loved Dungy's writing style.
@@debtomaselli4586 Yes I agree. The tone was a little weird in Bite by Bite. It swung between a celebration of food and family vs being a cautionary tale of the dangers of being a woman, particularly a woman of color. Either is fine but putting them together was weird. I thought Soil nailed that mixture.
Both books were wonderful. First thought I’d go for just one. Glad I made the full commitment. I will be joining the August read provided I can find the very safe place I put the book. Much rearranging, purging, stacking, and moving books about. I started the History of Bees and am on the lookout for End of the Ocean.
@@readingbytheriver5752 I’m glad you were able to read both books in July. They paired so nicely together! And good luck finding the August book in its very safe space! 😂
Great reviews, Heidi! Thank you🌷I’ve just ordered Soil. I put it on my wishlist the first time you mentioned it, but I just want to … own it!!! And of course read it at the first opportunity😅Among the longlisted novels for the Booker prize announced earlier this week there are two about the relationship between humans and the natural world. I’m currently reading the first, Orbital by Samantha Harvey (the earth seen from space by six astronauts of different nationalities) and the other is Playground by Richard Powers (about experimenting with possibile humans settlements in the oceans), which will be published in September. I was wondering whether you’re interested in them. Especially Richard Powers’s.
@@emmavd I hope you love Soil as much as I did. I have heard of Orbital but not sure it is a book for me. However, I am very interested in Playground because I loved The Overstory.
I was reading Soil but felt it was jumping all over the place timeline wise and had trouble following. It all seemed a bit random. It was probably my own brain not getting it, I will pick it up again in the future because I enjoy the subject.
@@heatherfoley4945 Soil definitely did not have a linear timeline. Sometimes that really bothers me too but for whatever reason it was fine for me with this book.
I bought both books but only managed to read Soil by Camille T Dungy during July. I hope to read Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil soon.
I loved Soil. Five star read for me too. I felt her heart in this book. I love how she interweaves her nature writing with history, social justice, politics and her life. It wasn't always comfortable reading but it was a great read. Also five stars for the cover. It is beautiful! Another fabulous book naturalist pick - thank you!
Quotes:
"Whether a plot in a yard or pots in a window, every politically engaged person should have a garden. By politically engaged, I mean everyone with a vested interest in the direction the people on this planet take in relationship to others. We should all take some time to plant life in the soil. Even when such planting isn't easy."
"The green of growing things calms me. Plants stabilize me. And I am interested in the patience that is required as I wait for growth. For the poltically engaged person - any of us - such patience is a key to survival. Patience is a kindness that carries me through long days and longer nights."
"Someone asked me yesterday what hope looks like. Yesterday could be any day. The hollyhocks had not bloomed, were blooming, were already spent. Tomorrow began years ago. When yesterday, someone asked me what hope looks like, they expected an answer that had something to do with protests, elections, and classroom pedagogy. But I'd just been outside. Even inside, the air from outside flowed through my fabric, close to my skin. "My garden," I answered, recalling the pine siskins rustling in the sunflowers. The bulbs I plant four to six inches deep every fall, whose blooms I believe in, though they won't manifest for months to come. The wildly whipping hollyhocks are welcome here, and so are the little purple larkspurs, the snapdragons, the birds, and the bugs, and the rabbits. I don't know who everyone is yet or where they will stand with my neighbours and me. But I am learning how to see, and how to count them, more abundantly."
@@sarahhepworth totally agree! The book made me uncomfortable in places too, but I felt it was needed. I love your quotes. Thanks for sharing them!
I always appreciate your thoughtful reviews! I agree with your assessment of both these titles. I think it was the tone of A.N. book that was off for me, but I really loved her first book. Soil was so comforting and I loved Dungy's writing style.
@@debtomaselli4586 Yes I agree. The tone was a little weird in Bite by Bite. It swung between a celebration of food and family vs being a cautionary tale of the dangers of being a woman, particularly a woman of color. Either is fine but putting them together was weird. I thought Soil nailed that mixture.
I loved that paragraph where she referenced other authors and we had read all but one of them I think. 🏆
@@alldbooks9165 I loved that too! Made me feel in the loop!
Soul was so good! I still haven't read the Nezhukumatathil but somehow I'm in no particular rush to get to the book.
Both books were wonderful. First thought I’d go for just one. Glad I made the full commitment. I will be joining the August read provided I can find the very safe place I put the book. Much rearranging, purging, stacking, and moving books about. I started the History of Bees and am on the lookout for End of the Ocean.
@@readingbytheriver5752 I’m glad you were able to read both books in July. They paired so nicely together! And good luck finding the August book in its very safe space! 😂
Great reviews, Heidi! Thank you🌷I’ve just ordered Soil. I put it on my wishlist the first time you mentioned it, but I just want to … own it!!! And of course read it at the first opportunity😅Among the longlisted novels for the Booker prize announced earlier this week there are two about the relationship between humans and the natural world. I’m currently reading the first, Orbital by Samantha Harvey (the earth seen from space by six astronauts of different nationalities) and the other is Playground by Richard Powers (about experimenting with possibile humans settlements in the oceans), which will be published in September. I was wondering whether you’re interested in them. Especially Richard Powers’s.
@@emmavd I hope you love Soil as much as I did. I have heard of Orbital but not sure it is a book for me. However, I am very interested in Playground because I loved The Overstory.
@@myreadinglife8816 I loved The Overstory too and will be reading Bewilderment while waiting for Playground😊📚
Ooh, I want Soil so badly. And my local independent has it so I'd best scurry off and pick it up.
@@louisep1962 I hope you were able to get a copy of Soil! It was so good!
I was reading Soil but felt it was jumping all over the place timeline wise and had trouble following. It all seemed a bit random. It was probably my own brain not getting it, I will pick it up again in the future because I enjoy the subject.
@@heatherfoley4945 Soil definitely did not have a linear timeline. Sometimes that really bothers me too but for whatever reason it was fine for me with this book.