Customer Reviews

Norton Book of Nature Writing

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I love nature writing, so to my mind, this is a grand book. All the great writers are here, with one exception: there is a signal lack of modern nature writers (last half of the 20th Century). Beyond that, the selection of great nature writers is first rate.

The real problem with this book is that it is so big and the binding so weak you really can't take this book into nature to read it. I took it with me during a trip to the north end of the Queen Charlotte Islands; the moment I found a spot to relax and got the book out, I found I was wrestling with a ten pound weight that flopped all over the place. So, a warning: this book is for the fireside or a cozy evening in bed, not the field. Otherwise, wonderful!

Although I purchased this book for a class I am taking it has proved to be a treasure I would want in my library. Recently I had a house guest who discovered Nature Writing on my coffeetable and could not put it down. I finally asked that a segment by Isak Dinnesen be read aloud as it was my homework. What followed was a great discussion.

Observation is the necessary ingredient to all good writing and Nature provides example after example on which to model your own writing if you happen to be a writer. If not the places you will go in reading from this anthology offer a telescope, microscope, and 6th Sense for you to enjoy, experience, and interpret nature. Begin your journey now. It is time well spent.