Customer Reviews

Stone Desert: A Naturalist's Exploration of Canyonlands National Park

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Stone Desert was very realistic. It was hard to follow at first because every (hike) or adventure had a lot of little interesting facts. I would get lost, like the Craig did while he was exploring and hiking in the canyons of the Stone Desert. I could almost feel the cold rocks and how it would feel to find water when there was so little to find. I liked that he found pottery, paintings and left them undisturbed for other people to enjoy. He had a pride that came through to me in the book that I hope other people can enjoy and be proud of. This pride will keep special items and treasures around for other people to see and enjoy. Danny

Stone Desert was the only Craig Childs book that I didn't have. Now I have them all. Call me obsessed - that's alright. I blush to admit I have hiked the canyons, raced ahead of the flood, and spat on pot sherds with Craig Childs. Vicariously, of course. Any author who can make the reader feel the desolation of The Maze or the tug of the Colorado River's micro currents deserves a vicarious companion. It's strictly complimentary.

I have to admit, though, Stone Desert isn't my favorite of his books. Had I read this book first - and I wish I had - I might feel differently. That's not to say that it is lesser in any way to his others. The style and tone don't quite follow with his later works. It feels less settled. Less matured. It's as if he hasn't quite slid fully into the recesses of his niche.

Maybe it's in the development. In the afterward Craig notes that the book closely follows his original journal. Writing on the move and writing from ones desk can't produce the same results without some liberal massage.

For those of you who are Craig Childs fans as I am, and read this book late in your chronology as I did, you might stumble on the immense amount of information therein. This is a text book for would be desert travelers. It's about ecology, geology, psychology, and probably some more "ologys" rolled into one. At some point you might be tempted to ask yourself, "Is this entertainment or text?" Actually, it's both. But you have to determine where that fine line is drawn.

This book is so well written that I have to stop on almost every page to marvel at Childs's gift for metaphor. Thoroughly enjoyable. Childs is a natural teacher and I envy him his life.