Books and Opinions
The Women Destroyed, 6.5/10
Clever, hilarious, and perfectly unhinged.
The Overstory, 7.3/10
As an Oregonian, I greatly appreciate Power’s beautiful descriptions of nature and processes of life that occur under our noses in the forest. He does a wonderful job reminding the reader of the beauty and belonging of mother nature, and the importance of protecting our homeland…though how do we actually go about doing that? This novel will definitely get you thinking..
Selected Poems of Rumi, 9.0/10
One of the most thought-provoking compilations of poetry that I have read. Each poem, while rich with history, dives into the meanings and purposes of this world in a manner that will forever apply to the reader’s current-day life.
Slouching Towards Bethlehem, 8.7/10
This collection of essays puts Didion’s wonderful and unique writing style on display as she ventures into stories of her childhood and brings her readers along on her adventures and wacky interactions in 60s California. “On Self Respect” is probably one of the best-written essays in this book (and one of Didion’s best of all time)
Today’s Special
Walden, 8.7/10
“I am no more lonely than a single mullein or dandelion in a pasture..”. This quote came to my mind as I spotted a fluffy dandelion standing tall among the sheet of grass that followed along the perimeter of the trail. I smiled at how timely it was: a picture-perfect dandelion that found my eyes at a time when I would actually notice it. I was 4 miles into an 8-mile hike that I had embarked on, it being my first outing since setting up my tent in Oregon’s Cottonwood Canyon State Park. I fled to the dry and open region of Oregon for my first solo camping trip in a dire attempt to remedy the loneliness I had felt ever since I had returned home for the summer months. I sought out a solo trip in a place where I knew I would be brutally exposed to the summer heat and sun, thinking I could effectively sweat out all of the turmoil by truly being alone, and then magically return to civilization with a newfound sense of appreciation. Essentially, I was convinced that this trip would be so horrible and isolating that I would gladly flee back to the city.
Oddly enough, I was never once lonely or longing for company, but instead found relief in the absence of interaction. My outing coincided with my first reading of Thoreau’s Walden, a classic that follows the author as he tells the story of his 2.5 years living in a cabin on the shore of Walden Pond. He definitely took this endeavor to the max, building his own house and living off of only his hand labor, a type of living I couldn’t possibly claim to understand. But throughout his writing, he seamlessly interweaves the logistical nature of his settling and living deep in the Massachusetts woods, while providing his insights that span from personal philosophies to societal critiques. And while he thought of all of these concepts and meanings with only nature as his neighbor, his insights all read honest and universal, that it seems any sort of person could find appreciation for them. In my view, Walden is the telling of a man who has left the murky world, and through living among nature as a principal companion, has stripped life of all of its accessories and superficial desires. Many of his chapters outline what is left of him when this is gone–his oneness with nature, his new appreciation of the world as he saw it, and his realized criticisms of working societies' natural values and priorities. While the book can at times seem a bit lengthy or dense, there is a multitude of wisdom to reap from it. And so I did. In my tent, I took in his words hungrily, and sitting in the river I saw his insights flowing downstream, carrying the loose pebbles I aimlessly threw. I saw his words in the eyes of the elk I ran smack into on the trail, and I felt his wonder as we both stood staring at each other with eyes of curiosity, wondering who would take the first step home. I did–I turned around and hiked home, replaying that quiet moment. And during that silent trudging did I began to melt into the ground and bow my head down in contentment.
“Not till we are lost, in other words not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves, and realize where we are and the infinite extent of our relations”. In my isolation what remained were the parts of me I understood the best and recognized as home. Finally, my loneliness had slipped away.
Please do send me back your thoughts on these reviews. I would love to hear your thoughts and disagreements. Book recommendations are always welcome!
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