Thank you for writing & sharing--the reading recommendations, the woodpeckers, the heron fart, the ideas. Noting we became aware of our local biomes during the pandemic is apt. It became a theme in my reading material.
Did you happen to catch the NEW YORKER article (maybe 6 or 7 years ago), that basically eviscerated almost every aspect of Thoreau's life and work?
I'm not saying that I agreed with all or even most takes, but it *did* lead me to look at his hagiography with fresh eyes. Essentially, we can admire his descriptions of nature, and his abolitionism while recognizing he was probably miserable to be around. (Kinda of like all those online "introverts" who are actually misanthopes...and I say this as a guy who NEEDS large and frequent doses of solitude)
I don't lionize him, I haven't read Walden since college, and I only mentioned him because Jenny Odell did. Writers are generally fucked up, me included. It's one of the reasons I don't go to writing retreats or conventions. It's bad enough listening to writers bloviate online about how tough it is to write.
I am going to try to think of heron farts to get that song out of my head!
Haven’t thought of Tinker Creek in a long time but when I do, it’s always of that bug scene. Interesting thinking about bioregionalism (or maybe just “living where we are”) in Chris’s book, too, since the place relationship covers such a vast area. I think a lot about an interview I heard once where the person talked about trying to think of ourselves as citizens of a watershed, which feels applicable. Extensive while also being hyper-local.
Chris's book extends the region to the land inhabited by his extended family and ancestors, and that fits this well. I like being aware of where my drinking water comes from (the Delaware river, for some reason, even though the aquifer beneath the Pine Barrens produces trillions of gallons of clean water) and we usually learn the source when a disaster pollutes it.
Thank you for writing & sharing--the reading recommendations, the woodpeckers, the heron fart, the ideas. Noting we became aware of our local biomes during the pandemic is apt. It became a theme in my reading material.
Did you happen to catch the NEW YORKER article (maybe 6 or 7 years ago), that basically eviscerated almost every aspect of Thoreau's life and work?
I'm not saying that I agreed with all or even most takes, but it *did* lead me to look at his hagiography with fresh eyes. Essentially, we can admire his descriptions of nature, and his abolitionism while recognizing he was probably miserable to be around. (Kinda of like all those online "introverts" who are actually misanthopes...and I say this as a guy who NEEDS large and frequent doses of solitude)
Sorry for tangent-- have a great holiday weekend!
I don't lionize him, I haven't read Walden since college, and I only mentioned him because Jenny Odell did. Writers are generally fucked up, me included. It's one of the reasons I don't go to writing retreats or conventions. It's bad enough listening to writers bloviate online about how tough it is to write.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/19/pond-scum
I am going to try to think of heron farts to get that song out of my head!
Haven’t thought of Tinker Creek in a long time but when I do, it’s always of that bug scene. Interesting thinking about bioregionalism (or maybe just “living where we are”) in Chris’s book, too, since the place relationship covers such a vast area. I think a lot about an interview I heard once where the person talked about trying to think of ourselves as citizens of a watershed, which feels applicable. Extensive while also being hyper-local.
Chris's book extends the region to the land inhabited by his extended family and ancestors, and that fits this well. I like being aware of where my drinking water comes from (the Delaware river, for some reason, even though the aquifer beneath the Pine Barrens produces trillions of gallons of clean water) and we usually learn the source when a disaster pollutes it.
Chris's book is on the way to me. I'm looking forward to reading it.
Can vouch for "Role Models" being gloriously stupid but fun. I'll watch it whenever it pops up on cable.
I finished it last night, you're in for a good read.