Mollie

If there was a deep meaning to this book other than don't let someone irresponsible be your idol, I did not find it.

2.5
This seems like the type of book I am supposed to love but actually really did not enjoy. It's shockingly sad? It's a lot less a reflection on nature and lot more about loss. Sometimes I had a hard time with how much the author seems to fuss over nature- it almost feels infantilizing the natural world? But the ways of the world care little for our emotions. Certainly they spark feelings in us and are important roadways to advocacy about nature, but ultimately to focus it upon human feelings is a narrow view and elevates us to more importance than we deserve. This toed that line that for me.

I found this book so very compelling and comforting. Though very honest about the intense dread and anxiety that being alive means- I found it to be the most hopeful novel I've read all year.

Some of the stories are funny, but they do not save it from the author's not-so-hot hot takes. I did a lot of eye rolling. Yikes.

Wow.
I'm not even sure how to review this book.
It is unsettling from the very first page. But the thing is, you can't quite figure out why. And that just makes the whole thing even more unsettling.

If you like horror, you'll likely find it to be a captivating read. It's not enjoyable. It's not fun. But I could not put it down. I'll contemplate it for awhile. Enjoying isn't the right word- but it's whatever that feeling you get from a good horror movie is.

From a writing standpoint, there's some really interesting conversations to be had about cultivating an exacting mood in a story from the very first page.