The Way Through the Woods : On Mushrooms and Mourning

A touching and informative memoir about processing grief and not allowing loss to consume one's life. I enjoyed this book immensely and learned so much throughout. The author gradually shares their knowledge of foraging for fungi with the reader, and you can experience her growth from novice to expert through her writing. At the same time, you can feel the author battle with her grief for her husband. I admire how honest she is about her situation– her mention of weight loss due to lack of motivation to eat really spoke to me. It shows proof that grief can go beyond mental anguish; it takes a physical toll on our lives. I shed many tears reading about Eiolf, in particular the passage about feeling connected to him through the buildings he designed during his time as an architect. I think many of us worry about what it might mean to be forgotten after we die. Did we actually leave anything substantial behind? Will it matter at all that we were alive in the first place? An architect leaving behind a building is a straightforward example of a having a timeless legacy, but it challenged me to think of how I might leave behind something; for me likely something less tangible: Publications, protocols, stories with friends, positive impressions with strangers. I don't mind if it's little things that stick with others when I'm gone. I'm glad that for Eiolf it was his designs, and that Litt Woon can continue to appreciate them. I must also mention how technical the writing can be at times. It never reaches textbook levels of dryness, but it is very detailed and that may turn some readers off. Long is obviously very talented as a writer (and the translator, Barabara J. Haveland) because there is a great balance of casual sections where her personality shines through and technical sections where you know that her work is accurate and well researched. This would be a great starting point for someone who is interested in learning more about fungi, and you could easily transition to more traditional educational materials afterwards. I must also point out how this theme of mixing narrative with technical writings reminded me immensely of [b:Moby-Dick or, The Whale 153747 Moby-Dick or, The Whale Herman Melville https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327940656l/153747.SY75.jpg 2409320], although Long is much more succinct than Melville. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to others. After returning to reading as a hobby after neglecting it for many years, this is the first book I felt compelled to recommend to my father. I think he would appreciate reading about foraging for food in the outdoors, and could use some exposure to more emotional topics. We will see what he thinks!