Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 6-9 of 9 | | « PREV | | |
 Inspiring, and inspired November 16, 2007
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
A lovely book. I came upon Wildwood as a novice, never having read anything by Deakin before - but he is good; he is very good. The book comes in four main blocks: Roots, about his home and youth; Sapwood, on British wood, woods and artists; Driftwood, on his travels in Europe, Australia and central Asia; and Heartwood, back to his home area of Suffolk. Each block comes in short chapters, full of information, insight, and excellent writing. He likes sleeping outside or in an old railway wagon, and links this to writings by Jefferies or Thoreau, recites the beams in his house, or starts talking about an ancient propeller hub in his study and diversifies that into walnut and all its applications, down to Jaguar gear knobs. I could have done without the Australian bits - they just don't resonate for me (hence four stars). But the Kazak and Kyrgyz chapters are wonderful, and more than make up for it. He is never dull - the writing is full of links to the familiar, observations on new insights, fascinating snippets. This is an inspiring book, by an inspired writer.
 Well, it's not that good... August 23, 2007
43 out of 57 found this review helpful
After reading the uncritical praise heaped on 'Wildwood', I had to try and take a more measured approach to try and balance things out. Don't get me wrong, I loved Deakin's previous book, where he seemed incapable of putting a word out of place, and everything was relevant to the central premise.
Here, I could have quite happily missed out 150-200 pages from the middle and not blinked. Oh, for the benefit of hindsight.
In this middle part, Deakin wanders around central Europe, adding nothing to what has gone before, making no impression on what is to follow...Look, its worth reading, after Deakin's sad death last year I recommend people get hold of what they can, but don't expect the masterpiece everyone thinks it is.
Jay Griffith's 'Wild', now thats much better...
 Joyful discoveries June 26, 2007
65 out of 71 found this review helpful
I have read 'Wildwood' in delighted instalments, each night before drifting off to sleep, mundanely abed, unlike the 'Boys'Own' adventurer that Roger Deakin obviously was. Never happier, it seems, than camping out in the depths of an ancient wood listening to the rookery above.
This is no dull natural history book but a series of blissful nuggets of information strung together on a thread of gleaming prose. Poetry, delightful humour, child-like glee and a profound erudition illuminate this work and make it a pure joy to read. I cannot recommend it highly enough & have bought copies for all my friends!
Fascinating! June 22, 2007
15 out of 26 found this review helpful
What is about trees that fascinates us? I have always felt a special connection akin to something spiritual and mysterious to the woodlands where I live. This book is a fascinating journey into trees that takes you through Britain, Europe, Asia and Australia in an exploration of our connection with trees.
I love WILDWOOD along with THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES, NEXUS: A NEO NOVEL and books by Jay Griffiths.
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