Falling into Place

December 1, 2013
An uneven collection of sharply observed and deeply pondered essays, mainly on the environment but informed by the author's perspective as a Quaker and a lesbian. "In their shapes and meanders, the personal essay and the long walk have much in common, most notably in their valuing of the journey over the destination," writes Reid (Creative Writing/Warren Wilson Coll.; Coyote: Seeking the Hunter in Our Midst, 2004), who invites readers to share some walks, most of them in nature generally and many of them involving birds specifically. She continues to observe that these two linked pursuits involve "a heightened attention," and most of these essays pay very close attention to detail, as the author finds significance in distinctions to which many observers might remain oblivious. She also makes connections between her solitary contemplation of nature and her relationships with those close to her, as when she writes after the death of her grandmother, "She and I may not have said much about the matters of our hearts but in the language of birds we shared plenty." Two essays rise above the rest. "Hitched, Massachusetts, 2004" seems deeply felt as well as pondered, as the author works her way through the ambivalence of becoming legally wed to her partner, "because there are lots of reasons besides fidelity and commitment why queers might want to marry and why doing so might cause palms to sweat." In "Wild Geese and Other Nostalgias," the author illuminates how love for birds might be bad for them, making it too easy for them to stay in one place and multiply, interrupting their natural migratory cycles. As a self-conscious writer and ardent environmentalist, Reid makes fine company for those who share her passions, yet there's little trace of humor, self-deprecating or otherwise, that might broaden her circle of readers.

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November 15, 2013

Essayist Reid (creative nonfiction & environmental writing, Warren Wilson Coll.; Coyote: Seeking the Hunter in Our Midst) has penned a series of lyrical pieces celebrating her rural western Massachusetts home (she is there part time), embracing the woods, the ponds, and the rivers, as well as their many inhabitants. Her subjects include her volunteer work with the Wetland Birds Project, identifying and counting birds by their calls; the mystery of the disappearance of chimney swifts each fall; and the large number of amphibians on the prowl, ready to mate during foggy spring nights. Reid also explores the effects of pollution on the environment and the land's ability to recover. She weaves memoir throughout these essays, discussing topics such as her close relationship with her grandmother and her family history, past and present. Her relationship with, and marriage to, her partner, Holly, is central to her story across the essays, as is her self-reliance and the importance of home in this wild land. VERDICT This book will be savored by those who relish reading beautifully written essays about natural history and environmental concerns as well as by readers who enjoy memoirs.--Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove P.L., IL

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