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#memior
review
Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

A bit more of a guide than a memoir, you get a more straightforward introduction to Smith's early years, a brief account of his journeys in the wilderness, primarily in Canada (felt ridiculously proud of his admiring descriptions of BC), prior to settling in one wood. But the story of his time at Loch Treig is divided more along the lines of what is essential to think about/know/do if you contemplate this lifestyle, especially in the Scottish 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Scottish Highlands. The way of the hermit, indeed.
I love that what shines through clearest in all of his advice and reminiscences is strongly valuing kindness, generosity, and conservation. Much as he may have found more peace without the crush of an urban population, he is quick to acknowledge all those people who have helped him along his way.
2d
Robotswithpersonality 3/? That gratitude extends to the land he's lived on, it's beauty and bounty, and a consistent, conscientious, somewhat mournful focus on the need to tread lightly, the ways the local climate, ecosystem has changed linked to an understanding of this being a microcosm of the larger environmental concerns of today.
2d
Robotswithpersonality 4/? There's a bit of 'old man yells at cloud' in his perspective, unable to reconcile the idea that people might enjoy a city life or a desk job, and as passionate as he is in championing nature, I do wish he seemed more optimistic about rewilding efforts in the U.K. Especially as you see him move from a ghillie aiding in deer stalking (aka helping people hunt deer on the estate because indigenous predators have been wiped out, 2d
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Robotswithpersonality 5/? and population control of deer is necessary to maintain the health of the local ecosystem) to someone who is relieved his advancing age removes him from those staff who have to kill the animals - though he laments that he can no longer fish in the loch, as it is now experiencing it's own population concerns.
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Robotswithpersonality 6/? There are sections of the book that I wish had gone into more detail, where we might have gained a bit more of his inner thoughts/life than a description of events, but the book at this size does make better odds that more people will pick it up. I do also wonder, now that I know there was a documentary, The Hermit of Treig, about this man that pre-dates, indeed partially inspired this book, if that might cover his life in a different way. 2d
Robotswithpersonality 7/? Overall, I think you can take inspiration from the way he's lived his life, without, as he himself states, going as far as he did. He does acknowledge when his life choices were risky, but urges and exemplifies caution a great deal more. Nevertheless, his scale of toughness means the average reader will probably be a little stunned at what he occasionally shrugs off. 2d
Robotswithpersonality 8/? There is humour and humility and resilience. A good read physically or on audio.
Definitely a collaborative effort, as Smith had Millard's assistance in writing the book, and Dean Williamson narrates the audiobook. Unsure of the origins of the accent, but it works to tell this story. I should mention, there are differences between physical book and audio, I assume the audio is based off the UK written version, with a fair amount of local
2d
Robotswithpersonality 9/? parlance thrown in, and it's obvious the written version I've got has been revised to substitute more North American synonyms. I found the foreign slang utterly charming, while also being grateful for a reference with more familiar terms to translate. ☺️ Can highly recommend the tandem reading experience for my fellow North American readers.
2d
Robotswithpersonality 10/10 ⚠️Loss of parents, discussion of depression, animal death, mention of injury, suicide, cancer diagnosis and treatment 2d
13 likes9 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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💅🏼 He's judging us. 😅

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Robotswithpersonality
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“You shouldn't feel self-conscious about saying kind words to anything.“ 🥰🌹

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Robotswithpersonality
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😌🍂❄️

Texreader ♥️ 🍁 🍂 2d
9 likes1 comment
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Robotswithpersonality
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...always new growth...

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Robotswithpersonality
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💚

blurb
xicanti
Fearless and Free: A Memoir | Josephine Baker
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I wanted Casey to pose with FEARLESS AND FREE, but he was more interested in BEING fearless and free. So here we are.

I finished the book this morning and now I‘m even more sorry I somehow missed Josephine Baker‘s tomb at the Pantheon. She was a remarkable person; not flawless, but deeply committed to her art and the fight for a better world. I admire her so much, and I love how her zest for life comes across in this as-told-to memoir.

Ruthiella The camera loves him! ❤️🐶❤️🐶❤️ 4d
xicanti @Ruthiella he missed his calling as a dog model. 4d
Karisa What a cute little creature! 💗 4d
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dabbe Oh, Casey, this is just what I needed today! Thank you! 🤎🐾💛 4d
xicanti @Karisa he‘s the cutest. 3d
xicanti @dabbe Casey aims to please. 3d
37 likes6 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Already in love with the writing.

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MaggieCarr
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Leaving unrated, I don't remember now why or what intrigued me to add it to my TBR list to begin with. I wasn't and remain not a fan of Kari/Michelle throughout the entire book. Owell. On to the next book.

review
Ruthiella
Cherry | Mary Karr
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Pickpick

#Roll100
#OffMyShelf “One Word Title”

Mary Karr writes beautifully of her tween years and adolescence in Leechfield, Texas in the ‘70s. Not as sympathetic as her first memoir, because it‘s a difficult age for many and particularly for Mary, who is smart but also often impudent and challenging as well as challenged by her home life and the counterculture movement.

I would have made the prologue an epilogue, however.

wanderinglynn 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎉 you are rocking this challenge! (edited) 2w
Ruthiella @wanderinglynn it‘s really helping me read books I have owned for years! 😃 2w
PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 2w
62 likes4 comments