This is a delightful natural history of some of the most enticing places in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling to these destinations and viewing the magic of the flora and fauna of these locales through the eyes of an accomplished scientist and naturalist.
Mary Swander, Iowa State University Part travel memoir, part nature guide, part social justice musings, this book is a beautifully written journey through some of the last wild (and not so wild) places on earth. As a microbiologist and ecologist, Mary Hood is eminently qualified to observethe natural world, from the penguins of Antarctica to the towering trees and tiny limpets of the Pacific Northwest and the plants and birds of her own Florida backyard. As a poet, Hood is wonderfully adept at translating her observations into lyrical, readable prose. Throughout the book, Hood uses the notion of a 'sense of place' to connect her stories together. She argues that until humans develop a more encompassing sense of their place within the world's ecosystems, we will continue to lose habitat andbiodiversity at alarming rates. A useful tool for naturalists is Hood's inclusion of scientific as well as common names for most of the flora and fauna she encounters. Another bonus is her bibliography of well over 100 items by naturalists, nature lovers, birders, scientists, poets, and travel writers. This book is a lovely read?I recommend it to anyone with an interest in beautiful descriptions of the natural world and humanity's place in it.
Ann Hibner Koblitz, Arizona State University The Strangler Fig and Other Tales hugs the reader from beginning to end while providing continuous enchantment. Mary Hood shows us what it means, both aesthetically and ethically, to care about 'nature' and its wonders. Hers is a welcoming tale that offers a spacious place for the least as well as the most ecologically minded readers. By taking us with her on journeys to several American regions—the south, the midwest, the northeast—as well as to South America, Central America, and Mexico, Hood's rich narrative draws dense, moving connections between our own well-being and that of the world we share with other life forms.
Mary Rogers, University of West Florida Mary Hood's book is entertaining, factual, and philosophical. The travelogue slant to the book is appealing, particularly for places that I had traveled myself, especially Tierra del Fuego. I readily recommend the book to those who enjoy nature and travel—there is much to entertain both the amateur and the expert.
Rita R. Colwell, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, College Park and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Part travel memoir, part nature guide, part social justice musings, this book is a beautifully written journey through some of the last wild (and not so wild) places on earth. As a microbiologist and ecologist, Mary Hood is eminently qualified to observe the natural world, from the penguins of Antarctica to the towering trees and tiny limpets of the Pacific Northwest and the plants and birds of her own Florida backyard. As a poet, Hood is wonderfully adept at translating her observations into lyrical, readable prose. Throughout the book, Hood uses the notion of a 'sense of place' to connect her stories together. She argues that until humans develop a more encompassing sense of their place within the world's ecosystems, we will continue to lose habitat and biodiversity at alarming rates. A useful tool for naturalists is Hood's inclusion of scientific as well as common names for most of the flora and fauna she encounters. Another bonus is her bibliography of well over 100 items by naturalists, nature lovers, birders, scientists, poets, and travel writers. This book is a lovely read—I recommend it to anyone with an interest in beautiful descriptions of the natural world and humanity's place in it.
Ann Hibner Koblitz, Arizona State University