Review: Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Moss is beautiful. I love hiking through a lush and peaceful forest carpeted with moss, or contemplating how different kinds of mosses complete the composition of a Japanese garden.

Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses (OSU Press) is a series of connected personal essays by scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer, who spent years studying mosses all over the world. Drawing as much on her Native American heritage and experiences as a mother as on science, Kimmerer explains how mosses live and uses the history and interconnectedness of moss with other species as a metaphor for living in the world.

Kimmerer won the John Burroughs Medal Award for Natural History Writing for Gathering Moss. It reminded me of Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, but without so many bugs.

I wanted to read Gathering Moss because I am trying to incorporate more moss in my own landscaping. Kimmerer's essays turned out to be as inspirational as they are informative. Anyone with a curiosity about natural history and our connection with nature would enjoy this book.

OTHER REVIEWS

If you would like me to list your review of Gathering Moss or any other John Burroughs Medal Award winner, please leave a comment with a link and I will add it.

Teaser Tuesday: Trophy Cupcakes & Parties

The great thing about a rustic French buffet is that it's completely kid-friendly, so there's no need to make separate food for them. Baguettes with butter and ham or cheese and crunchy cucumbers, carrots, and haricots vert are a favorite among les petits-enfants.

-- Trophy Cupcakes & Parties! Deliciously Fun Party Ideas and Recipes from Seattle's Prize-Winning Cupcake Bakery by Jennifer Shea, photographs by Rena Jordan.

This is the perfect present for the hip entertainer on your list!  Another lively and inspiring book from Sasquatch Books. 

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading, where you can find the official rules for this weekly event. 

Happy Anniversary! Happy Veterans' Day!

 

As well as giving thanks to our veterans, Hubby and I celebrate our (lucky) thirteenth wedding anniversary today. 

Mailbox Monday: Oregon Authors

Thanks for joining me for Mailbox Monday! MM was created by Marcia, who graciously hosted it for a long, long time, before turning it into a touring event (details here).

Crystal at I Totally Paused is hosting in November.  Crystal reviews books from a variety of genres including mysteries, YA, historical fiction, and classics, and also blogs about pop culture and life as she sees it.  Please visit her blog and say hello.

My mailbox was a celebration of local authors and publishers last week.  I got three books that all look really interesting:



A Simplified Map of the Real World by Steven Allred, published by Forest Avenue Press.  Interconnected short stories set in the fictional town of Renata, Oregon.



Brave on the Page: Oregon Writers on Craft and the Creative Life, edited by Laura Stanfill, published by Forest Avenue Press. Essays from 42 Oregon authors about living the writer's life. 



Paradox Lost: Uncovering Your True Identity in Christ by Jen Johnson and Catherine Skurja, published by Imago Dei Resources.  Jen is in my book club and worked on this project for a while. I look forward to reading it.

What books came into your house last week?

Book Beginning: Trophy Cupcakes & Parties!

Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.

EARLY BIRDS & SLOWPOKES: This weekly post goes up Thursday evening for those who like to get their posts up and linked early on. But feel free to add a link all week.

FACEBOOK: Rose City Reader now has a Facebook page. I plan to post about new and favorite books, book events, and other bookish tidbits, as well as link to blog posts. I'd love a "Like" on the page! You can go to the page here to Like it, or click the button over there in the right hand column.  I am happy to Like you back if you have a blog or professional Facebook page, so please leave a comment with a link and I will find you.

TWITTER, ETC: If you are on Twitter, Google+, or other social media, please post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings. I am trying to follow all Book Beginning participants on whatever interweb sites you are on, so please let me know if I have missed any and I will catch up.

MR. LINKY



MY BOOK BEGINNING

You could say that party planning is in my DNA. I'm not sure which of my ancestors was first bit by the hospitality bug, but I clearly come from a family of celebrators with a flair for festivities and a knack for fun.

-- From the authors introduction, "The Party Starts Here: Why I'm obsessed with creating joyful celebrations" in Trophy Cupcakes & Parties! Deliciously Fun Party Ideas and Recipes from Seattle's Prize-Winning Cupcake Bakery by Jennifer Shea, photographs by Rena Jordan.

The photos and ideas in Trophy Cupcakes & Parties would inspire any partygiver, whether looking to add panache to a grown-up party or find a new idea for a kid event.  When you need more than Pinterest, this would be the source to turn to.

This is another fun and beautiful book from Sasquatch Books.  They are on a roll!