Drawn in by the cover, I picked this little book up at the library, read a sentence then grabbed it greedily lest someone else should want it too. It is a book about winter, about the cold, and about life.

The author infuses her observations on the state of winter environs with her own life experiences and anecdotes. She is a wonderful writer and I feel like I've discovered a new favourite in her. There is a lot of talk of global warming, but also of the littlest details of winter landscapes. Here's a quote:

"I try to keep these rustic joys and our destruction of the natural world in mind simultaneously, but it is a torturous practice, one that leaves me despairing."

I'll be looking for her other books asap- The Solace of Open Spaces and This Cold Heaven. ( )

Oh, I think I may have spoiled a wonderful book by reading it at the wrong time of the year. Everything about this book was wonderful. It's a memoir/travelogue written by Gretel Ehrlich, who is positively obsessed with cold climate and nature. While I can't fully agree with her opinions, Gretel's love for winter shines through on every page and is absolutely charming. She describes her love for nature in the most poetic and beautiful ways, and I was enchanted by everything she had to say. The topic aside, I definitely think the author is a terrific writer.

So why didn't I enjoy it? I don't know! I really don't have a lot of negative things to say about it...but, I just couldn't get into it! Whenever I wasn't reading it, I just didn't have that irresistible urge to get back to reading it as I usually do with books. It wasn't something I was eager to pick up again when I was away from it and I didn't have to try hard to put it down. The only reason I can imagine why I didn't like it was because I read it in spring, and the thought of cold weather just wasn't something I wanted to think about!

So I really don't know what to think about this book. All I can say is I'm fascinated by the authors writing ability and, having read in her biography that she has written poetry, I'll undoubtedly be looking into those as soon as possible. ( )

a fine book to just open at any place and read - erhlich writes some lovely prose. IMHO however, this doesn't make the greatest narrative from start to finish. take it as spotty journal chapters by someone who can wax poetic on wilderness and the nomadic life, and you'll be reasonably pleased. ( )