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Cover of INTO THE WEEDS
4.56

Based on 9 Goodreads ratings

INTO THE WEEDS

by revealing the experiences or ideas that evoked several of her stories. The death of an elderly friend, for example, resulted in a story about Davis’ lifelong project of improving her German, even though her knowledge of German will die with her. When it comes to why she writes, she finds it easier to talk about why she doesn’t write: “I don’t write to convey a message, and I don’t write stories to achieve any particular purpose,” she asserts. Nor does she write for any particular audience, or to move someone. Instead, she writes “for the pleasure of it”: the discovery of material, shaping it, seeing it in print, and sharing it. Admitting that her stories are inspired by “something outside coming in,” she writes “to figure out something I don’t understand.” As she circles around the question of motivation, she turns to other writers: George Sturt, for one, author of the richly detailed The Wheelwright’s Shop\u003B Knut Hamsun for his memoir On Overgrown Paths\u003B and poets John Ashbery, John Clare, Walter Raleigh, and Russell Edson. She considers writers who risk being tedious or strange, such as Gertrude Stein, Laura Riding, Robert Musil, and Walter Benjamin. Finally, she reaches a conclusion: She writes, she says, to relieve herself “of the burdens of strong feelings, by taking them out of myself and putting them in an objective form, a form that can also be shared by others out in the world.”"

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Pages:146
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9780300279

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This field guide to common weeds transforms ordinary backyard exploration into a thrilling botanical treasure hunt, inviting young naturalists to see the often-overlooked plants in their environment ...

Our Review

This field guide to common weeds transforms ordinary backyard exploration into a thrilling botanical treasure hunt, inviting young naturalists to see the often-overlooked plants in their environment with fresh eyes. It provides clear, accessible identification tips for dandelions, clover, plantain, and other familiar species, turning a simple walk into an engaging science lesson. The book masterfully blends factual biology with hands-on activities, encouraging kids to observe, sketch, and understand the roles these plants play in the local ecosystem. Its approach makes urban and suburban nature feel immediate and fascinating.

What truly sets this guide apart is its empowering message that science isn't confined to a classroom or a pristine forest; discovery is literally underfoot. Budding botanists and curious kids who love hands-on exploration will be captivated by the challenge of finding and cataloging these resilient plants in their own neighborhoods. The book fosters a wonderful sense of environmental stewardship by reframing "weeds" as tenacious survivors with unique stories and uses. It’s the kind of resource that can spark a lifelong passion for the natural world, one patch of pavement-cracking green at a time.

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