In my own review of James Canton’s The Oak Papers, I noted that the author “goes to great lengths to explain how his own feelings were changed by being, and having been, in the presence of the tree. How touching its bark, sitting under its boughs, allowing his body to be cradled in a curvature of its trunk, brought about increased contentment, calm, security, wholeness, healing. His is feelings are in no sense unique.” Adding that “As one who takes the time to stop and touch, and when possible spend time sitting beneath the shade of, old trees, I can readily second what Dr. Canton reports of his own experiences.”
In his own review of it for his Sunday Book Review this week, Mark Avery indicates that “there is a little too much communing with trees and giving them a hug for my taste” but continues to say that “This is a well-written book with a good mixture of information about this tree in this place, and its life and times, oak trees in general both in the UK and beyond,” then wisely observing that “there is something, a lot, in here for everyone.”
That’s the beauty of reviewing books – different reviewers, bringing a diverse range of knowledge and experiences to the books they review, can easily interpret the same book in different ways yet still agree it is worth recommending. You’ve likely already read my review of Mr. Canton’s The Oak Papers; I now highly encourage you to read Mark’s review of it as well.
Links to Mark Avery’s Sunday book reviews appear in The Well-read Naturalist by special arrangement. You can find all of Mark’s past reviews as well as a wide-ranging collection of his other writings on his Standing Up for Nature website. Mark’s opinions regarding the books he reviews are his own.
