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The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year
From New York Times opinion writer and bestselling author Margaret Renkl comes a “howling love letter to the world” (Ann Patchett): a luminous book tracing the passing of seasons, personal and natural. In The Comfort of Crows , Margaret Renkl presents a devotional of sorts: fifty-two essays that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons—from a crow spied on New Year’s Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year—what develops is a portrait of joy and grief. Joy at the ongoing pleasures of the natural world: “Until the very last cricket falls silent, the beauty-besotted will always find a reason to love the world.” And grief at a shifting climate, at winters that end too soon, at songbirds growing fewer and fewer. Along the way, we also glimpse the changing rhythms of a human life. Grown children, unexpectedly home during the pandemic, prepare to depart once more. Birdsong and night-blooming flowers evoke generations past. The city and the country where Renkl raised her family transform a little more with every passing day. How can one person make a difference amid such destabilizing changes? With fifty-two gorgeous four-color artworks by the author’s brother—whose collages also accompanied Late Migrations , Renkl’s Read with Jenna/ TODAY Show book club pick— The Comfort of Crows is a lovely and deeply moving book from a beloved writer.
Audible Audio
First published October 24, 2023
About the author
Margaret Renkl
5 books595 followersMargaret Renkl is the author of The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year (due from Spiegel & Grau on Oct. 24, 2023), as well as Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss and Graceland, At Last: Notes On Hope and Heartache From the American South. She is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, where her essays appear each Monday. A graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Carolina, she lives in Nashville.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,427 reviews
September 14, 2023
A Comfort of Crows is a lovely meditation on the changing of the seasons in nature. It was especially enjoyable because these are things from her backyard, not some exotic location. They encompass things those of us with even a little wilderness around us can witness. It’s a reminder of the small joys that nature gives us almost daily, if we take the time to look.
The book is written as 52 chapters, one for each week of the year. It’s a book that can be savored over time, that can be repeatedly picked up. It’s a gentle reminder to appreciate the beauty around us.
I had to laugh at the “owl pellet” segment. Only a dog lover can appreciate what her find actually was.
There are pictures between each of the chapters. This might be a book better suited to a paper copy or an e-reader that does color, as the pictures are black and white on the kindle. I was able to use the kindle app on my iPad to view the beautiful pictures.
My thanks to Netgalley and Spiegal & Grau for an advance copy of this book.
The book is written as 52 chapters, one for each week of the year. It’s a book that can be savored over time, that can be repeatedly picked up. It’s a gentle reminder to appreciate the beauty around us.
I had to laugh at the “owl pellet” segment. Only a dog lover can appreciate what her find actually was.
There are pictures between each of the chapters. This might be a book better suited to a paper copy or an e-reader that does color, as the pictures are black and white on the kindle. I was able to use the kindle app on my iPad to view the beautiful pictures.
My thanks to Netgalley and Spiegal & Grau for an advance copy of this book.
October 4, 2024
Did you know that this book has beautiful illustrations by Billy Renkl, her talented brother? The cover and the beginning of each chapter is illustrated by him which sets the tone for the seasons.
So, what is a backyard year?
For Renkl it is a way to bring the seasons alive in 52 chapters – a seasonal round – for the animals and plants – in her yard – in nearby parks – where she lives in Tennessee. She is living her despair of the human-caused crises that the natural world faces. She says…
“The very least I owe my wild neighbors is a willingness to witness their struggle, to compensate for their losses in every way I can, and to speak on their behalf about all the ways I can’t.”
Her intentions are to save animals that need mending, or insects, or birds that need food, or provide support for the monarch butterflies, or a haven for tree frogs, whatever it takes to make their living more naturally friendly.
She talks of human-caused global warming that is altering our environment and harming other species. Her awareness of the changes in the natural environment made me aware of the changes that I have noted in our ocean environment, as well, where I live in Morro Bay, CA. We use to see starfish all the time, and over the last few years, so few have been seen, that when we do see one, we seem to cheer when one is spotted. How sad is that?
And Renkl points these changes in our natural environment out readily. Especially noting that fewer birds and animals have come out as well.
Her ecological grief is real. Many of us require fuel to restore our spirits. Renkl’s chapters like…
Praise Song for the Dog’s Marvelous Nose…
The Bobcat Next Door…
Praise Song for the First Red Leaf of the Gum Tree…
Loving the Unloved Animals
Are perfect to read to help restore that fuel.
There were other chapters that brought so much joy to my heart. I found her chapters short and quick reads that definitely gave peace, joy and a sense of hope.
The compliment of words and drawings in this little book by this talented family is worth a visit.
But mostly…the animals and plants so treasured by Renkl need us now more than ever.
4.5 stars rounded up because of the illustrations.
So, what is a backyard year?
For Renkl it is a way to bring the seasons alive in 52 chapters – a seasonal round – for the animals and plants – in her yard – in nearby parks – where she lives in Tennessee. She is living her despair of the human-caused crises that the natural world faces. She says…
“The very least I owe my wild neighbors is a willingness to witness their struggle, to compensate for their losses in every way I can, and to speak on their behalf about all the ways I can’t.”
Her intentions are to save animals that need mending, or insects, or birds that need food, or provide support for the monarch butterflies, or a haven for tree frogs, whatever it takes to make their living more naturally friendly.
She talks of human-caused global warming that is altering our environment and harming other species. Her awareness of the changes in the natural environment made me aware of the changes that I have noted in our ocean environment, as well, where I live in Morro Bay, CA. We use to see starfish all the time, and over the last few years, so few have been seen, that when we do see one, we seem to cheer when one is spotted. How sad is that?
And Renkl points these changes in our natural environment out readily. Especially noting that fewer birds and animals have come out as well.
Her ecological grief is real. Many of us require fuel to restore our spirits. Renkl’s chapters like…
Praise Song for the Dog’s Marvelous Nose…
The Bobcat Next Door…
Praise Song for the First Red Leaf of the Gum Tree…
Loving the Unloved Animals
Are perfect to read to help restore that fuel.
There were other chapters that brought so much joy to my heart. I found her chapters short and quick reads that definitely gave peace, joy and a sense of hope.
The compliment of words and drawings in this little book by this talented family is worth a visit.
But mostly…the animals and plants so treasured by Renkl need us now more than ever.
4.5 stars rounded up because of the illustrations.
October 23, 2023
"Who wouldn't want to start the new year watched over by crows? They're smart and brave and loyal . . . "
It was a cruel, cruel summer nature-wise in my own backyard. It started in early June when I returned one morning from the dog walk, and startled a little sparrow who flew into our sliding glass door. While I was standing on the patio chanting, "Please don't be dead, please don't be dead," a hawk swooped down less than five feet from me, grabbed the maybe-dead, maybe-not-dead Schrödinger's bird, gave me a "It's MINE!" glare, and took off with an easy meal. In July, I found our beloved pond frog literally dissected, and left discarded in the middle of the backyard. And, over the course of three months, a bloodthirsty chipmunk killed seven birds, one right in front of me, leaving their little headless corpses lying right by the feeders.
Fortunately, there were a few lovely moments to be found, as well, such as sitting outdoors, enjoying a book and a glass of iced tea whilst hummingbirds whistled dangerously close to my head in their attempts to lay claim to ALL of the feeders out back. It also helped to read about the cycles of birth, life, and death by nature writers like Margaret Renkl. Here she takes us through the seasons, sharing her observations and thoughts about the wildlife near her suburban home in Tennessee. It's good to be reminded that our control over nature is sometimes limited. Rescue attempts may not always succeed, but wild creatures seem to know what they're doing even without our help.
This is a lovely, and, indeed, comforting book, and one I look forward to reading again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for sharing this one.
It was a cruel, cruel summer nature-wise in my own backyard. It started in early June when I returned one morning from the dog walk, and startled a little sparrow who flew into our sliding glass door. While I was standing on the patio chanting, "Please don't be dead, please don't be dead," a hawk swooped down less than five feet from me, grabbed the maybe-dead, maybe-not-dead Schrödinger's bird, gave me a "It's MINE!" glare, and took off with an easy meal. In July, I found our beloved pond frog literally dissected, and left discarded in the middle of the backyard. And, over the course of three months, a bloodthirsty chipmunk killed seven birds, one right in front of me, leaving their little headless corpses lying right by the feeders.
Fortunately, there were a few lovely moments to be found, as well, such as sitting outdoors, enjoying a book and a glass of iced tea whilst hummingbirds whistled dangerously close to my head in their attempts to lay claim to ALL of the feeders out back. It also helped to read about the cycles of birth, life, and death by nature writers like Margaret Renkl. Here she takes us through the seasons, sharing her observations and thoughts about the wildlife near her suburban home in Tennessee. It's good to be reminded that our control over nature is sometimes limited. Rescue attempts may not always succeed, but wild creatures seem to know what they're doing even without our help.
This is a lovely, and, indeed, comforting book, and one I look forward to reading again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for sharing this one.
September 26, 2024
4+
Margaret Renkl’s 52 essays follow the weekly occurrences in nature. Beginning in winter, her formerly least favorite season, she reflects on the wonders of the outside world, not in the wilderness or a forest but in her small backyard. Each week I walked through the subtle changes she keenly observes in the flora and fauna, from the tiniest insect to the larger mammals, all right there for me to marvel at if I am awake enough to witness them. Renkl maintains that by slowing down and immersing in the natural world, she has been able to “cope with the toxic politics of this world”, an inexpensive stress reducer that only requires time and the senses.
There is joy and sorrow in this resurrection of nature, this cyclic pattern. The migrating birds return in spring, but some species will never return. The changing climate and poisons applied to lawns and gardens are deeply concerning, but the author has hope.There will be wonders to observe, wonders that will awe us and calm us if only we move slower, notice more closely, and appreciate the beauty of nature.
The Comfort of Crows is an ode not just to nature but to life itself. Renkl, an opinion writer for the New York Times, writes beautifully and convincingly. The illustrations by her artist brother are worth the price of the book alone. I am glad I own this book, as I know I will be savoring it over and over again.
Margaret Renkl’s 52 essays follow the weekly occurrences in nature. Beginning in winter, her formerly least favorite season, she reflects on the wonders of the outside world, not in the wilderness or a forest but in her small backyard. Each week I walked through the subtle changes she keenly observes in the flora and fauna, from the tiniest insect to the larger mammals, all right there for me to marvel at if I am awake enough to witness them. Renkl maintains that by slowing down and immersing in the natural world, she has been able to “cope with the toxic politics of this world”, an inexpensive stress reducer that only requires time and the senses.
There is joy and sorrow in this resurrection of nature, this cyclic pattern. The migrating birds return in spring, but some species will never return. The changing climate and poisons applied to lawns and gardens are deeply concerning, but the author has hope.There will be wonders to observe, wonders that will awe us and calm us if only we move slower, notice more closely, and appreciate the beauty of nature.
The Comfort of Crows is an ode not just to nature but to life itself. Renkl, an opinion writer for the New York Times, writes beautifully and convincingly. The illustrations by her artist brother are worth the price of the book alone. I am glad I own this book, as I know I will be savoring it over and over again.
July 12, 2024
"The Comfort of Crows" is a glorious celebration of the natural world written in lovely prose. The book follows the 52 weeks of the year starting with the winter season. There are 52 essays, and 26 additional mini-essays labeled "Praise Songs" which seem to be a spiritual reflection on a special experience that touched the author, Margaret Renkl. The author's brother, artist Billy Renkl, created 53 beautiful color illustrations, mostly collages.
Renkl's yard in Tennessee is planted mostly in wildflowers and trees. There are also carefully chosen plants in her gardens that provide nourishment and hiding places for birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Renkl writes about the interdependence of living creatures, and the cycle of life. She also writes about her family--the deaths of her grandparents and parents, aging, weekends at a cabin with her husband, the joy of raising her three sons and spending precious time with them during the pandemic.
While I admire her connection with nature outside, I was surprised that she keeps a potted plant containing a spider who spins a web around the plant's leaves sitting on her writing desk. Her writing desk is also home to a worm composter which turns kitchen scraps into dirt. She gives helpful ideas for being a friend of nature, some very simple like leaving out water during a heat wave.
"The Comfort of Crows" is a reminder to be more aware of nature during the four seasons. When the troubles of the world seem overwhelming, some time reflecting on the beauty of nature can be a source of peace. Although I read a borrowed book quickly, this would be a lovely gift so someone could read it slowly and thoughtfully during the 52 weeks of the year. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
Renkl's yard in Tennessee is planted mostly in wildflowers and trees. There are also carefully chosen plants in her gardens that provide nourishment and hiding places for birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Renkl writes about the interdependence of living creatures, and the cycle of life. She also writes about her family--the deaths of her grandparents and parents, aging, weekends at a cabin with her husband, the joy of raising her three sons and spending precious time with them during the pandemic.
While I admire her connection with nature outside, I was surprised that she keeps a potted plant containing a spider who spins a web around the plant's leaves sitting on her writing desk. Her writing desk is also home to a worm composter which turns kitchen scraps into dirt. She gives helpful ideas for being a friend of nature, some very simple like leaving out water during a heat wave.
"The Comfort of Crows" is a reminder to be more aware of nature during the four seasons. When the troubles of the world seem overwhelming, some time reflecting on the beauty of nature can be a source of peace. Although I read a borrowed book quickly, this would be a lovely gift so someone could read it slowly and thoughtfully during the 52 weeks of the year. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
August 28, 2024
Thanks so much to Margaret Renkl and Spiegel and Grau for sending me an ARC that I have won in a Goodreads giveaway a couple of years ago that I finally read and absolutely loved. My apologies for writing this review at such a late date.
I absolutely loved this author’s connection with the natural world around Nashville. I love that we get to follow the author’s journey throughout the seasons as the natural world and beauty and animals change throughout the year. Not only does this author share the story of nature. They share the story about how they themselves and their family have changed throughout their lives as well.
However, I felt that the story ended on a deeply intense and melancholy ending that never reached its conclusion.
I love all of the illustrations in the book created by the author’s brother, Billy. However, since I only have an ARC , all of the illustrations are in black and white and not available in color.
I absolutely loved this author’s connection with the natural world around Nashville. I love that we get to follow the author’s journey throughout the seasons as the natural world and beauty and animals change throughout the year. Not only does this author share the story of nature. They share the story about how they themselves and their family have changed throughout their lives as well.
However, I felt that the story ended on a deeply intense and melancholy ending that never reached its conclusion.
I love all of the illustrations in the book created by the author’s brother, Billy. However, since I only have an ARC , all of the illustrations are in black and white and not available in color.
April 28, 2024
Its not everyday we come across an author whose knowledge and passion for Nature is coupled with lyrical, often Shakespearean prose. This series of heart felt essays that pays homage to all living things is enhanced by her brother's colorful art resulting in a unique and memorable experience
With Margaret, we witness 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree', her mother's understanding of Nature fostering her own. Growing up in Alabama, the wildlife, plants and environment form the foundation for an unrivaled passion, interest and understanding of habitat, behaviors and in some cases, diets of all living things. After moving to Tennessee with her family, she educates herself through experience in the woods, backyard and a friend's cabin on the Cumberland plateau where she's surrounded by what she loves most. While many plant flower gardens and lawns, she steers clear of anything that could harm birds, the environment or wildlife. In their place she uses native plants in her gardens which are designed to 'feed' and so much more.
As the title infers, her first love are the beautiful winged creatures that surround us, crows among them which are part of Nature's ecosystem. While there are countless birders, and advocates for Save Earth, Margaret's knowledge, compassion and appreciation for what we're blessed with is unrivaled. Told through evocative, informative essays, we not only learn but understand the delicate interaction of plants, insects, birds and creatures and the glory of Nature as well. When you leave home, you'll find yourself embracing the beauty and wonder of your surroundings; and when you do, gratitude surfaces
This is the type of book that has a reader reflect on what most take for granted. Its beauty, lyric and message are as important as the context. Truth be told, I wasn't prepared for such breathtaking words and images, nor someone whose passion runs this deep. We were blessed with the perfection of Nature and appreciating 'the gift' is important. This is an emotional, unique journey that's difficult to review due to its nature. My only advice is you experience what the Renkl duo have created.
With Margaret, we witness 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree', her mother's understanding of Nature fostering her own. Growing up in Alabama, the wildlife, plants and environment form the foundation for an unrivaled passion, interest and understanding of habitat, behaviors and in some cases, diets of all living things. After moving to Tennessee with her family, she educates herself through experience in the woods, backyard and a friend's cabin on the Cumberland plateau where she's surrounded by what she loves most. While many plant flower gardens and lawns, she steers clear of anything that could harm birds, the environment or wildlife. In their place she uses native plants in her gardens which are designed to 'feed' and so much more.
As the title infers, her first love are the beautiful winged creatures that surround us, crows among them which are part of Nature's ecosystem. While there are countless birders, and advocates for Save Earth, Margaret's knowledge, compassion and appreciation for what we're blessed with is unrivaled. Told through evocative, informative essays, we not only learn but understand the delicate interaction of plants, insects, birds and creatures and the glory of Nature as well. When you leave home, you'll find yourself embracing the beauty and wonder of your surroundings; and when you do, gratitude surfaces
This is the type of book that has a reader reflect on what most take for granted. Its beauty, lyric and message are as important as the context. Truth be told, I wasn't prepared for such breathtaking words and images, nor someone whose passion runs this deep. We were blessed with the perfection of Nature and appreciating 'the gift' is important. This is an emotional, unique journey that's difficult to review due to its nature. My only advice is you experience what the Renkl duo have created.
June 11, 2024
5 🐦⬛ 🐝 🐛 🐿️ 🍂
Ann Patchett wrote "A howling love letter to the world" and for all of us out there who are like-minded, I would add a love letter to us. Lovely essays to read each morning, beautifully illustrated, about the connection of all creatures in the circle of life.
If you're a person who catches spiders in your home and releases them outside, or plants flowers to help pollinators, this is a must have book.
Margaret Renkl expanded my thinking on rewilding and her leaves would be welcome in my yard anytime. This was balm for my soul.
Ann Patchett wrote "A howling love letter to the world" and for all of us out there who are like-minded, I would add a love letter to us. Lovely essays to read each morning, beautifully illustrated, about the connection of all creatures in the circle of life.
If you're a person who catches spiders in your home and releases them outside, or plants flowers to help pollinators, this is a must have book.
Margaret Renkl expanded my thinking on rewilding and her leaves would be welcome in my yard anytime. This was balm for my soul.
October 24, 2023
**Happy Publication Day!!**
A year's worth of lovely nature essays from Margaret Renkl with original artwork from her son Billy. I could relate to so much of what she has written, having lived for many years on a half-acre of land that led down to a creek where nature abounded. Our daughters have so many wonderful memories of their childhood experiences!
This would make a wonderful gift for nature lovers on your list. I'll look forward to watching to see my first bird on the first day of the new year which will set the tone for my next twelve months. According to Renkl, that's a birding tradition and now it will be mine.
I received an arc of this new essay collection from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
A year's worth of lovely nature essays from Margaret Renkl with original artwork from her son Billy. I could relate to so much of what she has written, having lived for many years on a half-acre of land that led down to a creek where nature abounded. Our daughters have so many wonderful memories of their childhood experiences!
This would make a wonderful gift for nature lovers on your list. I'll look forward to watching to see my first bird on the first day of the new year which will set the tone for my next twelve months. According to Renkl, that's a birding tradition and now it will be mine.
I received an arc of this new essay collection from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 28, 2023
Very nice to read about nature in one's own backyard, and to realize that it can be very cruel as well. She goes so far as to turn her entire yard into a habitat for all sorts of creatures, incurring the wrath of neighbors who like their manicured piece of suburban lawns. My backyard is a little wilder than I'd like it to be due to my own age and laziness, but at least it's small and we back up to the woods so I get to enjoy that as well. I have to draw the line at snakes and wasps and moles though. And alligators, which will wander into the yard from local ponds during the spring mating season if fence gates are left open. I'm more of an "enjoy nature from the safety of my screened porch" kind of person. Good bedtime reading.
September 29, 2024
Wonderful, really comforting, nature writing! A gem of a book.
November 4, 2023
Ann Patchett called this book “a howling love letter to the world” and I don’t think I could describe it any better than that. It’s a book that I want to give to everyone I know - not just because it is a beautiful book -both in writing and in illustration, but also because I want to give people the experience of sinking into these short essays that reflect on the natural world and our lives. It brings a sense of reflection and peace, of calmness and being set aside from the hectic pace of life. Structured as a set of 52 essays interspersed with praise songs, one for each week as you move through the year (and through life), it could easily be read as a devotional. For me, it is also a benediction - a blessing that I could alter my headspace, take a moment and breathe, and feel gratitude for the world around me. The mix of the visual arts with the beauty of her words is also wonderful - each essay is accompanied by an exquisite work of art by her brother, Billy Renkl.
“Turn your face up to the sky. Listen. The world is trembling into possibility. The world is reminding us that this is what the world does best. New life. Rebirth. The greenness that rises out of ashes.”
“. . . .more and more I ponder words like bounty and replete and enough. I think of what we are losing from this world and of what we will leave behind when we ourselves are lost. The trees. The stories. The people who love us and who know we love them, who will carry our love into the world after we are gone.”
“Turn your face up to the sky. Listen. The world is trembling into possibility. The world is reminding us that this is what the world does best. New life. Rebirth. The greenness that rises out of ashes.”
“. . . .more and more I ponder words like bounty and replete and enough. I think of what we are losing from this world and of what we will leave behind when we ourselves are lost. The trees. The stories. The people who love us and who know we love them, who will carry our love into the world after we are gone.”
January 21, 2024
Margaret Renkl, a contributor to The New York Times, has penned a book that’s equal parts Bailey White and E.O. Wilson: a book about nature with a lyrical, folksy quality. What a joy to read! The illustrations by Renkl’s talented brother, Billy Renkl, are simply the cherry on top for this wonderful book and its beautiful vignettes and poems from all four seasons.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Minerva in exchange for an honest review.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Minerva in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2023
The Comfort of Crows excels in finding magic in the mundane.
My favorite part about The Comfort of Crows is that it doesn't shy away from grief. The Essay's as a whole paint a complete and thoughtful picture of what it is to be human. Readers will be privy to moments of immense joy and deep grief and the clever parallel to a creature or season gives these insights a unique and fresh prospective.
Part memoir, part nature study, this book and its thoughtful essays will help readers slow down and marvel at the simple moment.
My favorite part about The Comfort of Crows is that it doesn't shy away from grief. The Essay's as a whole paint a complete and thoughtful picture of what it is to be human. Readers will be privy to moments of immense joy and deep grief and the clever parallel to a creature or season gives these insights a unique and fresh prospective.
Part memoir, part nature study, this book and its thoughtful essays will help readers slow down and marvel at the simple moment.
March 21, 2024
Nope. Couldn’t get into it. Try it if you like endless pages of minutiae about plants, animals, birds, trees, sealife, weather, etc., woven with stories and observations that are sad, sad, SAD. We all have losses but it felt like the author was trying to process all her losses in life in these essays, and it wasn’t what I needed to be reading. Two stars for competent writing ability and excellent artwork. Don’t get the wrong idea from the title, it’s not a comforting book. I took it back to the library the day after checking it out.
January 15, 2024
Surprisingly, considering my love affair with our own wild backyard, my overall reaction to this book is lukewarm. It has its bright spots, but I find the author's overall narrative to be repetitive, supercilious, judgmental of people who don't live or think like her, and even corny. Much preferred the spirit behind Saving Jemima, by Julie Zickefoose.
P.S. The illustrations by the author's brother are exquisite.
P.S. The illustrations by the author's brother are exquisite.
August 8, 2023
i thought this was an absolutely beautiful book. it has given me a greater appreciation for the natural world and has taught me lessons in slowing down.
i will say that there were moments that felt, for lack of better terms, a little preachy that threw me off and took me out of the book a bit, but i would say that it’s still worth reading regardless of religious affiliation due to the beauty within.
i will say that there were moments that felt, for lack of better terms, a little preachy that threw me off and took me out of the book a bit, but i would say that it’s still worth reading regardless of religious affiliation due to the beauty within.
March 14, 2024
Well-written, but so boring. Pretty pictures though
September 6, 2024
Reese’s Book Club Sept. ‘24—100th club pick. {This is a devotional with 52 chapters on the wildlife and natural plant life in Margaret Renkl’s own backyard over the course of one year.}
Such a beautiful little gem. It details a true account of nature through the seasons, and the writers personal journey as a kind avid helper of all things plant and animal related in her urban backyard oasis. Margaret Renkl sets the scene, her backyard, as its own interconnected web of life. Renkl writes about her family, our current climate change and how her neighborhood growth + expansion is negatively affecting the ecosystem. Love the nostalgic feel + that it brought back childhood memories of nature walks through the woods and playing along the creek bank. I listened through Hoopla buying a copy to read throughout the year. Can’t wait to browse through the artwork created by her brother, Billy Renkl. 5 stars — Pub. 10/24/23
Such a beautiful little gem. It details a true account of nature through the seasons, and the writers personal journey as a kind avid helper of all things plant and animal related in her urban backyard oasis. Margaret Renkl sets the scene, her backyard, as its own interconnected web of life. Renkl writes about her family, our current climate change and how her neighborhood growth + expansion is negatively affecting the ecosystem. Love the nostalgic feel + that it brought back childhood memories of nature walks through the woods and playing along the creek bank. I listened through Hoopla buying a copy to read throughout the year. Can’t wait to browse through the artwork created by her brother, Billy Renkl. 5 stars — Pub. 10/24/23
January 3, 2024
A book club selection for January, i loved this book with all my heart.
August 30, 2023
"We were never cast out of Eden. We merely turned from it and shut our eyes. To return and be welcomed, cleansed and redeemed, we are only obliged to look."
Five-plus stars for Margaret Renkl's beautiful new book 'The Comfort of Crows."
This is a much needed balm for the soul in these troubled times. This peaceful plea reminds us of the healing power of nature and the cycle of life and death. Renkl helps us to learn to see the creatures and plants around us, reminds us that imperfection is better than perfection, and gently urges us not just to see the natural world but to do what we can to protect it.
Times are troubling, but the natural world is a great healer. This book reminded me over and over of one of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein, 'Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.'
Renkl adds to her words with beautiful art from her brother, Billy.
I will find a special place on my shelves for this book, and know I will reach for it over and over.
·
Five-plus stars for Margaret Renkl's beautiful new book 'The Comfort of Crows."
This is a much needed balm for the soul in these troubled times. This peaceful plea reminds us of the healing power of nature and the cycle of life and death. Renkl helps us to learn to see the creatures and plants around us, reminds us that imperfection is better than perfection, and gently urges us not just to see the natural world but to do what we can to protect it.
Times are troubling, but the natural world is a great healer. This book reminded me over and over of one of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein, 'Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.'
Renkl adds to her words with beautiful art from her brother, Billy.
I will find a special place on my shelves for this book, and know I will reach for it over and over.
·
July 10, 2024
One might offer a simple description of this book as being Margaret Renkl’s week-by-week journal of her very personal observations, thoughts and beliefs regarding her garden and nearby surroundings over the course of a year.
But it’s clearly a great deal more than that. By giving free rein to her poetic instincts, along with her broad knowledge of the natural world and its creatures as they are to be found in her part of the world — primarily Tennessee with a few stops in Alabama — plus her strongly held views about the environment and man’s place in it, she has produced a beautifully conceived testimony, her paean to the natural world.
Each succeeding chapter is prefaced by a brief, heartfelt “Praise Song”, a poetic introduction that sets the mood for that week.
And then to top it off, the book includes 53 outstanding color illustrations by her brother, Billy Renkl and it’s that artwork that really sets the book apart from the many other books to be found celebrating the natural world. Each illustration is an intricate collage that deserves to be titled and signed by the artist. I was fortunate to have been able to borrow the book from our local library but it’s the kind of book one wishes to own so that it can be revisited again and again.
But it’s clearly a great deal more than that. By giving free rein to her poetic instincts, along with her broad knowledge of the natural world and its creatures as they are to be found in her part of the world — primarily Tennessee with a few stops in Alabama — plus her strongly held views about the environment and man’s place in it, she has produced a beautifully conceived testimony, her paean to the natural world.
Each succeeding chapter is prefaced by a brief, heartfelt “Praise Song”, a poetic introduction that sets the mood for that week.
And then to top it off, the book includes 53 outstanding color illustrations by her brother, Billy Renkl and it’s that artwork that really sets the book apart from the many other books to be found celebrating the natural world. Each illustration is an intricate collage that deserves to be titled and signed by the artist. I was fortunate to have been able to borrow the book from our local library but it’s the kind of book one wishes to own so that it can be revisited again and again.
September 16, 2024
“Apocalyptic stories always get the apocalypse wrong. Tragedy is not the barren world’s ugliness; the tragedy is its clinging beauty—even as it fails. Until the very last cricket falls silent, the beauty besotted, we’ll find a reason to love the world”. -Margaret Renkl
If there were one book that epitomized my heart’s song this past year, it would be this one. Renkl asks us to see and joy in the miracle of nature unfolding, all the while to grieve and witness its death.
If there were one book that epitomized my heart’s song this past year, it would be this one. Renkl asks us to see and joy in the miracle of nature unfolding, all the while to grieve and witness its death.
September 14, 2024
I don't recommend the audiobook. It's read by the author who (with absolutely no disrespect) sounds like the love child of Peggy from King of the Hill and Tiffany from Daria. As much as I'd like to read the book instead, I don't think I can unhear it. DNF; only made it 40 minutes in. I do think it could be a nice slow-living kind of book for those wanting that.
September 29, 2024
I want to update my review and change it from a 3 to 3.5. I wasn't really crazy about this book when I first read it. Then last week I spent a week in the Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee for my son's break. I actually couldn't stop thinking about this book seeing all of the beautiful nature. So I'm bumping my review up.
June 14, 2024
Whoo, Margaret Renkl can write.
She can also elucidate the joys of the natural world and its seasons; the fears any thinking person has in observing the creeping dread, effects, and anxieties of climate change; and the quiet peace I hope we can all still find in a backyard closely observing, preserving, and respecting nature.
This is one of those rare books I'm already adding to my favorite books. I trust and know I will read The Comfort of Crows again "if [as the song proclaims] the saints allow."
I highly recommend if the reader is open to any or all of the following: books about nature, books NOT about Republican's political descent into fascism, and writing that values the quiet reflection aging can allow.
Two quotes that serves as an excellent exemplar of Renkl's graceful and wondrous prose:
“What if resting, all by itself, is the real act of holiness? What if honoring the gift of our only life in this gorgeous world means taking time every week to slow down? To sleep? To breathe? The natural world has never needed us more than it needs us now, but we can’t be of much use to it if we remain in a perpetual state of exhaustion and despair.”
“I stand at the window looking out, trying to remember the truths that nature always brings home. That what lies before me is not all there is. That time is ever passing, and not only when I notice. That strife and pain are no more unexpected than pleasure and joy. That merely by breathing I belong to the eternal.”
― Margaret Renkl, The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year
She can also elucidate the joys of the natural world and its seasons; the fears any thinking person has in observing the creeping dread, effects, and anxieties of climate change; and the quiet peace I hope we can all still find in a backyard closely observing, preserving, and respecting nature.
This is one of those rare books I'm already adding to my favorite books. I trust and know I will read The Comfort of Crows again "if [as the song proclaims] the saints allow."
I highly recommend if the reader is open to any or all of the following: books about nature, books NOT about Republican's political descent into fascism, and writing that values the quiet reflection aging can allow.
Two quotes that serves as an excellent exemplar of Renkl's graceful and wondrous prose:
“What if resting, all by itself, is the real act of holiness? What if honoring the gift of our only life in this gorgeous world means taking time every week to slow down? To sleep? To breathe? The natural world has never needed us more than it needs us now, but we can’t be of much use to it if we remain in a perpetual state of exhaustion and despair.”
“I stand at the window looking out, trying to remember the truths that nature always brings home. That what lies before me is not all there is. That time is ever passing, and not only when I notice. That strife and pain are no more unexpected than pleasure and joy. That merely by breathing I belong to the eternal.”
― Margaret Renkl, The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year
September 25, 2024
A beautiful tender reminder and meditation on how the natural world is our home and its inhabitants are our neighbors (yes, even the rats and the snakes).
Renkl captures so well the tension between recognizing the horrors of climate change and admiration that the world is still beautiful amidst these changes. That it’s in this tension that we find the motivation to hope for and work towards a better relationship with our natural world.
“Apocalyptic stories always get the apocalypse wrong. The tragedy is not the failed world's barren ugliness. The tragedy is is clinging beauty even as it fails. Until the very last cricket falls silent, the beauty-besotted will find a reason to love the world.”
Renkl captures so well the tension between recognizing the horrors of climate change and admiration that the world is still beautiful amidst these changes. That it’s in this tension that we find the motivation to hope for and work towards a better relationship with our natural world.
“Apocalyptic stories always get the apocalypse wrong. The tragedy is not the failed world's barren ugliness. The tragedy is is clinging beauty even as it fails. Until the very last cricket falls silent, the beauty-besotted will find a reason to love the world.”
December 11, 2024
I read this book one week at a time. Every Sunday, I would sit in quiet or outside with the wild creatures in my yard and read the chapter for the week. I read chapters along with the seasons in the book, and what a beautiful experience. Renkl’s mediations and observations are moving and this book was a blessing. The art before each chapter is beautiful and I will return to this book again and again. Absolutely loved it.
January 21, 2024
This is a beautiful book, bringing us closer to our “wild” neighbors in the backyard. I learned a lot and appreciate the plants and animals in our environment more than ever.
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