I've read the beginning of "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek" an innumerable number of times. Certain passages within it now seem almost sacred to me. Indeed, Dillard's writing is imbued with a holy reverence for nature. Her words have the power to slow you down and gently invite you to consider the tiniest of things. She patiently instructs us to truly look, to really observe the world that surrounds us. Her prose is of such breathtaking beauty that at times, it can bring you to the verge of tears. And yet, her voice is unmistakably and distinctly an American one.

While the other pieces, "An American Childhood" and "The Writing Life", were completely new to me, I found myself enjoying them with equal fervor. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that these three works fit together so seamlessly within the same volume. It left me with an insatiable desire to read more of Dillard's work, and that is precisely what I plan to do!

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

"...cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day..."

Annie Dillard's writing is truly beautiful.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. Her descriptions of walks in nature are so vivid that they transport the reader right into the midst of the natural world.

The stories from her growing up add a personal and relatable touch, making it easy for the reader to connect with her experiences.

Moreover, her thoughts on writing are both profound and inspiring.

She has a unique perspective that offers valuable insights into the writing process.

Overall, Annie Dillard is one of my favorite writers.

Her work has the power to move, inspire, and make us see the world in a different light.

Each time I pick up one of her books, I know I am in for a treat.

Her writing is a joy to read and study, and I look forward to exploring more of her works in the future.

I'm still deeply engrossed in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, and I think I will take a break for the time being once I reach the end. There are simply too many other books inundating me, both from the library and my somewhat crazy Amazon spending spree.

I truly appreciate Annie Dillard's remarkable compendium of observation. The diverse and utterly fascinating data that peppers this book is truly captivating, and the beauty of her writing is simply enchanting.

I've now finished Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though it isn't the typical kind of book I usually gravitate towards. I will surely come back to the other two books at a later time.

I have been reading it alternately with The Left Coast, which I'm nearly done with, and it has been an extremely interesting juxtaposition. Both books are about a particular place, but they are approached in very different ways. I found myself longing for Dillard's book to have photographs. Son Fradkin's photos add an immense amount to father Fradkin's well-researched and fascinating narrative pieces.

As a Californian for more than sixty years, I am intimately familiar with much of the coast. I lived in San Diego from the age of nine to eighteen, and have resided in the San Francisco Bay Area ever since. I have visited Virginia only once, in 1976, when I went camping with my husband and two children in the Blue Ridge during a cross-country driving adventure. It was on my birthday (#37, which seems like eons ago), and we had the wonderful experience of seeing an owl.

I read each of these books independently, yet they are three of her finest works.

The one that truly showcases what Dillard is capable of is the Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek'.

If you have an affinity for that particular book, you will likely also enjoy 'An American Childhood'. However, it should be noted that it is not nearly as profound (nor was it intended to be).

'The Writing Life' is an excellent and reliable read for any writer.

It offers a wealth of inspiration and sound advice within its pages.

These three books, in their own unique ways, provide valuable insights and literary pleasures. Whether you are a fan of Dillard's work or simply looking for engaging and thought-provoking reads, they are well worth your time and attention.

In Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, I was truly a part of the magnificent picture of nature.

The scientific and mythologic context of nature and people is delicately interwoven throughout the pages.

There is an Eskimo tale that has left an indelible mark on my mind:
“Is beauty itself an intricately fashioned lure, the cruelest hoax of all? There is a certain fragment of an ancient and involved Eskimo tale I read in Farley Mowat that for years has risen, unbidden, in my mind. The fragment is a short scenario, observing all the classical unities, simple and cruel, and performed by the light of a soapstone seal-oil lamp:
A young man in a strange land falls deeply in love with a young woman and takes her to be his wife in her mother’s tent. By day, the women engage in the tasks of chewing skins and boiling meat while the young man ventures out to hunt. But the old crone is consumed by jealousy; she desires the boy for herself. Calling her daughter to her one day, she offers to braid her hair. The girl sits there, pleased and proud, but soon finds herself strangled by her own hair. One thing Eskimos know well is skinning. The mother takes her curved hand knife, shaped like a dancing skirt, and skins her daughter’s beautiful face. She then presses that empty flap smooth on her own skull. When the boy returns that night, he lies with her in the tent on top of the world. But he is wet from hunting, and the skin mask shrinks and slides, uncovering the shriveled face of the old mother. In horror, the boy flees, never to return...”

This tale serves as a powerful reminder of the complex and often mysterious relationships between beauty, desire, and the consequences that can follow. It adds another layer of depth to our understanding of the natural world and the human experience within it.

I have to say that my experience with these books has been rather mixed. At times, certain parts and chapters had an almost magical hold on me. I was completely mesmerized, with a smile constantly playing on my lips as I delved into her beautiful writing. It was as if I was transported to another world, completely immersed in the story she was weaving.

However, not all was perfect. There were other chapters that had the opposite effect. They were so dull and uninteresting that they almost put me to sleep. I found myself struggling to stay awake and pay attention. And then there were those chapters where I was left scratching my head, trying to figure out what on earth she was trying to convey. The words seemed jumbled and the meaning was lost on me.

Overall, while there were definitely some shining moments in these books, there were also some areas that needed improvement. I hope that in future works, the author can find a better balance and keep the reader engaged from start to finish.