A very well-written collection of short essays awaits the reader. These essays explore a diverse range of themes, including science, nature, family, religion, and travel. Each essay offers a unique perspective and delves deep into its respective subject matter.

However, I must admit that I did not fully comprehend half of what was happening within these pages. The ideas and concepts presented were often complex and required a great deal of thought and analysis.

Despite this, one essay in particular caught my attention. It compared the Catholic mass to the early doomed Polar expeditions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This comparison was both fascinating and thought-provoking, as it drew parallels between two seemingly disparate events.

Overall, this collection of short essays is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring a variety of themes and ideas. While some of the content may be challenging, the rewards of engaging with these essays are well worth the effort.

Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard is a remarkable collection of fourteen nature essays.

Among these, there are several favorites. "Total Eclipse" takes us on a journey with Annie and her husband to Eastern Washington to witness the solar eclipse. The anticipation and the awe-inspiring experience are vividly described.

"In the Jungle" is a perfectly crafted piece that details her observations while visiting a remote jungle in Ecuador. The lush environment and the unique wildlife come alive through her words.

"On a Hill Far Away" is a touching story about a precocious boy at the farm next door. It showcases the simplicity and charm of rural life.

"Sojourner" is a metaphoric article on mangrove forests and floating islands. Having had a personal fascination with mangrove forests after a boat trip in the Everglades, I was particularly drawn to this piece.

In summary, Dillard is indeed one of the premier writers in the nature genre. Her literary style is engaging, and some of her stories are truly flawless. She writes in the first person with great fluency, making the reader feel as if they are right there with her.

I would rate this collection 4.5 stars. The only deduction of 1/2 point is because the best ones are on the short side, leaving me wanting more.

Not my favorite, though there are wonderful moments here. She seems in "An Expedition to the Pole" to get wrong what she gets so right in For the Time Being. In the latter, she lays her examinations - internal and external - side-by-side and leaves us to connect. They resonate against one another and flare out into unexpected meanings. Here, however, she smashes her examinations of the lives of arctic explorers together with her impressions of a largely mundane Catholic service in a surreal mish-mash that clumsily does the work she will later allow her readers to do themselves.

Still and all, she stuns with her sentences. For example, "Nature's silence is its one remark, and every flake of world is a chip off that old mute and immutable block." She also provides the kind of metaphors that clatter around in the brain for days or months or years. Such as the dessicated dead weasel's skull still clamped on the neck of an eagle for the tenacious life, or the hide-draped cow skeleton trapped hip-deep in a sinkhole for the side-tracked life.

And while I like this far less than some of her other work, Dillard is a writer that I will be coming back to again and again. Because she continues to demand answers of the world, despite its recalcitrance. As she says, "The sea pronounces something, over and over, in a hoarse whisper; I cannot quite make it out." Her life's work seems to be a matter of refusing to accept the sea's obtuseness.

This is a truly great collection of essays. Dillard's writing style is remarkable as she has an outstanding ability to bring out the majestic and mysterious aspects of nature that are not fully explicable. Her words paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind, allowing us to envision the grandeur and wonder of the natural world. With her unique perspective, she delves deep into the heart of nature, uncovering its hidden secrets and presenting them in a way that is both captivating and thought-provoking. Each essay is like a journey, taking us to different places and introducing us to the diverse and fascinating elements of nature. Whether it's the beauty of a sunset, the power of a storm, or the delicacy of a flower, Dillard's descriptions make us feel as if we are right there experiencing it all. This collection is a must-read for anyone who has an appreciation for nature and a love for beautiful writing.

Possibly 4.5 stars, and here's the reason. Just like any collection of essays, a few of them don't quite reach the same high quality as the others. There's also the strange fact that almost every single essay has some mention of brutality or death. It seems that Dillard is somehow drawn to these themes.

However, the essays that really hit the mark are filled with an abundance of wisdom and beauty. They more than make up for the shortcomings of the others. For example, her essay on viewing a total eclipse added a new layer of depth to my own experience of watching an eclipse this past year. The chapters "Sojourner" and "Acres and Eights" beautifully showcase the power of language when it's well applied. They also touch on important aspects such as memory, growth, and change in life.

I borrowed this book from the library. Even though I'm trying hard to reduce the size of my book collection, I find myself longing to have a copy of this book. That's because I know I'll want to come back and read it again in the future. It's definitely a recommended read.

I have a great passion for reading everything written by Dillard that I can get hold of. Her writing style is truly inimitable. She has this remarkable ability to turn the ordinary into something sublime. With her deft use of words, she can vividly paint pictures such as a child's ascent on a bike up a hill, the advance of the shadow during a full eclipse, or the difficulties of putting on boots over frostbitten toes.

Among the essays in this collection, my absolute favorite is titled “An Expedition to the Pole.” In this essay, she engages in a fascinating comparison and contrast, often in a laugh-out-loud hilarious manner. She juxtaposes the arduous travails of the old Arctic expeditions with our rather ridiculous adventures within the Church. We humans seem absurdly bent on attempting the unwise, being irresistibly drawn like moths to the geographical and spiritual Poles of Relative Inaccessibility.

It makes one wonder: Does God look down on us and laugh? Is He patient with our buffoonery? And isn't this very aspect of our behavior part of the essential humanness that underlies the whole endeavor? Dillard's writing forces us to ponder these profound questions and see the world from a unique perspective.

The article was beautifully written,

yet it managed to bore the hell out of me.

Perhaps it was the overly flowery language that made it seem more like a display of literary prowess rather than a piece that could engage and captivate its readers.

The author might have been so focused on using fancy words and constructing elaborate sentences that they forgot the importance of telling a story or presenting ideas in a more interesting and accessible way.

As I read through it, my mind started to wander, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged.

It's a shame really, because with a bit more thought and consideration for the audience, this could have been a truly great piece of writing.

But as it stands, it simply failed to connect with me on any meaningful level.

What a resplendently beautiful book!

It is truly a sight to behold. The moment you lay your eyes on it, you are immediately drawn in by its allure.

The cover is adorned with intricate designs and vibrant colors that seem to dance and come alive.

As you open the book, you are greeted with pages that are filled with words that flow like a river, carrying you away to different worlds and experiences.

The illustrations within the book are equally captivating, adding another layer of depth and beauty to the already enchanting story.

Every turn of the page is a new adventure, a new discovery, and a new opportunity to be amazed by the sheer beauty and wonder of this remarkable book.

It is a treasure that will be cherished for a lifetime, a source of inspiration and joy that will never fade.

I have most definitely read this book before. However, it appears that I have not written about it previously.

It is a rather short book. This time, as I listen to the audible version of the summary of this book, it is truly a HOOT!

It's as if when you are engaged in a random conversation with yourself and simply follow the meandering of your memory down a path that is both familiar and yet newly discovered.

Annie Dillard jumps and skips around, and you never quite know where she is going to land. She is both lucid and mysterious.

Her writing style is unique and captivating, drawing the reader in and making them eager to see what she will say or describe next.

The book is filled with interesting anecdotes and profound insights that make it a joy to read or listen to.

Even though it is short, it leaves a lasting impression and makes you want to explore more of Annie Dillard's works.

Overall, it is a wonderful book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and entertaining read.

Reading Dillard is like watching a figure skater glide across the ice with grace and precision. The way she weaves words together, creates vivid images, and takes the reader on a journey is truly captivating. However, it's not until you try to walk across an icy sidewalk yourself that you fully understand and appreciate the skill and artistry that goes into her writing.

When you read Dillard, you are like a spectator, marveling at the beauty and complexity of her work. But when you attempt to write or express yourself in a similar way, you realize how difficult it is to achieve that level of mastery. It's like trying to skate on ice for the first time - you may stumble and fall, but it's through that experience that you gain a deeper understanding and respect for the craft.

Dillard's writing challenges us to look at the world in a new way, to notice the details that we might otherwise overlook, and to find meaning and beauty in the ordinary. She shows us that writing is not just about putting words on a page, but about creating something that moves and inspires the reader. And it's only by engaging with her work and trying to imitate her style that we can truly begin to understand and appreciate the power of her writing.

Wholly unexpected and completely amazing.

I see the reviews of my fellow Goodreaders and I can echo them. Dillard is truly an artist. Her words both perplexed and thrilled me. The polar expedition histories interspersed with detailed observations about the eclectic praise band at her church - finally meshing together with a trippy baby christening on an arctic ice flow?? WOW.

She made me laugh out loud. The quote "It is madness to wear a ladies straw hat and velvet hats to church - we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares and lash us to our pews for the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return" is just so hilarious and unique.

She also made me wanderlust-y. The statement "We are here on the planet only once and might as well get a feel for the place. We might as well get a feel for the fringes and hollows in which life is lived" really spoke to my desire to explore and experience new things.

And she encouraged me to read everything she has written. Thank goodness she has a large canon. This woman is amazing. More Dillard!

Also, I loved this opinion piece from The Guardian that I stumbled on when reading more about her work by Geoff Dyer: "Teaching A Stone to Talk made me realise I am drawn to wild authors". It provided further insights into Dillard's work and her unique approach to writing.

Overall, my experience with Dillard's writing has been nothing short of extraordinary. I can't wait to explore more of her works and see where her words will take me next.

Adventurous collection of essays presents an exploration that typically delves into the intersection of God, humans, and nature. It would be great if the entire book could be more unified. Additionally, it could have a more descriptively personal touch, similar to that of An American Childhood, rather than being predominantly focused on the spiritual or emotional aspects. However, the author writes with such musical finesse that I find myself enjoying every single piece. Even if the tune might seem strange or discordant at times, her writing style is so captivating. Among the essays, "The Deer at Providencia" and "On a Hill Far Away" are my absolute favorites. They offer unique perspectives and engaging narratives that draw the reader in and keep them hooked until the very end.