The text "Interesting and insightful at times...but more often just rambly and frou frou and too much" presents a rather mixed assessment.

On one hand, it acknowledges that there are moments of interest and insight. This implies that the work or subject being described has some redeeming qualities that can capture the attention and offer valuable perspectives.

However, the dominant impression seems to be one of dissatisfaction. The description of it being "rambly" suggests a lack of focus or organization, perhaps meandering aimlessly without a clear direction. The term "frou frou" might connote excessive ornamentation or fussiness, detracting from the substance.

Overall, the sentiment is that while there are glimmers of something good, it is outweighed by the negative aspects of being overly wordy, disorganized, and perhaps a bit too showy. It leaves the reader with the sense that there is potential, but it has not been fully realized or harnessed effectively.

Passionate, playful, and also sometimes frustrating.

The Cannon desert environment is truly a must-read. It offers a unique and captivating experience that combines the intense emotions of passion with the lightheartedness of playfulness. However, it can also be frustrating at times, presenting challenges and obstacles that test one's patience and perseverance.

Exploring the Cannon desert environment allows you to witness the beauty and power of nature in all its glory. The vast stretches of sand, the harsh climate, and the diverse range of flora and fauna all contribute to making it a truly remarkable place.

Whether you are a nature lover, an adventurer, or simply someone looking for a new and exciting experience, the Cannon desert environment has something to offer. So, pick up a book, explore the area, and discover the wonders that await you in this passionate, playful, and sometimes frustrating desert.

A beautiful meditation on the land and how we treat it.

The land is a precious gift that has sustained us throughout the ages. It provides us with food, shelter, and a place to call home. However, in our modern world, we often take the land for granted and treat it with disrespect.

We pollute the air, water, and soil, and we destroy habitats and ecosystems. We clear forests for agriculture and development, and we overuse natural resources. As a result, the land is suffering, and so are we.

It is time for us to wake up and realize the importance of the land. We need to start treating it with the care and respect it deserves. We can do this by reducing our consumption, recycling, and using renewable energy. We can also support sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, and protect natural habitats and wildlife.

Let us all take a moment to meditate on the land and how we can make a positive difference. By working together, we can ensure that the land remains a beautiful and bountiful place for generations to come.

I truly adored this poetic series of essays.

It delved deep into the captivating lands and unique people of the Colorado Plateau.

The descriptions were so vivid that they seemed to paint a beautiful and enchanting picture in my mind.

I could almost feel the vastness of the plateau, with its majestic landscapes and breathtaking vistas.

The essays also brought to life the rich culture and history of the people who have inhabited this area for centuries.

It was a fascinating exploration of their traditions, beliefs, and way of life.

Each essay was like a precious gem, shining a light on a different aspect of this remarkable place.

I found myself completely immersed in the words, and I couldn't help but be inspired by the beauty and wonder that was revealed.

This series of essays is a must-read for anyone who has a love for nature, history, and the written word.

The quote by T.H. Watkins in the book beautifully encapsulates the core of what the author aims to achieve. She endeavors to evoke a sense of reverence and a spiritual longing for the wilderness areas in the Four Corners region of the American West, especially in her home state of Utah, which she desires to have federally safeguarded. Indeed, when she quotes other visionary environmentalists, delves into the unique and delicate ecologies, and even incorporates her personal history intertwined with the Romney clan of the Mormons expelled from Mexico, she accomplishes this task splendidly. However, she loses me when she presents New Age-y portrayals of the strikingly beautiful lands and Anasazi traces. Additionally, although she describes landmarks, works of art, and artifacts in great detail, the absence of illustrations within the book, aside from the jacket cover, is a drawback. It would have enhanced the reader's understanding and appreciation of the described elements. Overall, the book has its strengths and weaknesses in its attempt to convey the importance and allure of the wilderness.

"Love is a powerful tool, and maybe, just maybe, before the last little town is corrupted and the last of the unroaded and undeveloped wildness is given over to dreams of profit, maybe it will be love, finally, love for the land for its own sake and for what it holds of beauty and joy and spiritual redemption that will make [wilderness] not a battlefield but a revelation."

-Environmental writer and historian T.H. Watkins

Terry Tempest Williams' writing strikes a chord deep within me. Having resided among the red rocks of Utah, I am irresistibly drawn to and feel a profound connection with her words.

These essays center around the landscape and politics of the red rock wilderness in Utah. Reading about Utah and national wilderness politics, such as the proposed Redrock Wilderness Act and the Antiquities Act of 1906, was truly meaningful and significant.

I adored her essay on Aldo Leopold (it's wonderful that she is an Aldo Leopold fan! Can one fangirl about her being a fangirl for another author I love?). The essay "An Ode to Slowness" was also captivating. Her piece "A Letter to Deb Clow" is perhaps one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, I've ever read on writing.

The sections of essays from "Coyote's Canyon" and the "Water, Land, Air, Etc" didn't engage me as much. I think I simply lacked sufficient context to extract as much meaning from them as I did from the others. I would very much like to obtain more context for these essays because, as I understand it, there was some influence and collaboration with or from local indigenous folks (though I might be incorrect in this regard).

I always have room to grow, learn, and gain more. If I had to recommend one book from the two I've read by her, it would be "Erosion: Essays of Undoing." This reading has firmly established that Terry Tempest Williams is one of my favorite nature writers.

The author reflects on the significance of the red rock country in Utah and the importance of wilderness.

The desert is described as a place of fullness and time, where one can see and understand the world differently.

The author shares their experiences of visiting Zion, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and the Grand Canyon, and how they have fallen in love with these places.

They discuss the need to protect the wildness of these areas from greed and development, and the role of participative democracy in achieving this.

The author also reflects on the power of language and writing, and how they use it to make peace with the things they cannot control and to imagine a different world.

They believe that wilderness holds an original presence that can revive the memory of unity and give expression to what we lack.

The author concludes by emphasizing the importance of experiencing wilderness to understand its true meaning and to find our place in the natural world.

Beautiful, lyric almost-poetry extolling the beautiful "red rock country" of southern Utah.

As one who moved to the Southwest because of my inner resonance with the beauty of the desert, I found the book ringing true on every page. It seems as if the author has captured the essence of this magnificent land and presented it in a way that makes me feel as if I am right there, experiencing its grandeur.

Also a very strong advocate of wilderness preservation, the book develops multiple cogent arguments for the environmental movement as it pertains to wilderness. The author passionately argues for the importance of protecting these wild areas, not only for their ecological value but also for the spiritual and cultural significance they hold for us.

Like many books that are a collection of essays, it doesn't exactly "hang together" in a coherent fashion. However, if read one at a time, over time, it is a beautiful and inspiring work. Each essay offers a unique perspective on the beauty and importance of the red rock country, and together they form a powerful testament to the need to preserve our natural heritage.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the desert, cares about the environment, or simply enjoys beautiful writing. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the true essence of southern Utah's red rock country.

Terry Tempest Williams is truly the modern-day, female Aldo Leopold. Her works are of such great significance and value that they should be considered as required reading for every conservationist.

Her words have the power to inspire, educate, and move us to take action in protecting our precious natural world.

Williams' writing is not only beautifully crafted but also deeply insightful, offering a unique perspective on the relationship between humans and nature.

Her books will always have a special place on my personal bookshelf, serving as a constant reminder of the importance of conservation and the need to respect and cherish the environment.

Whether you are a seasoned conservationist or simply someone who cares about the future of our planet, Terry Tempest Williams' works are a must-read.

Red is a captivating compilation that delves into the enchanting desert of southern Utah. It comprises a series of stories and essays that not only vividly描绘 the desert's allure but also emphasize the urgent need to preserve it. Each story, though relatively short, manages to transport the reader to this majestic land, even if they have never set foot there. While some individual stories may seem a bit平淡, as a whole, the collection achieves its intended purpose.

Williams' personal recollections and essays are particularly engaging. In "Labor," she reflects on a visit to The Birthing Rock, a boulder with a powerful Anasazi petroglyph. This prompts her to consider her own choices regarding family and motherhood.

Her descriptions of the desert are truly evocative. She writes, "I look across the sweep of slickrock stretching in all directions, the rise and fall of such arid terrain. A jackrabbit bolts down the wash. Piñon jays flock and bank behind a cluster of junipers. The tracks of coyote are everywhere."

Other essays in the collection passionately advocate for the value of wilderness and the importance of its conservation. However, the battle to protect these wild lands is far from easy, especially when corporations are eager to develop them. In "To Be Taken," Williams shares how this issue divides her own family, highlighting the complex and often contentious nature of the debate.

Overall, Williams' writing beautifully complements the desert setting she so loves. At first glance, her words may seem simple, but as you immerse yourself in her work, you discover a quiet power that reflects the desert's hidden beauty and vitality.

"These wildlands are alive," she writes. "When one of us says, 'Look, there's nothing out there,' what we are really saying is, 'I cannot see.'"

Red: Passion and Patience in the Desert is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty and significance of the natural world. Terry Tempest Williams' passionate pleas for the conservation of America's wild lands are both inspiring and thought-provoking.

More book reviews at Books Speak Volumes.

I grew up in Utah, where I spent countless hours camping in Southern Utah and hiking in the desert.

Back then, I was more focused on the adventure aspect and never really appreciated the beauty of the desert. In fact, I often thought it was rather ugly.

However, after living on the East Coast for 11 years, surrounded by the lush greenery that I had always longed for and loved, something changed.

A few years ago, during one of our annual trips back home, I revisited Southern Utah with my children. This time, I saw the desert with completely new eyes.

I finally recognized its other-worldly majesty and was truly captivated by it. My heart became deeply attached to this unique land.

To remember my roots and stay connected to this beautiful place, I brought home a piece of sandstone that I now display in my New York City apartment.

On that particular trip, I also purchased "Red: Passion and Patience in the Desert" at a Canyonlands National Park gift shop.

I wanted to take home something that would capture the essence of the feelings I had developed during that visit.

This book has been a wonderful reminder of my newfound passion for the desert, even when I'm physically far away.

Thank you, Ms. Williams, for your love of this special land of our shared origins. Thank you for your gifts of meditation, vision, expression, and passion.

And most importantly, thank you for the crucial work you do to protect this land, its creatures, its treasures, and its history.

Holy Moley!

I think this is my new favorite book.

I've never been touched so deeply by such beautiful writing about beautiful things.

The words in this book seem to dance off the page and into my heart, creating a magical and unforgettable experience.

Reading it is darn near a spiritual encounter.

It's as if the author has a special gift for painting vivid pictures with words, making me feel as if I'm right there in the midst of all the beauty and wonder.

Every page is filled with inspiration and a sense of awe, leaving me breathless and longing for more.

This book has truly opened my eyes to a whole new world of beauty and has touched my soul in ways I never thought possible.

I can't wait to share it with others and let them experience the same joy and inspiration that I have.

It's a book that will stay with me forever and be cherished as a precious treasure.