May book discussion: World of Wonders

[aurora]

It's time to discuss World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.

I did a quick search and didn't find any discussion prompts online, so this can be a free-for-all!

Did anyone besides me read it?

ETA here is the link to an interview that ufcasey had posted last week:
www.npr.org/2020/09/07/909717123/world-of-wonders-urges-us-to-take-a-breath-and-look-around

[aurora]

I have to admit I didn't think the book connected very well, at least not consistently. I enjoyed learning some cool facts about plants and animals, but the ways in which she wove in her life were hit and miss. Yes, The part about using her fascination with the corpse flower to rule out unworthy men was good, but narwhals in Kansas? Just because winter is cold? That one didn't speak to me.

[ufcasey]

Thanks aurora for posting this. I have been absent because my father unexpectedly passed away two weeks ago.

I did start to read this, but I quit a little over a quarter of the way into it. I found myself wishing she went into more detail about some of the plants/animals or went into more detail about her own life. But this attempt to combine the two really didn't work for me because the connections between her life and the plant/animal the chapter was about was usually tenuous at best. Neither went into enough depth for me to feel really educated about the topic or interested in her life.

[meowmaps]

ufcasey I’m so sorry for your loss.

[minzy]

I’m so sorry about the loss of your dad, ufcasey. I’m thinking of you.

[aurora]

ufcasey, I am so sorry for your loss.