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The Stubborn Light of Things
- A Nature Diary
- Narrated by: Melissa Harrison
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
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The Stubborn Light of Things
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Summary
A SUNDAY TIMES NATURE BOOK OF THE YEAR
*Read by the author*
A nature diary by award-winning novelist, nature writer and hit podcaster Melissa Harrison, following her journey from urban south London to the rural Suffolk countryside.
'A writer of great gifts.' Robert Macfarlane
'The journal of a writer to compare to Thomas Hardy. Melissa Harrison is among our most celebrated nature writers.' John Carey, The Times
A Londoner for over twenty years, moving from flat to Tube to air-conditioned office, Melissa Harrison knew what it was to be insulated from the seasons. Adopting a dog and going on daily walks helped reconnect her with the cycle of the year and the quiet richness of nature all around her: swifts nesting in a nearby church; ivy-leaved toadflax growing out of brick walls; the first blackbird's song; an exhilarating glimpse of a hobby over Tooting Common.
Moving from scrappy city verges to ancient, rural Suffolk, where Harrison eventually relocates, this diary - compiled from her beloved Nature Notebook column in The Times - maps her joyful engagement with the natural world and demonstrates how we must first learn to see, and then act to preserve, the beauty we have on our doorsteps - no matter where we live.
A perceptive and powerful call-to-arms written in mesmerising prose, The Stubborn Light of Things confirms Harrison as a central voice in British nature writing.
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Critic reviews
"A writer of great gifts." (Robert Macfarlane)
"A nature writer with a knowledge and eye for detail that recalls Thomas Hardy and John McGahern.'" (The Times)
What listeners say about The Stubborn Light of Things
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- purlieu
- 08-01-23
Wonderful
I loved Melissa Harrison's podcast she made during lockdown. This didn't quite measure up because in the podcast she is right there in the habitat, crawling through bushes etc. and there was music too. However, as I can't keep listening to the podcasts on repeat this is the next best thing!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- geoff
- 30-12-22
Nature comes alive
You can lose yourself in the nature descriptions and suddenly you’ve learned loads too. Perfect for drifting off to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- andrew doughty
- 28-04-22
wonderful book.
Absolutely beautiful book, and wonderfully read. I will be buying it as a book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. OJ Morris
- 23-11-22
A wonderful book. Beautiful, informative, highly recommend
I listened to this in 3 days because it’s hard to turn off. A really lovely story, beautifully read. It’s interesting and informative, never dull. Highly recommend it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- jane joensen
- 15-11-20
Uplifting and depressing
The reason for calling this book both uplifting and depressing being all the facts about the decline in nature, due to only one factor. The greed of mankind. Having been a vegan and nature environmentalist for the past 30 years I know all these sad facts. I guess I bought the book in the hope of being uplifted. I do hope though, that this book will open the eyes and ears of those who are not yet aware of the fact that nature and wildlife is suffering due to being abused by mankind.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 05-10-22
educational
Really enjoyed this reading, Melissa has a lovely reading voice, and I love that she used the Latin names so I can look them up and learn more. I love her humour and how she brings everything to life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kerrypat
- 15-12-20
A wonderful companion!
What a delight this book is. To share the gentle, perceptive and generous observations of Melissa Harrison is a deep and lasting pleasure.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lizzy h
- 01-06-22
Urban to rural nature diary
An honest exploration of the sparse urban areas of nature and nature in rural Suffolk.
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1 person found this helpful