Nature Literature discussion

Please enter your comments about the November 2015 Book of the Month here.

And to get us in the mood, here is a poignant article from WCAI, the National Public Radio affiliate for "the Cape, the Coast and the Islands."

http://capeandislands.org/post/revisi...

Hello Becky: Thanks for sharing the article by Robert Finch. He reminded me of the first time I saw a Harbor Seal, which was at Cape Cod, from shore. I believe I at the town of Chatham. It was a foggy day, and I was there to look for the birds on nearby Monomoy Island. They were not visible, but a head like a dog's broke the surface, very close to me. The eyes seemed to register a startled outlook, and we stared at each other for minutes, possibly each amazed to see another so close. That memory comes back from nearly 30 years ago.

I am about half way through the book. Very muche enjoyed the story of The Wellfleet Oysterman and mentions of Pamet River in Truro. I once watched a Harrier (Marsh Hawk) there, but that is another story.

I'm about halfway through the book, and so far enjoying it. It really makes me want to visit Cape Cod some day!

What does everyone feel is the reason for the relatively unemotional description of the shipwreck?

Just a different time, and hence less drama and sensationalism?
A deeper faith that they've gone on to a better life?
Thoreau's personal blend of cynicism and detachment from society?

I can't help but think what the news would make of such an event these days...

Thoreau had detachment from society a large, but was very attached to specific persons and places. Contrast this description to his comments on The Wellfleet Oysterman in a later chapter.

While living on the Cape I read The Outermost House by Henry Beston. I find this book, with its season by season approach, much like Loepold's Sand County Almanac and an interesting contrast to Thoreau's Cape Cod.

My review appears here.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have to admit I did not enjoy reading this book nearly as much as the last 2 I read for this group, Desert Solitaire and Sand County Almanac. Only its merits as a classic kept me from dropping it 3/4 of the way through. The other 2 I plan on rereading.
Don't get me wrong, there were some really interesting parts about the shipwrecks, the salting of the fish, and the discrepancies over who actually discovered the area first. It's just that as a whole I didn't find much of a flow to it and he seemed to discuss things like sand flow and plant life or lack of monotonously.

Possibly due to the fact that it was edited by Thoreau's sister Sophie and his travelling companion Ellery Channing and published posthumously. Never the same as a direct book from the author.

Traveling companion, Sorry.

So you found his other work a little more fluid? That was the first by him I've read.

So you found his other work a little more fluid? That was the first by him I've read.