A few months ago, I picked up a copy of James Munstich’s wonderful book, 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die, A Life-Changing List, thinking “someday” and “wouldn’t that be fun.” Then the coronavirus hit, and my thoughts changed to “now” and “because I can.”
A week into my reading adventure, I am midway through my third book in the A’s, Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abby, a compilation of nature-inspired essays based on the author’s three seasons as a park ranger in Arches National Monument in southeastern Utah in the days before that park was infiltrated by paved roads and thousands of tourists. The book strikes me as a cross between Aldo Leopold’s eloquent A Sand Country Almanac and Henry Miller’s brutal The Air-Conditioned Nightmare. Abbey’s insightful descriptions of the rugged beauty of unbridled nature and his unapologetic cries against the growing exploitation of those lands brought about by mining and tourism make for a lyric, poignant read. I am thoroughly engrossed.
“There’s another disadvantage to the use of the flashlight: like many other mechanical gadgets it tends to separate a man from the world around him. If I switch it on my eyes adapt to it and I can see only the small pool of light which it makes in front of me; I am isolated. Leaving the flashlight in my pocket where it belongs, I remain a part of the environment I walk through and my vision though limited has no sharp or definite boundary.”
(Edward Abbey, from the essay, Solitaire)
If you are curious, I plan on continuing to log my progress through a weekly update here on WP, sharing snippets and thoughts from favorite books as I go. Please join me and share the books you are reading or want to read. Happy reading!
©️2020 Tanya Cliff
tanyacliff.com 
Eagerly looking forward to your weekly updates.
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Thank you for the encouragement! That means a lot to me. I hope you will share some of your favorite books as we go. Stay safe and healthy, my friend!🥰
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Unfortunately I do not get to read any more books now, but I do love to read what YOU write, so please do not disappoint me. Hope all is well at your end too. God Bless.
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I will do my best. Everything is good here. God bless you abundantly.
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♥♥♥
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❤️
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So this will keep you busy this year, what are you going to do next year?
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😂😂😂
I KNOW you are reading some interesting books. Feel free to share! I would love to hear about them.
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I don’t know how to read.
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I have a Dr Seuss book I can loan you. 🐶
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😝who is he? I hear we need good doctors these days…
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😂
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😊
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perty flowers
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How are things your way, Jim?
I am grateful for warm weather. So good to be outside more.
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I am looking forward to your ‘book reports’.
This is a treat!!!
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Thank you! That makes it all the more fun to share! 😘
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Great idea Tanya!
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Thank you, Mary! Hope you hop in with some book recommendations as we go. 😘
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