12/04/24
“You have the perfect tools to undertake an exciting adventure into the forests right outside your front door.” - Peter Wohlleben in Forest Walking
In Forest Walking: Discovering the Trees and Woodlands of North America, co-authors Peter Wohlleben and Jane Billinghurst provide readers with a meditative journey through forests. Forests, defined as large groups of trees growing together in a community, are filled with opportunities for observation. The trees in them are of varying ages and species and grow where the conditions best suit their needs. Master Gardener volunteers thought the authors’ rather rambling style was interesting but not what we expected to discover, based on the book’s title. Though filled with many thought-provoking facts, the book is not truly a guide for discovering the forests on our continent. It is, rather, a collection of anecdotes and specific bits of information. The readers’ consensus is that we can share facts from the text with community members when appropriate and use the suggested activities for children when planning youth programs.
Reader Poll
Enjoyable - 3.0 out of 5 stars
Educational - 3.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended - 3.0 out of 5 stars
Reader Comments
“A scientific base was lacking in the text.”
“It felt like Jane didn’t speak for herself as a co-author.”
“Lying on the ground to notice more in a forest is something to consider.”
Next Book Club Discussion – January 28, 2025
The selection for January is The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl.