Amazon 4.5*

Review

'While she lay critically ill Elisabeth Bailey's bedside snail exposed the rich sedimentary layers of her awareness and gifted her the will to live. In an unfussy, meticulous style she has written a finely crafted eulogy to a common woodland snail and a moving endorsement of the human spirit.' --Sir John Lister-Kaye, author of Song of the Rolling Earth: A Highland Odyssey and At The Water's Edge, A Personal Quest for Wildness. 'I love The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating with all my heart . . . It's moving and beautiful . . . funny and sweet and wise and profound.' --Jane Hamilton, author of A Map of the World. 'Beautiful.' --Edward O. Wilson, author of The Diversity of Life. --Reviews.

I love The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating with all my heart . . . It's moving and beautiful . . . funny and sweet and wise and profound. --Jane Hamilton, author of A Map of the World

Beautiful. --Edward O. Wilson, author of The Diversity of Life

Product Description

While an illness keeps her bedridden, Elisabeth Bailey watches a wild snail that has taken up residence in a terrarium alongside her bed. She enters the rhythm of life of this mysterious creature, and comes to a greater understanding of her own confined place in the world. In a work that beautifully demonstrates the rewards of closely observing nature, she shares the inspiring and intimate story of her close encounter with Neohelix albolabris – a common woodland snail. Intrigued by the snail’s world – from its strange anatomy to its mysterious courtship activities – she becomes a fascinated and amused observer of the snail’s curious life. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is an affirmation of the healing power of nature, revealing how much of the world we miss in our busy daily lives, and how truly magical it is. A remarkable journey of survival and resilience, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating shows how a small part of the natural world can illuminate our own human existence and deepen our appreciation of what it means to be fully alive.

I just loved this heart-warming true story of Elizabeth’s appreciation of and empathy with ‘her snail’. In a letter to one of her doctors she graciously attributed her will to survive her cripplingly debilitating illness to their shared relationship. Her research to find out more about her snail is detailed, informative and mesmerising, as is her research to try to understand her chronic illness. Her story is wonderful, life affirming and such a moving tribute to her determination to overcome her illness. It’s a must-read story for those of you who enjoy memoirs.

This is another 'Daily Deal' purchase for my Kindle. I'm so glad this book happened into my life!