Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

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Summary: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Review
Review: In the world we live in there are three kinds of books; the ones you are forced to read, the ones you read for enjoyment, and the ones that change your whole aspect of life and values. Dillard's book definetly falls in the last of these catagories. Dillard's use of allusions, description, and "philosophical" thinking make, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, a read people of all ages can get something out of. This book could be compared to Thoreau's, Walden, but for the modern day reader.

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Summary: Truly an Inspiration
Review: I've come to post my assigned review of this book, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, and find myself at a loss for words. To put it quite simply, I enjoyed it, what with her frequent narratives on chance encounters with muskrats, a giant waterbug, and even a copperhead. What a brave woman Annie Dillard must be; but I digress. It isn't so much that she's brave, as it is that she just loves and appreciates the world around her - this pure, natural world that her - our - Creator has provided for us all. Upon first picking up the book, I expected something to the tune of Walden, which, basically summarized, is as follows: "Here's my philosophy on life... Here's why it's right..." Annie Dillard in no way does this. She writes with her head, yes, but more importantly with her heart. One can't help but find himself (or herself, in my case) smiling when reading about her youthful exuberance as she left pennies as surprises for others who would later be walking down the sidewalk. She provides anecdotes of her life-experiences, but somewhere through the chapters, you find that it isn't so much reminiscent narratives as it is a series of her questions about life and the answers - or acceptance that many of the answers can't be found. As someone from last year's AP English class said, it's a book about finding yourself. Perhaps people who don't like nature wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did, but the best I can explain it is that her love of nature and deep appreciation of it simply mimic her love for her Creator (whatever she believes Him/Her/It to be.) I'll tell you this much; I think it would be awfully interesting to meet this woman, Annie Dillard. I wonder what kind of topics for conversation she would have?

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Summary: The best
Review: Wonderful writing, brilliant, thoughtful and a pleasure from start to finish. That's it.

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Summary: A New Vision
Review: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie Dillard is a scientific book that records a woman's daily walk along the banks of Tinker Creek. As she describes the ever-changing environment around her, she often refers to how great thinkers of the past or different religious beliefs explain science. The story is organized with reliable connection between ideas. Although, the excessive detail found throughout each chapter does detract from the purpose of the novel. The story is enables readers the ability to see their own environment through a new set of eyes.
The connection of different scientific ideas is well organized throughout the novel. In one passage, the author mentions frogs and their tendency to jump into the creek as she approaches them and her next paragraph is about a giant blood sucking water bug. The two ideas seem non-related, but in the few sentences to follow, she finds herself nearly eye to eye with a firmly positioned frog; it refuses to move. Only after intensely studying the unshakable frog does she spot the giant blood sucking water bug atop its back. The frog has fallen victim. The connection between the frog's grounded position is easily described as she intently studies the abnormality of its unshaken behavior.
The detail of each passage is extremely excessive. Each day the same walk around Tinker Creek is taken yet a new discovery is made daily. The immense detail of each discovery many times overpowers the discovery's meaning and value.
Dillard takes a new approach in seeing the world around her. Even though the same creek is walked daily, new discoveries are always viewed. And they are viewed from many different aspects. She makes notes of how a child, an adult, or a scientist could all see the same flower, animal, insect, etc' yet have very different descriptions amongst them. This book enables the reader to view the world around them in a way that ordinarily is unfamiliar.

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Summary: An Experience
Review: After being required to read this book for a college English class, I was actually surprised that I liked it. There were some parts that definitely got tiresome, but all in all I felt it was quite enjoyable and eye-opening. The images painted by Dillard were stunning, even disturbing at times, which is part of the experience.
I felt that the chapter "Seeing" was by far the most revealing and profound chapter of the book. Its views of nature was dramatic and makes people think (or me, at least) that people can all see the world if only they are interested enough.
One criticism that I have is her obvious blindness to the horrors of human nature. Dillard has such an extreme focus on the nature of the world that, while it can be compared to human nature, she is clearly missing something while being secluded out on Tinker Creek. However, the points that she does make are very insightful and the book is an experience that everyone, whether or not they like it, should read.

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Summary: Magic!
Review: I remember reading this book as a young girl and how it changed my perception about everything--a true epiphany. I have a great love for Thoreau as well, but Annie's style of prose makes her experiences both accessible and personal to readers of all ages.

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Summary: A Journy
Review: This is a great book, however it is not for everyone. This book is about the exploration of nature and understanding. Quite a few AP students dislike this book, and I believe the reason is being forced into complex exploration of your surroundings is asking for rejection. This book is more appealing to natural science majors, or the general curious.

Annie Dillard writes with fearsome clarity and complexity. She does cover controversial ideas like, pristine beauty inter-tangled with violence within nature; some people might find that offensive.

I personally think most people should read this book at some point in their lifetime, but only if they are willing and ready. If exploration, and inquisitiveness are your forte this book is for you. If this doesnt describe you don't read it, because you might find it confusing and not to the point.

Rating:
Summary: A Journy
Review: This is a great book, however it is not for everyone. This book is about the exploration of nature, exploration , and understanding. Quite a few AP students dislike this book, and I believe the reason is being forced into complex exploration of your surroundings is asking for rejection. This book is more appealing to natural science majors, or the general curious.

Annie Dillard writes with fearsome clarity and complexity. She does cover controversial ideas like, pristine beauty inter-tangled with violence within nature; some people might find that offensive.

I personally think most people should read this book at some point in their lifetime, but only if they are willing and ready. If exploration, and inquisitiveness are your forte this book is for you. If this doesnt describe you don't read it, because you might find it confusing and not to the point.

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Summary: Not a book for everyone.
Review: I felt this book was too random in thought, not enough flow to keep me interested. If you like Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass you will enjoy this very much; or vice a versa.

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Summary: Guilty pleasure
Review: This is not a book for children and no, it does not have a plot.
I had no idea that this book was required reading in AP English . Clearly AP English is not what it used to be, if a book like this is so ill-received by the students. We appear to have a classic case of casting pearls before swine. But, perhaps it is just not the kind of book for devouring in time for term papers. This is fine wine, bittersweet chocolate, Casablanca lilies to be sampled, savored, and put away for awhile, lest one be overwhelmed. It is one of my favorite "guilty pleasures", a treat I give myself.
It is a treasure to be found out, and anyone who values this kind of treasure will find it and be amazed, not just by what is written, but by how young the writer was when she wrote it. I first read this book about 25 years ago and came away from it realizing I was blind. I have never, before or since, encountered such rich prose. And every time I read it I am more and more amazed by the scope of her passion and scholarship. Pascal, Arctic explorers, giant waterbugs, decay, beauty and on every page, something to be learned. This is no ordinary book, no ordinary walk in the woods. Annie Dillard shows us a world where in every moment of life there is beauty, horror, mystery and , sometimes, a humor dark and dry. After reading this book for the first time I bemoaned the fact that I could not "see" the way she did; and I probably never shall, because she is gifted with a sight and sensitivity apart from most. But, I did start to open my eyes. Were it not for reading this book a quarter century ago, I probably would not have been in my backyard, freezing my buns off at 4:45 a.m. this morning watching the Leonid meteor shower, and I would never have taken the interest in birds which led me to shed tears over the extinction of Passenger pigeon. I would not get the marrow-of-my bones thrill I get when the sun dips low and makes salt marshes glow as if carved from emeralds. I cannot ever recommend this book highly enough. It is a life changer.