Sy Montgomery

I discovered this book on a list of best short books. Sometimes you just need a good, quick read as a palate cleanser. Other times it serves as far more than that, and How to Be a Good Creature is one of those books.

Every animal lover should read this. It’s beautiful, heartfelt, and styled unlike any other memoir I’ve read. I now want to go buy my kids every one of Sy Montgomery’s children’s books, and I’m feeling kind of inspired to write some of my own anecdotes from life on a farm.… (mais)

Montgomery teaches us about turtles' classic longevity, their beauty, resilience and patience. And how they have become a most threatened species because of their high value around the world as food, hand bags, jewelry, and medicine. People and vehicles pose the largest threat to turtles; other animals attack them as well.

Sy Montgomery and her illustrator Matt Peterson volunteer lots of time and energy with a variety of turtle rescue groups to learn and help as much as possible. Turtles are rescued after being run over by cars and trucks, shot at, mauled by animals and from pet owners who have not bothered to learn how to care for them.

Some of those rescued die but many, many others regain their health despite their devastating wounds. It often takes time, turtle time which is very different than the frenetic pace of human time.

Montgomery describes the hard work, devotion, and love the many turtle rescuers have for their patients.

I look forward to reading more of Montomery's sweet, poetic books.… (mais)

Filled with beautiful National Geographic photography, Secrets of the Octopus explores the underwater world of the octopus and brings to light new information that affirms the underwater, alien-like creatures are one of the world’s most intelligent and complex creatures.

Y’all - this is my first nonfiction book that's not a memoir and/or wasn’t assigned to me in school (which, I’ve been out of school for 9 years, if that tells you anything…). I asked for an advance copy of this off NetGalley because that always gives me a little more pressure on myself to actually read the book and not just say I will. Plus, once I found out this was a companion novel for the newest special coming out, I wanted it even more. Oh man, am I glad I did.

Obviously being my first nonfiction novel, I haven’t read anything by Sy Montgomery before, but I really like her writing. It was informative but I never felt like I was just being thrown the science. It was written in a way that was easy to follow and understand. I was constantly screenshotting and highlighting things all the time. I read this in two days and then proceeded to chat my partner’s ear off about it over lunch the following day.

I learned so many things and am proud to say octopuses are my new favorite marine animal.

Overall, I believe anyone who picks up this book will be walking away a little bit more of a lover of these eight-legged saltwater creatures with this easy to digest novel. This will also get one excited for the miniseries coming out here soon.

*Thank you National Geographic and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review… (mais)