What I’ve Been Reading Lately
February 18, 2013
“In this book, I am looking for what I miss, every day, right in front of me, while walking around the block.”
— Alexandra Horowitz, On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes
“What an epiphany to reconceive a city . . .”
I really like the idea of this book. In it, Alexandra Horowitz takes short urban walks with eleven “experts” in various fields, and as they share what it is like to notice things through their eyes, Horowitz herself begins to see with new-found vision and understanding. The eleven walking companions are: a 19-month-old toddler, a geologist, a typographer, the illustrator and writer Maira Kalman, a field naturalist and insect expert, a wildlife biologist, an analyst of pedestrian movement, a medical doctor, a blind woman, a sound engineer, and a dog.
I was hoping one of her experts would have been a horticulturist or botanist, because it is most likely plants that I attend to on the walks in my neighborhood. It would have been instructive to compare notes.
I know one thing. This book will prompt you to go out for a walk around the block in your neighborhood. Here are a few photos of a late winter walk through my eyes and camera lens:
Filed in Books and the Literary Life, Flowers & Botany
Tags: Alexandra Horowitz, crocuses, kale, On Looking, paying attention, rhudodendron buds, urban walks, walking, witch hazel
February 18, 2013 at 6:36 am
The photos are lovely. And, I think you might enjoy reading this article I’ve had tucked in my files for four years, about one man’s blockathon.
February 18, 2013 at 9:05 am
Well, I absolutely LOVED the article. I will have to plan more long walks in Seattle this year. Now I’m inspired.
February 18, 2013 at 7:20 am
I am going to HAVE to read this! Thank you!
February 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm
New leaves looks very promising – !
February 18, 2013 at 4:13 pm
I just added the book to my Amazon wish list! I have to laugh because I just had a conversation about this with some friends this weekend. Dick and I see and remember totally different things when we are out and about.
February 18, 2013 at 5:30 pm
OOOOOOOOHhhhhhhhhhh you are getting me very excited to pop out and to sneak up upon the newest growing delight at each stage of the coming!
February 19, 2013 at 4:21 am
What an interesting idea! I loved it. I want to read the book now. Your pictures are beautiful too. Just shows how we miss out the tiny buds and the tender leaves in our hurry to run through our daily lives. Thank you for the post.
February 19, 2013 at 8:21 am
You are very welcome. Thank you for commenting.
July 24, 2013 at 8:21 am
Love your nature photos. They are unique looks