This month we will be reading, "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating" by Elisabeth Tova Bailey.
Winner of The Saroyan International Prize for Writing, the John Burroughs Medal, and the National Outdoor Book Award in Natural History Literature
“Brilliant.” —The New York Review of Books
“Exquisite.” —The Huffington Post
“Magical.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune
In a work that beautifully demonstrates the rewards of closely observing nature, Elisabeth Tova Bailey shares an inspiring and intimate story of her encounter with a Neohelix albolabris—a common woodland snail.
While an illness keeps her bedridden, Bailey watches a wild snail that has taken up residence on her nightstand. As a result, she discovers the solace and sense of wonder that this mysterious creature brings and comes to a greater understanding of her own place in the world. Intrigued by the snail’s molluscan anatomy, cryptic defenses, clear decision making, hydraulic locomotion, and courtship activities, Bailey becomes an astute and amused observer, offering a candid and engaging look into the curious life of this underappreciated small animal. "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating" is a remarkable journey of survival and resilience, showing us how a small part of the natural world can illuminate our own human existence, while providing an appreciation of what it means to be fully alive.
"The Sound of A Wild Snail Eating" can be found on Hoopla as an e-book: https://www.hoopladigital.com/ebook/the-sound-of-a-wild-snail-eating-elisabeth-tova-bailey/15239021
Books will be available at the main desk in early August. We provide regular print, large print, and audio when it is available. If you would like an alternative format, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request!
The Book Club meets on the last Friday of the month at 11 am. We read both fiction and non-fiction. All are welcome to our discussions.
*Note: the meeting date has been changed to the fourth Friday of the month due to the Labor Day weekend holiday.
Peterborough Town Library, located downtown at the corner of Main and Concord/Rt 202, has a large meeting room, study rooms, classroom, and a board room available to the public.
