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Okay… I FINALLY read this book — “The Anthropocene Reviewed” by John Green. I hate admitting this, but I’m not a huge fan of essay collections — not sure why, especially since I wrote one (ha!).
But, my general distaste for essay collections kept me from reading this. Then I heard how great it was from Annie on her podcast, “From the Front Porch.”
I usually agree with Annie’s taste in books, so I followed her lead and got the audio version from the library. After listening to the first five minutes of the book, I was hooked.
Yes, I love John Green’s fiction work, but this stands alone. In the introduction, he shares an illness that lead to some pretty big realizations. His illness happened during the COVID-19 lockdown — a time when many of us come to realizations.
After the introduction, the series of essays ranges from scratch-n-sniff stickers and Monopoly to Auld Lang Syne to Indianapolis.
In most of the essays, he shares his personal connection to the subject, visits its history, and at the end, offers his rating out of five stars.
Saying I loved this book is a bit of an understatement. I absolutely LOVED this book, and the audio version was a special treat. Not only can you hear the emotion in some of the essays, but he sings during a few of them, and there’s an essential audio clip in another.
It’s the kind of book I didn’t want to end, and now I have an even greater appreciation for John Green.
I give this book… 5 stars.
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