World of Wonders

In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments

De: Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Narrado por: Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Barnes & Noble 2020 Book of the Year

A Kirkus Prize Finalist for Nonfiction

A Southern Book Prize Finalist

An NPR Best Book of 2020

An Esquire Best Book of 2020

A BookPage Best Book of 2020

A New York Public Library Best Book of 2020

A Wall Street Journal Holiday Gift Pick for 2020

An Indie Next Pick, September 2019

A Publishers Weekly "Big Indie Book of Fall 2020"

A BuzzFeed Best Book of Fall 2020

A Literary Hub "Most Anticipated Book of 2020

A Ralph Lauren Summer Reading Recommendation

A Garden & Gun Summer Reading Recommendation

A Bustle "Best Book of Fall 2020

Named a "Most Anticipated Book of 2020" by The Millions

An Alma "Favorite Book for Fall 2020"

A Literary Hub "Recommended Climate Read for September 2020"

A Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Reading Recommendation for Fall 2020

From beloved, award-winning poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil comes a debut work of nonfiction - a collection of essays about the natural world, and the way its inhabitants can teach, support, and inspire us.

As a child, Nezhukumatathil called many places home: the grounds of a Kansas mental institution, where her Filipina mother was a doctor; the open skies and tall mountains of Arizona, where she hiked with her Indian father; and the chillier climes of western New York and Ohio. But no matter where she was transplanted - no matter how awkward the fit or forbidding the landscape - she was able to turn to our world’s fierce and funny creatures for guidance.

“What the peacock can do,” she tells us, “is remind you of a home you will run away from and run back to all your life.” The axolotl teaches us to smile, even in the face of unkindness; the touch-me-not plant shows us how to shake off unwanted advances; the narwhal demonstrates how to survive in hostile environments. Even in the strange and the unlovely, Nezhukumatathil finds beauty and kinship. For it is this way with wonder: it requires that we are curious enough to look past the distractions in order to fully appreciate the world’s gifts.

Warm and lyrical, World of Wonders is a book of sustenance and joy.

©2020 Aimee Nezhukumatathil. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"American poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil's voice is gentle as she tells listeners how her love of nature developed in childhood." --AudioFile Magazine

"Nezhukumatathil's investigations…range across the world, from a rapturous rendering of monsoon season in her father's native India to her formative years in Iowa, Kansas, and Arizona, where she learned from the native flora and fauna that it was common to be different . . . The writing dazzles with the marvel of being fully alive." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Nezhukumatathil's essays…are in turn humorous, poignant, relatable, passionate (especially when she's bemoaning disappearing species and habitats), and always interesting." --Booklist

"Nezhukumtathil applies her skill as a poet to a scintillating series of short essays on nature. She takes up topics that fascinate her - the bizarre-looking potoo birds of Central and South America; corpse flowers, with their rich colors and acrid odor - and connects them to her own experience of the world.... Throughout, she vividly describes sounds, smells, and color - the myriad hues of a 'sea of saris' from India - and folds in touches of poetry. Fumi Nakamura's lush illustrations add to the book's appeal. Readers of Terry Tempest Williams and Annie Dillard will appreciate Nezhukumtathil's lyrical look at nature." --Publishers Weekly

Loved every minute

I found this highly enjoyable. It felt full of story while tying in images of the natural world. Lovely little memoir moments.

Wonderful, magical book.

This was an amazing story. My daughter and I absolutely loved it. It was just a magical book. And I also learned so much about so many things.

not my taste

sorry, I found it a little insipid. The reader's high pitched, sing-songy voice didn't help

Lovely, lyrical essays of the natural world 🌲🐞🦎🦋🐙🐋

Beautifully read by the author herself, this collection of essays engages the reader in both the wonders of the natural world and the author's personal experiences.

My favorite book in forever!!

This book was like eating a dessert, every time I listened to a new chapter. The imagery with which the author writes, paired with the amazing tone and phrasing of every word that she speaks, made this such a delight to enjoy. I love it so much that I am buying six copies to gift as Christmas presents this year, either for my nature lovers, or for my word lovers. It just so happens that I am both a lover of imagery-rich written words, as well as flora and fauna. I can’t wait to listen to it all over again with my sons as part of our homeschooling curriculum this year! A forever fan!

Interesting approach to a nonfiction book...

...narration by the author is usually somewhere between bad and terrible, but this one is striking. This author has a wonderful, capable, soothing voice.
The bouncing back and forth between biography and natural history is a little odd, but interesting. The first thing I did was to check out both the author and her husband: each is notable in their own way.
I rather enjoyed the flipping back and forth between the first and third person narrative once I got used to it.
I am also aware of the firefly disappearance in the US, and have been quite distressed by it for the last few years. I am hopeful, however.
I will recommend this book, however, with a warning that the structure is a little.... odd.

Lovely

An enchanting blend of memoir, travelogue & nature essays. Simply delightful and soothing. A wonderful way to unwind for a few hours.

love this book and her voice

I listened first to the audio book, then read the book. I usted the book in my English Elective Writing Nature. A big hit!

Sweet story: It’s her memoir and about wonderful creatures!

I wondered what this book would be about this we had to read it for my book club. It’s a sweet story about her life growing up and moving around a lot- how smart she is , because dang she knows everything about these creatures , plants and trees! I feel I won’t remember everything from what she shared m, but I think if the topic came up about something she talked about I’d say… I remember something I read about that! And then have to Google it ;)

Beautiful stories-sensitive, delightful narration

I couldn't resist starting as soon as I purchased it. what a lovely book..

🦋🌿World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, & Other Astonishments

🌸 Aimee Nezhukumatathil's sensitive and wondrous narration.. 🐞🌼... was so delightful...

.. a splendidly enriching experience.. the kind of book and narration one will to listen to again and again🌿