Thank you for your wonderful review of Robert Macfarlane’s new book - it’s rare a review sends me straight to hit ‘order’ (especially when it’s still in hardback and not cheap!) but I love his writing and this is a fascinating subject, about the rights and ‘life’ of nature. I went off down a rabbit hole to find out more about Los Cedros, and recommended your piece to my son who is about to start his philosophy masters’ dissertation on personhood. (He’s a musician too, so it’s a double-whammy!) 😊
Oooo thank you! That's kind of perfect, I'm sure your son would get an enormous amount from the book, both from the nature and the music/composition points of view. And I hope you love it too: Rob visits three rivers, the other two are in India and Canada.
Thank you for sharing the news about my Dubliners Reading Group. For anyone new: Please go to Elizabeth's Substack and click on Dubliners Reading Group if you'd like to join in.
I just finished Is A River Alive? last week, and it’s still ringing in my mind. This reflection is extraordinary, not only for its lyrical beauty but for the deeply personal resonance it carries. Reading Macfarlane’s work felt like standing on the threshold of something ancient and alive, and your story gives that sensation a heartbeat. The way memory, place, and narrative interweave here is powerful. Thank you for sharing this. It made my experience of the book feel all the more meaningful.
Wonderful, Jonathan. I'm so glad. I'm afraid I've let life and work run away from me again, and haven't had a chance to finishing answering your questions. My apologies! I'll get to them when I can.
Simon, I loved reading about your experience in Ecuador! As a matter of fact, there was an excellent opinion piece by Macfarlane today in the NYT, Does a River Have Legal Rights? I'll try to share a gift link, but it may not work.
Definitely a book on my to read list but a quick question have you changed the way you post as it now seems to default to the audio and I struggle to find the written version? If there’s a way I can opt to get written version first that would be amazing.
Yes that’s what it used to do, but now it shows as a listen first and as soon as you click on it it starts playing. You can then scroll down and click ‘see post’ and it displays as normal, but it’s a bit odd. Just noticed the last week I think…
I use the app -- not happening for me, but then I've never listened to a voiceover in Substack. (I'm primarily a visual reader and when I listen on walks, I use Spotify.)
Yes it’s the app. It is strange as it’s not your APOGS posts but everything thing else of yours & one other person I subscribe to, but not the rest. It could be something in my settings will have a look…. It’s only a minor irritation but…
That would explain it! Possibly same for most of my other substacks which explains why just only a couple. Sorry to raise an awkward issue - I mostly love Substack but it has some odd quirks…
Oh, not to my knowledge! What does that mean, you can't see the written post? How weird. That might explain why an unprecedented amount of people have unsubscribed from Footnotes and Tangents today!
Thank you for your wonderful review of Robert Macfarlane’s new book - it’s rare a review sends me straight to hit ‘order’ (especially when it’s still in hardback and not cheap!) but I love his writing and this is a fascinating subject, about the rights and ‘life’ of nature. I went off down a rabbit hole to find out more about Los Cedros, and recommended your piece to my son who is about to start his philosophy masters’ dissertation on personhood. (He’s a musician too, so it’s a double-whammy!) 😊
Oooo thank you! That's kind of perfect, I'm sure your son would get an enormous amount from the book, both from the nature and the music/composition points of view. And I hope you love it too: Rob visits three rivers, the other two are in India and Canada.
The River is Alive sounds like an enchanting read and I love your forest anecdotes!
Thank you for sharing the news about my Dubliners Reading Group. For anyone new: Please go to Elizabeth's Substack and click on Dubliners Reading Group if you'd like to join in.
I just finished Is A River Alive? last week, and it’s still ringing in my mind. This reflection is extraordinary, not only for its lyrical beauty but for the deeply personal resonance it carries. Reading Macfarlane’s work felt like standing on the threshold of something ancient and alive, and your story gives that sensation a heartbeat. The way memory, place, and narrative interweave here is powerful. Thank you for sharing this. It made my experience of the book feel all the more meaningful.
Wonderful, Jonathan. I'm so glad. I'm afraid I've let life and work run away from me again, and haven't had a chance to finishing answering your questions. My apologies! I'll get to them when I can.
No worries, Simon. Whenever you get a chance. Thank you.
Wow. This post makes me want to devote my life (nearly) exclusively to reading . . .
Thank you for your ongoing inspiration, which keeps quietly reminding me of who I am beneath the harried exterior
Thank you for mentioning Miss MacIntosh! I ran into a health issue that set me back a month so this will likely go beyond 2025 a little bit.
Simon, I loved reading about your experience in Ecuador! As a matter of fact, there was an excellent opinion piece by Macfarlane today in the NYT, Does a River Have Legal Rights? I'll try to share a gift link, but it may not work.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/opinion/river-clean-water-act-klamath.html?unlocked_article_code=1.LE8.0NjP.ZDVn2XUVlHBX&smid=url-share
Thank you, Katy! And thanks for the link - it works!
Definitely a book on my to read list but a quick question have you changed the way you post as it now seems to default to the audio and I struggle to find the written version? If there’s a way I can opt to get written version first that would be amazing.
It should show the post with the option to play the voiceover at the top?
Yes that’s what it used to do, but now it shows as a listen first and as soon as you click on it it starts playing. You can then scroll down and click ‘see post’ and it displays as normal, but it’s a bit odd. Just noticed the last week I think…
Is this in the app? I don't have the app, so perhaps it is a change in the way the app works. Really sorry about that.
I use the app -- not happening for me, but then I've never listened to a voiceover in Substack. (I'm primarily a visual reader and when I listen on walks, I use Spotify.)
Maybe the Play Next toggle is the cause?
Thanks, Maura.
Yes it’s the app. It is strange as it’s not your APOGS posts but everything thing else of yours & one other person I subscribe to, but not the rest. It could be something in my settings will have a look…. It’s only a minor irritation but…
APOGS doesn't have a voiceover, so it wouldn't affect those posts.
That would explain it! Possibly same for most of my other substacks which explains why just only a couple. Sorry to raise an awkward issue - I mostly love Substack but it has some odd quirks…
Oh, not to my knowledge! What does that mean, you can't see the written post? How weird. That might explain why an unprecedented amount of people have unsubscribed from Footnotes and Tangents today!
Hey Simon, my Oblomov readalong is still ongoing to the end of June. We've just hit the halfway stage. Thank you could add it please? Many thanks.
Added! Not quite sure how you slipped through the net.
Thank you!
Hi Simon, my June Book Club is Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino! Thank you so much for including me.
Updated! Thanks, Katie.