Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I enjoyed this humorous and inspiring nature book. Written with great passion and zeal for wildlife and the wonders of our beautiful world, this is a delightful book that all nature lovers will enjoy reading.

An interesting read that I'm glad to have discovered. I'll definitely be seeking out more by this author.

A beautifully written book, brimming with fascinating facts. An absolute joy to read.

A huge thanks to Elliott & Thompson & NetGalley for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is simply stunning.

I couldn't put it down. It is thought provoking, interesting and beautifully written.

I am definitely looking for more work by this author.

Not quite as good as this author's last book. But enjoyable none the less, and clearly a talented writer.

In the same way that kids sometimes write their address by going from the specific to the cosmic (street, city, country, continent, hemisphere, planet, galaxy), this book, a delightfully Bryson-esque tour, moves ever outwards, starting with the author’s own home and garden and proceeding to take in his South London patch and his journeys around the British Isles before closing with the wonders of the night sky. By slowing down to appreciate what is all around us, he proposes, we might enthuse others to engage with nature.

With the zeal of a recent convert, he guides readers through momentous sightings and everyday moments of connection. As they were his gateway, many of these memories involve birds: looking for the year’s first swifts, trying to sketch a heron and realizing he’s never looked at one properly before, avoiding angry terns on the Farne Islands, ringing a storm petrel on Skokholm, and seeing white-tailed eagles on the Isle of Skye. He brings unique places to life, and pays tribute to British naturalists who paved the way for today’s nature-lovers by visiting the homes of Charles Darwin, Gilbert White, Peter Scott, and more.

I was on the blog tour for Parikian’s previous book, Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear?, in 2018. While the books are alike in levity (pun intended!), being full of self-deprecation and witty asides along with the astute observations, I think I enjoyed this one that little bit more for its all-encompassing approach to the experience of nature. I fully expect to see it on next year’s Wainwright Prize longlist.

A lovely read the author writes so well a delightful look at nature.all the the living objects we pass on our walks .Reallynopened my eyes to nature and all that’s out there.From creepy crawlies on I will be on the lookout for all these gifts of nature.I will be recommending this book.#netgalley #All the Tangled Bank.

What a great and fascinating book. I loved it and appreciated how well the author writes and how good he's at describing the world around us.
It's engrossing, entertaining and it made me think.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is an enjoyable and gentle potter through the natural world, starting with the urban and every day and expanding out to the cosmos in later chapters. Parikian is a thoughtful guide. Self deprecating and easy to read, he eases you in to his world in a way that doesn't make you feel stupid or that you're constantly running to keep up. I love all the anecdotes about figures from science and nature who shaped the way we understand the world today. I was particularly fascinated by the history of how Slimbridge came to be. This is easy to read all at once, or like I did, in bite size chunks.

This is a great book. I have been really into nature books lately and that one was interesting and ticked so many boxes. I liked the fact that it had a bit of history (Charles Darwin, but also people I personally had never heard of - Etta Lemon was fascinating!), science - precise but well-explained and easy to understand - and obviously a lot of nature. What I really liked especially was the fact that a lot of what Lev Parikian chooses to focus on is very accessible: the plants by the pavement, the birds in the back garden, the local parks... The most expensive pieces of equipment he names are a sketchbook and a pair of binoculars.. He is not a nature expert and I really loved being reminded that you don't need expert knowledge or to go very far to have a connection with nature and that you can learn a lot simply by observing. Would definitely recommend to anyone who feels they don't get enough time in nature, just to be reminded that you can find it in the most ordinary places.

This delightful book is an irreverent look at the wildlife that surrounds us. From creepy crawlies (like spiders), to trees, to animals and the humans that champion them, this book is a lovely salute to the living things that share our planet, even if we don”t always understand why they do what they do. All things have evolved for a reason and Parikian’s delight in them is contagious