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jacobmorrall's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
samasteiner's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
melissa_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely little study of life of the shepherds in the Lake District, which might sound strange coming from a person who has always lived in cities. I've been on a farm or two in my time but none seem to compare to Rebanks' poetic picture of his turbulent green landscape. There is a lot of information about raising and caring for sheep, which might put people off but there is so much rich description of the Rebanks family and other of the Lake District that I urge you not to give up.
The landscape seems to have a character of its own and its interesting to read about the associated identity and ownership that comes along with living and farming in this area. I want to just sit down with the people and discuss things over a cup of tea. I think he hits it on the nose with: "The real history of our landscape should be the history of the nobodies."
Things that really struck a chord with me were when James went to university but still came back to work the farm on the weekends (what a trooper!), the segment about how the children of the family understand where their food comes from and are aware of the full picture of life and death on a farm, and the strength of the people who work on these farms (there is a reason farms are handed down generation to generation!).
The landscape seems to have a character of its own and its interesting to read about the associated identity and ownership that comes along with living and farming in this area. I want to just sit down with the people and discuss things over a cup of tea. I think he hits it on the nose with: "The real history of our landscape should be the history of the nobodies."
Things that really struck a chord with me were when James went to university but still came back to work the farm on the weekends (what a trooper!), the segment about how the children of the family understand where their food comes from and are aware of the full picture of life and death on a farm, and the strength of the people who work on these farms (there is a reason farms are handed down generation to generation!).
funktious's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Pleasant, easy read about a beautiful part of the world. I enjoyed the almost anecdotal style of the narrative, roughly ordered by season, and the authors obvious love for his home in his descriptions of the seasons and wildlife. I especially loved the parts about his relationship with his father and grandfather and how he recognised the love but also the competition between them. The strongest part of the book, I think.
I get the criticism of the early chapters about tourism (mate, lots of us were born in cities and we can’t help that, have a bit of empathy, please?) and the value of education, but I do think he walks those back later in the book, if only in a couple of sentences. It would definitely have been nicer to see a bit more reflection on that, and I hope he’s raising his sons in the same way.
I’d have liked to read more about his time at Oxford and about the foot and mouth crisis. I’ll probably pick up his next book and hope he opens up a bit more in it than this one, which feels a bit reticent in places - understandable for a northern bloke!
I get the criticism of the early chapters about tourism (mate, lots of us were born in cities and we can’t help that, have a bit of empathy, please?) and the value of education, but I do think he walks those back later in the book, if only in a couple of sentences. It would definitely have been nicer to see a bit more reflection on that, and I hope he’s raising his sons in the same way.
I’d have liked to read more about his time at Oxford and about the foot and mouth crisis. I’ll probably pick up his next book and hope he opens up a bit more in it than this one, which feels a bit reticent in places - understandable for a northern bloke!
bookherd's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I read this book because I encountered James Rebanks on Twitter and enjoyed his posts about raising sheep in England's Lake District. Rebanks writes about how his experience of the Lake District as his ancestral home, where his family has been raising sheep for hundreds of years at least, is different from the romantic vision that non-farmers have of the place. As he describes the work he does throughout the seasons, the relationships he has with his parents and neighbors, and a bit of the history of sheep farming in his part of England, you gain some appreciation of what he means. The book is engaging, even for a non-farmer. Well worth reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
suebrownreads's review against another edition
4.0
A very good read. I enjoyed learning about the Lake District, it's history and it's people, the sheep, the shepherds and the dogs, and the Rebanks family. One of my absolute favorite books is Pastoral Song by James Rebanks. If you liked The Shepherd's Life, you are going to love Pastoral Song! I recommend it to everyone I know!