Luscious ... Humphreys offers a fresh view of a philosopher thought of as a loner ... Humphreys closely bases her novel on Thoreau’s meticulous, 2-million-word journal.
Uniquely lyrical, empathic, and transporting ... Steeped in Thoreau’s writing, Humphreys gracefully and perceptively imagines the inner life of a singular earth ecstatic more comfortable with bluebirds than humans, attuned to the seasons and the lay of the land, and blissful in solitude and communion with the page.
Descriptions of seasons changing and other nature scenes become repetitive, though many are arresting in their beauty. The characterization of Thoreau also shines.
