While an illness keeps her bedridden, Elisabeth Bailey watches a wild snail that has taken up residence in a terrarium alongside her bed. She enters the rhythm of life of this mysterious creature, and comes to a greater understanding of her own confined place in the world. In a work that beautifully demonstrates the rewards of closely observing nature, she shares the inspiring and intimate story of her close encounter with Neohelix albolabris a common woodland snail. Intrigued by the snail's world from its strange anatomy to its mysterious courtship activities she becomes a fascinated and amused observer of the snail's curious life. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is an affirmation of the healing power of nature, revealing how much of the world we miss in our busy daily lives, and how truly magical it is. A remarkable journey of survival and resilience, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating shows how a small part of the natural world can illuminate our own human existence and deepen our appreciation of what it means to be fully alive.
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'While she lay critically ill Elisabeth Bailey's bedside snail exposed the rich sedimentary layers of her awareness and gifted her the will to live. In an unfussy, meticulous style she has written a finely-crafted eulogy to a common woodland snail and a moving endorsement of the human spirit.' --Sir John Lister-Kaye, author of Song of the Rolling Earth: A Highland Odyssey and At The Water's Edge, A Personal Quest for Wildness. 'I love The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating with all my heart . . . It's moving and beautiful . . . funny and sweet and wise and profound.' --Jane Hamilton, author of A Map of the World. 'Beautiful.' --Edward O. Wilson, author of The Diversity of Life. --Reviews.
I love The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating with all my heart . . . It's moving and beautiful . . . funny and sweet and wise and profound. --Jane Hamilton, author of A Map of the World
Beautiful. --Edward O. Wilson, author of The Diversity of Life
'This slim, thoughtful book is a miniature masterpiece.' --The Independent
'With exquisite delicacy, Bailey doesn't mention the French enthusiasm for eating them with garlic butter. In fact, if the only time you think about snails is when you storm into the garden to wreak vengeance on them for ravaging your hostas, Bailey's beautifully written, brief memoir may change your views forever.' --The Daily Mail
I love The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating with all my heart . . . It's moving and beautiful . . . funny and sweet and wise and profound. --Jane Hamilton, author of A Map of the World
Beautiful. --Edward O. Wilson, author of The Diversity of Life
'This slim, thoughtful book is a miniature masterpiece.' --The Independent
'With exquisite delicacy, Bailey doesn't mention the French enthusiasm for eating them with garlic butter. In fact, if the only time you think about snails is when you storm into the garden to wreak vengeance on them for ravaging your hostas, Bailey's beautifully written, brief memoir may change your views forever.' --The Daily Mail
About the Author
Elisabeth Tova Bailey's essays and short stories have been published in the Missouri Review, Northwest Review and the Sycamore Review. She has received several Pushcart Prize nominations, and lives in Maine.
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47 of 47 people found the following review helpful
By Alison
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is an unusual and special book. The author, Elisabeth Bailey, is struck down by a severe and chronically debilitating illness and is largely confined to her bed for a long period of time. One day a friend brings her some woodland violets and a snail as a gift. Elisabeth asks why her friend brought the snail and the friend says "I don't know. I thought you might enjoy it." There begins an unusual relationship between human and snail which certainly does bring much enjoyment to the author. The snail helps Elisabeth in her confinement and helps her on her journey of convalescence.
The presentation of the book is lovely, there are several small pencil drawings of snails and occasional plants throughout the book. Elisabeth gives an occasional biology lesson in the pages of the book, but the book is really about human spirit, the beauty of nature in it's many forms and how, when we slow down and look, we can see so much in even the smallest things.
A heart warming book that is original, moving and enlightening.
The presentation of the book is lovely, there are several small pencil drawings of snails and occasional plants throughout the book. Elisabeth gives an occasional biology lesson in the pages of the book, but the book is really about human spirit, the beauty of nature in it's many forms and how, when we slow down and look, we can see so much in even the smallest things.
A heart warming book that is original, moving and enlightening.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By nickjhunt
Format:Hardcover
A delightful, quiet tale of reassuring human restoration. Elizabeth Bailey could so easily have put her head in her hands and cried but her strength of spirit when all else failed teaches her to find solace, joy and even a sensef purpose in the most unlikely of places. I was gladdened and my heart in my own difficulties was warmed.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Mark Webb
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
When the author is invalided by a devastating virus, a friend brings a snail from the woods in a gift of a pot of wild violets; so begins the enchanting tale of a strange and unusual relationship, between a bedridden woman and the snail who is, for most of her days, her only companion.
A story about the true nature of friendship, of the interconnectedness of all living things disguised as a series of musings on the nature of snails; I've rarely read so a book so delightful and touching. A beautiful book, and a wise one.
A story about the true nature of friendship, of the interconnectedness of all living things disguised as a series of musings on the nature of snails; I've rarely read so a book so delightful and touching. A beautiful book, and a wise one.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Average, at best.
This book had a pace fitting of its subject, very slow. Some parts of the book were very scientific and I learnt more about snails than I ever wanted, but it was interesting. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Miss Johnston
5.0 out of 5 stars
hi this what i was after right item at the right price
hi this what i was after right item at the right price and a good service and the right item
Published 4 months ago by Dave
2.0 out of 5 stars
'We are all hostages of time'
Quite so, Elizabeth. '[M]y friends were golden threads randomly appearing in the monotonous fabric of my days. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Simon G. Barrett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unbelievable - now, I LOVE snails and help them across the street!
Unbelievable! This book that I recently finished reading had me in tears by the end. After my wife read it, she told me that I NEED to read this book. Read more
Published 7 months ago by kimatSafkhet
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
Elizabeth Tova Bailey was struck down by a mystery illness which left her bedridden. A friend brought her a violet, with a passenger - a small snail. Read more
Published 12 months ago by tiggrie AKA Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surprising
When I purchased this book, it was because of the title, I couldn`t imagine what it would be about, certainly not about a snail! Read more
Published 13 months ago by shirls
4.0 out of 5 stars
Elegant and moving
This was very well written. The prose is elegant yet spare.
It is quite moving and made me think about illness, convalescence and our relationship with nature. Read more
It is quite moving and made me think about illness, convalescence and our relationship with nature. Read more
Published 13 months ago by The Emperor
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable and meditative, but a little slow in places
The biographical aspects of this book are lovely, perfectly mirroring the author's necessarily meditative pace of life, who has been battling with a debilitating disease preventing... Read more
Published 14 months ago by ANOther
4.0 out of 5 stars
A nice gentle read
There are critics of this book but I have to say I really enjoyed reading it.
If you understand that this is written as an extended time period, condensed into one... Read more
If you understand that this is written as an extended time period, condensed into one... Read more
Published 14 months ago by A. Frid
1.0 out of 5 stars
Tedious
Bought this after reading the many good reviews. Did I miss something here? It's about a snail, eating. I too could pretend how fantastically meaningful and esoteric this is. Read more
Published 15 months ago by LB
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