Limber : Essays

"What a strange and unexpected treasure chest this is, filled with all manner of quirky revelations, all about the mundane sublime and the ineffable extraordinary. Most extraordinary of all, perhaps, through, is the haunting perfection, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, of the writing itself. Who is this Angela Pelster and where has she been all our lives?"-Lawrence Weschler Angela Pelster's startling essay collection charts the world's history through its trees: through roots in the ground, rings across wood, and inevitable decay. These sharp and tender essays move from her childhood in rural Canada surrounded by skinny poplar trees in her backyard to a desert in Niger, where the "Loneliest Tree in the World" once grew. A squirrel's decomposing body below a towering maple prompts a discussion of the science of rot, as well as a metaphor for the ways in which nature programs us to consume ourselves. Beautiful, deeply thoughtful, and wholly original, __Limber__ valiantly asks what it means to sustain life on this planet we've inherited. **Angela Pelster**'s essays have appeared in __Granta__, the __Gettysburg Review__, __Seneca Review__, the __Globe and Mail__, __Relief Magazine__, and others. Her children's novel __The Curious Adventures of India Sophia__ won the Golden Eagle Children's Choice award in 2006. She has an MFA from the University of Iowa's nonfiction writing program and lives with her family in Baltimore, Maryland, where she teaches at Towson University. "What a strange and unexpected treasure chest this is, filled with all manner of quirky revelations, all about the mundane sublime and the ineffable extraordinary. Most extraordinary of all, perhaps, through, is the haunting perfection, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, of the writing itself. Who is this Angela Pelster and where has she been all our lives?"-Lawrence Weschler Angela Pelster's startling essay collection charts the world's history through its trees: through roots in the ground, rings across wood, and inevitable decay. These sharp and tender essays move from her childhood in rural Canada surrounded by skinny poplar trees in her backyard to a desert in Niger, where the "Loneliest Tree in the World" once grew. A squirrel's decomposing body below a towering maple prompts a discussion of the science of rot, as well as a metaphor for the ways in which nature programs us to consume ourselves. Beautiful, deeply thoughtful, and wholly original, Limber valiantly asks what it means to sustain life on this planet we've inherited. Angela Pelster 's essays have appeared in Granta , the Gettysburg Review , Seneca Review , the Globe and Mail , Relief Magazine , and others. Her children's novel The Curious Adventures of India Sophia won the Golden Eagle Children's Choice award in 2006. She has an MFA from the University of Iowa's nonfiction writing program and lives with her family in Baltimore, Maryland, where she teaches at Towson University. “As the author reveals in these charming essays, nature is imbued with enticing mysteries, and trees can be agents of salvation.” —Kirkus Reviews Angela Pelster's startling essay collection charts the world's history through its trees: through roots in the ground, rings across wood, and inevitable decay. These sharp and tender essays move from her childhood in rural Canada surrounded by skinny poplar trees in her backyard to a desert in Niger, where the Loneliest Tree in the World once grew. A squirrel's decomposing body below a towering maple prompts a discussion of the science of rot, as well as a metaphor for the ways in which nature programs us to consume ourselves. Beautiful and deeply thoughtful, Limber valiantly asks what it means to sustain life on this planet we've inherited. “One of the quirkiest and most original books about the natural world that I have read in quite some time... the essays reveal not just the life of trees but how they connect us to the greater world around us.” —Seattle Times “Whether Pelster is talking about an old mining town buried alive, a tree that belonged only to itself, or a mother buried with her children in the desert, her prose invites the reader to pause and wonder... Pelster questions our mortality, how we define ourselves, and faith; and has fun doing so.” —Publishers Weekly “What a strange and unexpected treasure chest this is... Who is this Angela Pelster and where has she been all our lives?” —Lawrence Weschler A Startling Essay Collection Charting The World's History Through Holes In The Ground, Rings Across Wood, Mountains, Figs, And A Body's Evolution. Essays Move From Her Rural Canadian Childhood To A Desert In Niger, Where The Loneliest Tree In The World Once Grew. Deeply Thought And Wholly Original, Limber Asks What It Means To Live On Our Inherited Planet-- Les Oiseaux -- By Way Of Beginning -- Burmis -- Ethan Lockwood -- Meditations On A Tree Frog -- The Boys Of Lake Karachay -- Temple -- Portrait Of A Mango -- Saskatoons -- Inheritance -- Moon Trees -- Rot -- Inosculation -- Artifacts -- How Trees Came To Be In The World -- Living In The Trees -- Cardinal. Angela Pelster. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "A startling essay collection charting the world's history through holes in the ground, rings across wood, mountains, figs, and a body's evolution. Essays move from her rural Canadian childhood to a desert in Niger, where "The Loneliest Tree in the World" once grew. Deeply thought and wholly original, Limber asks what it means to live on our inherited planet"-- Provided by publisher Startling, lyrical essay collection focused on trees. Moves from author’s childhood in rural Canada to Niger, the Philippines, and Greece.