The author spent the year in a herbarium, going through every species and looking for the stories behind those who contributed the samples. And while these stories were often really interesting, the author's passages about her walks in the woods (especially an uplifting and heartbreaking final walk with her dog) soar and shine in a way she can't capture in the archive. I love records and caches and systematized knowledge, but it is clear that (even unconsciously) the purpose of knowledge about the world and the people in it is to help you better experience, understand, and enjoy being in that world.

Sorry, not for me this one.
The book itself may be great but Icouldn't get in with the narrator's voice. I kept having to turn off, rewind, wince and in the end, give up.

The book meandered a lot, which the author seemed to be aware of. She speaks near the end of the research that was at the root of the book not being what she hoped. The best part was her personal reflections and memories. This book would have been stronger if it had been turned into a nature memoir. I did like the writing style and will be looking out for what Helen Humphreys does next.

Field Study is a beautifully written, poetic, and meandering memoir by Helen Humphreys on botany, land sovereignty, life, and her work and studies in herbaria and botanical collections. Released 21st Sept 2021 by ECW Press, it's 232 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

The author is an accomplished poet and, despite this being a non-fiction read, the lyrical, precise use of language belies her origins as a writer. The book is arranged around seasonal observations and activities, beginning in the winter with ruminations on herbaria, collecting, plants, ecology, and humans place in the system of things. The following seasons contain some astute (and sobering) commentary on the nature of beauty, hubris, and naturalists (Thoreau) who have traversed these trails before us. Throughout the cohesive whole, the language is uppermost. She writes very very well and this is often a joy to read. In addition to the superlative writing, the book is filled with numerous botanical drawings and mounted samples of plants.

Although layman accessible and not an academically rigorous book, the chapter notes and annotations are full of additional information and sources for further reading.

The audiobook version has a run time of 3 hours and 15 minutes and is narrated by the author. She has a gravelly and uneven voice (voiceovers are clearly not her primary occupation), but once I got used to the cadence, and her occasional slight stumbles with some of the nomenclature, I found it a very restful listening experience. The sound and production qualities were fairly high throughout.

This is a wonderful book, and one I will revisit. It's probably something of a niche read - but for fans of nature memoirs like Helen McDonald, Thoreau, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil, it will likely be deeply satisfying.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Enjoyed this book and found the amateur botanists from the past an interesting window into botany. A quiet book to listen to and poignant to hear about the author`s dog. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy

Field Study: Meditations on a year at the Herbarium by Canadian author Helen Humphreys. is divided into four sections based on the seasons of the year. Humphreys talks about her experience at the Fowler Herbarium. She talks about the Herbarium as a forest and tries to show the intersection between nature and people She talks about different botanists, how each one has their own style and how their personalities show in their notes, and when she talked about drawing the flowers.
I like that the audio is read by Helen Humphreys. It's a quick listen and feels like Humphreys is having you over to share about her experience. A heads up that Humphrey’s does talk about her dog passing away and how that played out during the year as well. This is a wonderful book if you enjoy reading about nature, particularly flowers and if you are interested in the details.
The only thing missing from the audio is the beautiful pictures and diagrams. When reading the physical copy, it really adds to the reading experience.

This was a lovely audiobook that provided much more that Helen Humphreys historical and scholarly information. It was a journey through her passion project that provided a lovely meandering story of historic figures in botany and mini biographies while a glimpse into her own life. It was like listening to a beautiful artist create a great piece of art.

This I believe would read just as well and providing along with it images of the people and plants Helen Humphrey’s describes would be so lovely. A really beautiful book and sure to get great praise. Thank you for letting us enjoy.

A perfect book for this season f my life, and the many things happening in my life right now, I enjoyed this book very much

I truly think this book is high quality, well written, and filled with poignant wisdom - however it wasn’t for me. I listened to this on audiobook and often found my attention drifting away. I think I might revisit this audiobook on a hike when I’m submerged in nature and able to maintain full presence with the words. I think I expected this book to feel a bit more poetic despite it being nonfiction & the fact that it fell short of those expectations made me disconnect a bit immediately. I find nonfiction so hit or miss for me and my attention span so that’s to be expected. I appreciated the audiobook and the narrator (who I believe is the author). It’s a super quick listen and I would recommend it if you’re already a plant lover or scientist or forager.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, E C W Press and Helen Humphreys for letting me listen to this wonderful book. The hardcover and audio are out now!

This one is a little too much science nerdy- if you are not into plants or super detailed science info this might not be for you. BUT if you are then you will enjoy this- its investing to learn more about all the plant collections and collecting that happened and so early.

A fascinating, detailed account of plants found in as well as the history of the Fowler herbarium that dates back from Victorian times to the 1980s. The author weaves art, poetry, and science into this account of historical botany illuminated with details from personal daily stories. This audiobook offers eye-opening stories about specific rare plants as well as botanist contemporaries of Henry David Thoreau and Charles Darwin (short biographical vignettes included on particularly prolific historic botanists). Even without the book, Helen Humphreys describes the samples and settings in poetic detail that betrays her passion for this project. A sparkling example of informative writing that is entertaining as well. This book would make a great addition to high school and university level libraries.

This was a fantastic audiobook. It really struck the balance of informative and entertaining. Part memoir. Part historical reflection on botanist and plant enthusiast from long ago. I really enjoyed it.

I love this book! It’s everything that my geeky, plant-nerd soul didn’t know it needed!

Basically, this book is part memoir and part microhistory of long-ago botanists and plant enthusiasts as well as the specimens they preserved. It chronicles one year, measured in seasons, as the author explores the Fowler Herbarium at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. A herbarium is essentially a “plant library” in which pressed plants are filed away with relevant information like date, location, and the name of the collector. A few plant collectors stood out to me, including Annie A. Boyd and William George Doerr. I would love to learn more about them!

Judging by the way the story meanders, it reads like the author was writing as she researched, rather than afterward. Personally, I liked this choice. It brought home the idea of this book as a journey. As with most journeys, the writer didn’t know exactly how it would end when she was first starting out.

I also appreciated that Helen Humphreys included a land acknowledgement statement at the very beginning of the book. In order words, she recognized that the lands on which the Fowler Herbarium stands and from which many of its specimens came were originally home to native people with their own experiences and traditions regarding those lands and those plants.

I listened to the audiobook version, which is narrated by the author herself. I love when authors are able to voice their own books, especially when they are memoirs. I felt like I was slowly making my way through the herbarium specimens right alongside Helen Humphreys.

Even though I am glad I listened to the audiobook, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to get my hands on a print copy as well. From what I hear, it’s sprinkled with images of herbarium specimens, Humphreys’s own botanical drawings, and archival photographs.

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for an Advanced Reader Copy audiobook.

Absolutely beautiful! Listening to this book was like a big hug with lots of learning. One of my new favorite authors.

Destined to take its place among such classics as A Sand County Almanac and A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.

I loved how inclusive Humphreys was in her writing. She opens with a land acknowledgment and strides to include information on indigenous relationships with plants.

Charming, meandering, poignant, hopeful. Beautiful.

Although it was interesting to hear the words in the author’s own voice, I suspect this book would be even more striking in visual format.

Wow! What a lovely non-fiction! This is definitely for plant lovers but… if you’ll allow me to get overly specific, “Field Study” by Helen Humphreys is the kind of book you should pick up if;

- You love the history of simple items.
- You adore old books because of their inscriptions, and the lives they have lived.
- You love nature!
- You, specifically, love everyday nature that you can see around you.

I though Helen Humphreys really brought her poetic sensibilities and love of nature together beautifully. The audiobook isn’t even 4 hours long. It’s like spending an afternoon in the garden with a friend - albeit, a friend who is knowledgeable and passionate. It’s accessible, tender, interesting and all around beautiful. The physical version of the book is full of incredible floral illustrations that really add to the experience.

However diminished the nature around us has become, we should still delight in its beauty and rejoice in its existence.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, E C W Press and Helen Humphreys for letting me read this wonderful book. The hardcover is out now but the audio releases November 15, and is narrated by Humphreys herself! Highly recommend for your #NonFictionNovember TBRs!