A meaningful, beautiful, and enchanting read. It felt like part adventure, part science, part reflections. The variety of material shared in the journal entries kept things entertaining and made it a quick read. A unique book I would recommend.

This was a wonderful book. It was so unique, being part travel writings and part poetry book. It was just a magical journey to take with the authors. I loved every minute of this book. I learnt so much from reading it. The authors tell this wonderful journey of there families travels through the Sierra Nevada. This story includes the science and Geology of the area along with the flora and fauna. Then there is the element of poetry inspired by the surroundings. It was an amazing experience to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this book to all those who love travelling from the comfort of their armchairs. Also those who love poetry of nature and natural surroundings. I will be looking out for more books by these authors. 

So much praise goes out to the authors and publishers for creating this magical emotive journey through the Sierra Navada.
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/the-paradise-notebooks-by-richard-j-nevle-steven-nightingale-cornell-university-press-4-stars
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This book is gorgeously written, and is the perfect companion for anyone experiencing a longing for wild places. I read this book at the end of a Pennsylvania winter, and the images of the Sierra Nevada range cultivated by the poetry and reflections of these family members was a balm for my stir-crazy soul. Part travel journal, part ode to the natural world, The Paradise Notebooks are an inspiration to seize the opportunity to revel in the natural world, and to do so with the ones that we love.

If exploration of the beautiful Eastern Sierra is your ‘thing’ coupled with a love of all things nature snd geology, you’ll find in this book a treasure for your bookshelf. Having traveled from the UK to Las Vegas and hired a car to explore the US395 which lies on the eastern side of this stunning mountain range, I was excited to be accepted to review this book by NetGalley. It brought back wonderful memories of the surgery there, and the depth of the descriptions in the book brought that trip back to life.
It’s beautifully presented, with little sketches and thoughtful poetry before each descriptive essay and diary entry,

The Paradise Notebooks is a compilation of 21 essays that cover the authors' 90 mile backpacking trip through the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The authors provide brief descriptions of their daily observations along with a focus on specific aspects of nature, such as an animal, rock, or tree. Also included is a larger discussion of topics such as climate change, drought, and wildfires.

I looked forward to reading The Paradise Notebooks because the Sierra Nevada mountain range is an interest of mine. I hope to take my daughter on hikes in some of the covered areas, so I enjoyed the central location of the book. The short essay style of the book with a focus on one aspect of their surroundings paired well with the daily observations of the author. I especially liked the poems at the conclusion of each chapter and found it to emphasize the beauty of the area. The Paradise Notebooks is a good pick for nature readers with an interest in the Sierra Nevada area.

Thanks to Netgalley and Cornell University Press for this ARC; this is my honest and voluntary review.

I enjoyed this book. The authors describe it as a collection of love letters to the Sierra Nevada, and that description fits perfectly. If nothing else, reading this fills me with a desire to visit the place they clearly admire so much. With journal notes, essays, and poetry, this book uses a variety of writing styles to offer different insights into their hiking journey in the Sierra Nevada.
While at times the abundant figurative language and imagery made the text hard to follow, this was an enjoyable read and I will certainly recommend it to friends, especially those who enjoy travel.

This is a story of Richard and Steven and their families and the 90 mile hike they completed through the Sierra Nevada together in August of 2017.
Richard is a geologist, a scientist and it comes out strong in his writing. In the beginning he talks about wanting the reader to experience a more holistic vision of the natural splendor of the Sierra Nevada. He’s very descriptive of his surroundings. He goes in depth about the rocks and minerals that make up the mountains and how they were formed geologically speaking. How they became the Sierra Nevada. He’s giving the reader the history of the mountain formation and it is beautiful. The information he shares is so interesting. Every chapter is made up of short essays, journal entries and poetry that keeps me engaged. His descriptions of the weather, the clouds, the freezing mist, the animals and the terrain puts me, the reader, right there hiking with him. He elaborates on certain points in their hike as he passed through the river, the forest, trees and where fire has swept through in the past. It seems like everything he comes across he elaborates on facts and history so I can better understand how he views them.
His journal entries are shorter that I’d anticipated. I’d like to hear more about his actual hike. The strengths and struggles that occurred during his 90 mile trek.
This was a great read. Describing the beauty of the outdoors and this majestic mountain range. It truly is a love letter to the Sierra Nevada.

With a prose reminiscent of "Desert Solitaire"-era Edward Abbey, this novel is a gem. Not only is it about the geography and geology of one of the most beautiful places on the planet, but the novel also does a great job at exploring familial and societal values when it comes to nature and each other. The interspersed poetry by Mr. Steven Nightingale elevates both his and Nevle's writings, and makes you want to hit the trail before you hit the end of the sentence. I can't wait to see what is in store for Richard Nevle, as he has secured his place in the world of literature with his first novel. Also, check out his poems and essays on his website. I have already pre-ordered a physical copy, and I can not wait to go on this journey again. This is a must-read for everyone.

Bonus points for the Freud diss, too.