Near the Forest, By the Lake
Discovering Nature Close to Home
by Angela E. Douglas
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date May 15 2025 | Archive Date May 08 2025
Cornell University Press | Comstock Publishing Associates
Talking about this book? Use #NeartheForestBytheLake #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
Near the Forest, By the Lake is a personal exploration of the wonders of the natural world close to home. In this collection of essays, Angela E. Douglas reflects on the lives and habits of the plants, birds, insects, and other creatures inhabiting the landscapes that neighbor her in upstate New York.
Some essays focus on individual species, from the salamanders migrating in early spring and the butterflies of summer, to the yellow goldenrods of the fall and the rafts of ducks on the lake in winter. Others provide insight into some of nature's mysteries, including why certain birds sing in fall, and how turtles survive the winter in ice-sealed ponds. The inevitable fingerprint of human activities is interwoven into these explorations of the diversity of the living world.
In Near the Forest, By the Lake, Douglas shows us that the natural world is closer than we might think, and that our local environment, be it city sidewalk or country meadow, can always offer a glimpse of nature's splendor.
Advance Praise
"Turn off those cell phones and go outside, near the forest or by the lake, where, guided by the keen eye of Douglas, you can experience in any month, at any time of year, the natural world unfolding in its splendid glory." Deborah Cramer, author of The Narrow Edge
"Angela E. Douglas inspires curiosity with descriptive accounts of seasonal observations near her home, allowing readers to feel that they are by her side, asking questions along with her. She encourages our minds (and feet) to wander and wonder." -Dorothy F. McLeer, Environmental Interpretive Center, UM-Dearborn
"Angela E. Douglas has written a collection of essays that are both entertaining and scientifically accurate—two very difficult tasks. They will inspire her readers to get out in nature and 'do likewise' wherever they live." L. J. Davenport, author of Nature Journal
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781501780370 |
| PRICE | $21.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 216 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Tricia W, Reviewer
I really enjoyed this collection of nature essays. Each one was short and sweet but packed with a good balance of scientific information, natural history, and personal observations. Although they were based on the author's own experience in New York state, there was plenty to make them feel relevant to me which I appreciated. Also, the layout of this book was perfect. I read it all at once, but it would make a perfect coffee table book to pick up once or twice a month to read the corresponding essays. This book will appeal to nature enthusiasts, science lovers, or those looking for the inspiration to get outdoors.
Debbie J, Reviewer
A detailed and chronological account of nature through the year in upstate New York. Well researched and full of interesting observations and natural history. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Ewa B, Reviewer
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
What a lovely read this was! Really a must for all nature lovers.
The book is arranged according to months, and each section features four essays concerning nature that can be observed within the particular month. While the author states that it's not necessary to read the essays chronologically, it does seem to be the most intuitive order.
The essays feature birds, plants, insects (butterflies! so many butterflies), frogs, mammals (hello, squirrels), and much more. Together with the author, we look at nature in her local area. But "in the tangled bank of this planet, everywhere is local and demanding of respect", as Douglas writes in the conclusion to her book. Her nature observations, walks and experiences are a wonderful and valuable glimpse into the natural life around Ithaca, New York, but they are also an inspiration for everyone to look around the place where they live and observe the variety and wildness of nature there.
Much recommended.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Publishers Lunch
General Fiction (Adult), Nonfiction (Adult), Teens & YA
