Desert Notes

by Barry Lopez

In this collection of narrative contemplations, reminiscent of Carlos Castaneda but without the drugs, Barry Hulstun Lopez invites us to walk with him in the desert, where "things are rigidly clear and elemental." Away from the world, we see it more clearly. Sweating from all our pores, we remember our body.

Desert Notes is discovery and rediscovery. The desert, the spring, the birds, the rattlesnake, the wind. And man, who, according to an Indian tale, comes to the desert like "a boulder coming down the side of a mountain."

Lopez gives us a fresh language. Desert Notes will lull you and shake you, and you will go back to it in the search for the clear and elemental.

Genres: Nature, Essays, Nonfiction, Travel, Environment, Short Stories, American

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1976

About the author

Barry Holstun Lopez is an American author, essayist, and fiction writer whose work is known for its environmental and social concerns.

Lopez has been described as "the nation's premier nature writer" by the San Francisco Chronicle. In his non-fiction, he frequently examines the relationship between human culture and physical landscape, while in his fiction he addresses issues of intimacy, ethics and identity.

Reviews

[Alyson Hagy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another re-read for me in the wake of the news that Lopez has left this earth. High marks for the inventiveness of form and tone in these short hybrid pieces. We can all learn--or re-learn--some things about language and narrative risk from a book like this. I don't think all of the pieces hold up equally well, but 4 stars in honor of "Twilight" alone, I think. And who doesn't love another stab at a Coyote story?

[Bronwen Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, Barry Lopez can do no wrong. His prose is strange and poetic, and perhaps not for everyone. There is a certain mysticism here, although I imagine Lopez might dispute that. I read this, together with 'River Notes.' Each chapter is a musing on nature and man's place in - or outside it. Sometimes these read as short stories, sometimes they are more observational, like a nature diary. What I like and respect most about his work, is how everything slows down so that the reader is there, in the river with the salmon, or observing with the eye of the raven.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am reading Barry Lopez's magnificent new book Horizon, I am also re-reading his other works between its chapters. I originally read these, and his other books, when they were published many years ago, expectantly purchasing them as soon as they were issued at bookstores throughout the West, following the career of an amazing writer, occasionally getting them signed at author events.

At the time, I thought his fictional "Notes" series of three books (Desert Notes, River Notes, and Field Notes) was remarkable even in the then very active field of environmental/nature writing of the 1970s and 1980s. This was the almost mythical time of Edward Abbey, John McPhee, Wallace Stegner, and many others. Now, Lopez's early books stand out as exceptional writing far above the current standards and taste, in any genre. Highly recommended for their literary depth, mystical insights, poetic music, emotional power, and uniquely evocative language.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can definitely tell this is one of his earlier works.. the stories fluctuate between beautiful portraits of landscapes to tales with direction and that tinge of surrealness that I love.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book has more in common with poetry than essays or even short stories. They are vignettes that are not true to reality, perhaps more like folklore or fairy tales. They are somewhat odd little pieces are all reminiscent of the desert, being fully in the desert. It's interesting and lyrical. Not quite like what I expected but I enjoyed it well enough.

[Ruth Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite piece in this slim book was Twilight, for its surrealism and description, and though I didn't get as taken with the other short chapters or stories, I enjoyed it. More like a 3.5 stars for me!

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick beautiful read. Really brought me back to my days of living in the desert which I dearly miss. Lots of poetic outlooks on the desert and life, sometimes a misunderstood beauty. The desert is a source of inspiration and life.

[Penney Peirce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another inspiring book by Lopez; small and concise and poetic.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember the exact date I read this. 1995 is only a guesstimate

[Julia Hannafin · Rating 4 out of 5]

a surreal and sometimes lovely skinny book about the desert - i felt it in my body and then sometimes closer to my spirit.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

still good

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of sensuous, strange, and lyrical stories that truly capture the stark beauty of the desert.

[Ahmed Addnan Negim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a jewel in a desert , love this book , intense and smart and brief and vast in his ideas and metaphors, it is official, am a new fan of barry lobez literature

[Prince Jhonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lopez is a true poet.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to read while visiting a desert. Especially the stories that describe the wind.

[Ben Flory · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what I thought it was going to be.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Experience the desert as if it were a dream.
Is it?

[Hunter James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to tell you how to get there so you may see all this for yourself. But first a warning: you may already have come across a set of detailed instructions, a map with every bush and stone clearly marked, the meandering courses of dry rivers and other geographical features noted, with dotted lines put down to represent the very faintest of trails. Perhaps there were also tiny warnings printed in tiny red letters along the margins, about the lack of water, the strength of the wind and the swiftness of the rattlesnakes. Your confidence in these finely etched maps is understandable, for at first glance they seem excellent, the best a man is capable of; but your confidence is misplaced. Throw them out. They are the wrong sort of map. They are too thin. They are not the sort of map that can be followed by a man who knows what he is doing. The coyote, even the crow, would regard them with suspicion.
There is, I should warn you, doubt too about the directions I will give you here, but they are the very best that can be had. They will not be easy to follow. Where it says left you must go right sometimes. Read south for north sometimes. It depends a little on where you are coming from, but not entirely. I am saying you will have doubts. If you do the best you can you will have no trouble."
(When you get there you may wish to make up a map for yourself for future reference. It is the only map you will ever trust. It may consist of only a few lines hastily drawn. You will not have to hide it in your desk, taped to the back of a drawer. That is pointless. But don't leave it out to be seen, thinking no one will know what it is. It will be taken for scribble and thrown in the wastebasket or be carefully folded and idly shredded by a friend one night during a conversation. You might want to write only a set of numbers down in one corner of a piece of paper and underline them. When you try to find a place for it - a place not too obvious, not too well hidden so as to arouse suspicion - you will begin to understand the futility of drawing maps. It is best in this case to get along without one, although you will find your map, once drawn, as difficult to discard as an unfinished poem.)

[J.D. Steens · Rating 1 out of 5]

This short book is about Lopez's experience in the desert and the imagination and inspiration it inspired. Except for the introduction, the stories make almost no sense, although this could be passed off as a matter of personal taste and interest. The introduction describes his experience driving a van across a desert playa or, rather, watching his van move across the desert without him driving it. The van is made to drive in lined out roads and to meet stop lights. On the desert playa, the van operated freely, with no constraining rules. This might be the underlying theme behind Lopez's stories.

[Ashlie McDiarmid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly don't know what to make of this little book. My book only had the DESERT NOTES section, so I haven't read RIVER NOTES. I picked this book up because it was recommended in the guidebook of the Wild Unknown Archetypes when working with the Desert archetype. That is the archetype for the month on my platform, so I decided to purchase this little book. It is an easy read, and I liked some of the sections. The Raven, Twilight, and the Blue Mound People was my favorite. Other sections I failed to see how it related to the desert, and honestly why it mattered. I also wish there was more to do with the reflections in the eye of the raven, which really peaked my interest.

[Gloria Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just re-found this book, and it is a trip back in time. A trip to a very much younger self, when I'd just left the deep green woods of Washington state for the stark, seer vistas of the desert. This book, with its poetry and mysticism, helped me learn to see, to hear, to breathe in and know the magic that is the desert. It taught me to endure its terrible and wonderful silences, and ultimately to love it even more than the place of my youth.

This is magical, mysterious, esoteric and sublime, written in spare, perfect prose that transports the reader entirely.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to his other stuff, almost all of which I love, this one is very surreal and hard to follow the first time through. I liken it to being lost in the desert, or suffering from mild heat stroke or dehydration and feeling a bit disoriented. If you love the desert you will learn to love this book and will find yourself going back to it again and again.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of short prose-like essays on the desert and its influence on people. Beautiful.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of shorter fiction by Barry Lopez, highly recommended for those who liked River Notes and Winter Count.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

metaphysical .. my saving grace

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

poetic, metaphysical, catches the feel of the desert.

[Tim Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book on the desert I have ever read, and that is it. Mysterious, dreamy and full of magic just like the desert itself. Genius in my opinion.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very poetic language as he describes the the desert...which has been a land of my passion ever since I read Desert Solotaire way back in the early 80s.

[fire_on_the_mountain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry as prose. A new mainstay for my rucksack, for many hikes to come. Surreal, beautiful, breathing with life.

[Marysue Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author and all of his books . savor every single word