Rathlin, A Wild Life

by Ruby Free

In 2021, Ruby Free got her dream job working on an RSPB reserve, but this position wasn’t for the faint hearted. Heartfelt, impassioned and full of joy, Rathlin, A Wild Life is a love letter to the island and the wildlife Ruby finds there, but it’s also a call to action; a reminder of everything we stand to lose if we don’t change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

256 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2024

Reviews

[Emma.catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Not all those who wander are lost.’

👣

‘Rathlin Island is a very special place. Every corner turned you encounter something magical…’ - Claire Barnett, RSPB NI Area Manager

Ruby free has written an extraordinary love letter to the Island of Rathlin and the wildlife that lives on and surrounding its coast. Her writing is poetic and almost hypnotic in nature. She has based her book on diary entries, as well as records from the RSPB and drawings of the nature found amongst the island. The illustrations are exceptional and definitely add hugely to this wonderful book.

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I loved reading about her new found life on the island, alongside the nature she discovered and lived amongst on a daily basis. She depicted a very real representation of the highs and lows of living on such a remote island, a long way from her family.

For a 6 mile long Island with only 150 people, this place certainly has a lot going for it. It is a place where time seems to stand still. I can vouch for that having been there myself a few times over the years. It is a wonderfully grounding place, where all other worries or concerns seem not to exist. It is a world all of its own.

Ruby also touches on some more sensitive topics about the state of the environment. She is incredibly devoted to finding solutions for future generations to come. She speaks incredibly passionately about self-worth and empowering young girls and women. After her sister nearly dying from anorexia, she has a strong sense of how difficult life as a teenager can be and how we must rise up with strength rather than fall into weakness. From a very empowering voice she says “We have to maintain our physical and mental health to have the most positive impact on the world around us.”

Her knowledge of seabirds, in particular, is astonishing! I have a soft spot for our beloved puffins and so it was interesting to read Ruby’s take on their decline and what to do about it. Ruby recounts - Puffins are like clowns of the sea and are collectively called a circus. It was emotional reading her response to seeing our native bird; she knelt down and whispered to the little bird “I’m trying to help” and watched it launch off the platform free falling before catching wind its wings…

Interestingly, she was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, through this, I found a connection with her being diagnosed autistic as an adult myself. She notes of nature ability to support you whenever you need it most - ‘it’s the ultimate escapism’.

If you are interested in learning more about the Northern Irish coastline or seabirds in general, I would highly recommend this book. There is something special about reading a book written by a local about a place not too far from home!

This book has definitely inspired me to go back to the Island of Rathlin, which thankfully isn’t too far a stretch from my home.

“Like nature, nothing was ever certain but one thing was for sure - we were creating our own truly wild life.”

👣

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Rathlin, and whether you've been or not, this nature memoir will whet your appetite to go! Ruby describes perfectly the effect this special island can have on you. Her book filled me with joy and broke my heart. One of the best nature books I've read.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to go to Rathlin! Such a great memoir, perfectly well balanced parts of experiencing nature and parts reflecting on the current status of the environment. Everyone with a little interest in nature and wildlife, specifically seabirds, should read this. Or if you don’t, because you’ll definitely start caring!

[Jennelle Torrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Ruby after at her book signing in Belfast a few weeks ago. My husband and I have been to Rathlin Island a few times, and want to make it an annual visit. I grew up being taught to have a passion for wildlife, and spent as much time as possible in nature. In “Rathlin, A Wild Life” Ruby takes us on her journey moving from England to Northern Ireland, and working at the RSPB Seabird Sanctuary on Rathlin Island. It’s an incredible and motivating story. It handles grief as well which was very special at this particular time of my life. Along telling us about the adorable animal friends she makes, Ruby proceeds to educate us in a very compassionate and optimistic way about the state of the world and the wildlife within it. Being told about the necessity of conservation in a hopeful, we can make a difference type of way was so very refreshing. Typically fear mongering seems to be the main way, but that isn’t Ruby’s take and I love that. I set the goal for myself that while I read the book I would only read it outdoors. This was fantastic as while I love being outdoors it’s all too easy to avoid making the effort as well. I took photos of the book at each spot I read, which are all in this post. Due to reading outside I was able to encounter wildlife I hadn’t before and it felt like such a gift. I feel everyone should read this book. Even if you’ve never stepped foot on Rathlin, Ruby paints such a clear beautiful picture of it you’ll feel like you’ve lived there yourself (or wish you do 😂). I’ve wanted to help the planet and have had no idea how to begin. But seeing another young person face it head on and not give up even when there are big disappointments and let downs motivated me to start looking into what I can do. So far I’ve started signing petitions that I am passionate about, and I look forward to discovering what else I can do. Nature is natural, get into it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually write reviews for books I’ve read, but I feel that this book deserves one. What an absolutely charming book, beautifully written and a real page turner. I barely put it down! It felt like such a treat to escape into Ruby’s beautiful description of her time on Rathlin, like a wonderful dream. I knew that the book would also include a kind of call to action and reality check about the state of the natural world, and I wondered if I would find it jarring, but Ruby masterfully intertwines her magical experiences on the island with a powerful wake up call to take action for the nature and wildlife around us. I admit that, in my mid-30s now, I’ve somewhat lost the drive and enthusiasm to “be the change” that I had in my teens and twenties. But Ruby’s impassioned and encouraging words have revived my desire to help nature; it no longer feels overwhelming and hopeless to me. This speaks to the powerful and inspiring way that Ruby writes. This book is a must-read, and I encourage you to share it with people of all ages, from children to grandparents. Enjoy!

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely beautiful book, the illustrations to the way Ruby has written about wildlife on Rathlin. Honestly makes me consider going and living life on an island or buying land to rewild. As someone who lives in a city I see it daily how much people are lacking nature and so disconnected with their food. If you are from Northern Ireland, Ireland or the Uk make sure to read this book

[Pamela Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earnest and rousing, this book is a gorgeous love letter to an undoubtedly unique and beloved haven for biodiversity, and an urgent call to action for all inhabitants of this planet we call home.

[lucybrothertonn · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a calming book to read! Appreciating nature and everything i love 🧡🧡

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby's Rathlin was a awe-inspiring place to be. "Ruby thought she knew what wildness was but arriving on the island alongside a quarter of a million seabirds, her perception of it changed forever."
Rathlin, A Wild Life covers a snippet of Ruby's life pursuing a dream job and an opportunity that has had an impact on her life (and the lives of others through her interactions recorded in the writing). The paperback book is full of illustrations from Ruby's sketchbook, which brings the book and its contained memories to life.

I have never been to Rathlin, and nor have I ever seen a puffin, corncrake, and other species mentioned across the book (with my own eyes) - but now all have a place in my imagination and in my heart.

The sorrow and rage felt throughout the book towards the climate and nature crises, I felt deeply. It was inspiring to see these emotions channelled through positive communications with the visitors to Rathlin and in written format through the book too. Echoed through Ruby's comments on the shifting baseline syndrome "Unless we have the privilege of living somewhere relatively wild or knowing people who tell us stories of how nature was before it drastically declined, we don't understand how the world should feel, smell and sound." (p.122). This is exactly why Ruby's writing felt so powerful to me as it is a way of experiencing something that I have never experienced and the rate of decline of the species mentioned without the protection and conservation needed... I may never get to experience in the wild.

Ruby tackles issues faced as a young woman growing up too, from body image, to healing your inner child and being curious on the world around you. As a fellow female environmentalist, it felt motivating reading through the pages to hear Ruby's journey.

Overall, Rathlin, A Wild Life was a joy to read and to learn about experiences living on a small island for a longer period of time from a young, female perspective.

I look forward to hearing about Ballyconnelly Farm and how it can be a beacon of hope for young farmers and young environmentalists. Best of luck for the future Ruby!

Thank you Ruby and UK Youth For Nature (https://uky4n.org/) book club for a copy of this book to review.

[Amber Keegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant "entry-level" nature book. That is in no way a criticism - it's a good, light read that is still packed with important facts and observations. As someone who loves nature books and conservation, many excellent books are incredibly detailed and much lighter on the entertainment side. This book is not that, and I really appreciated having a lighter, memoir-style nature book, for when I wanted to immerse myself in that world from the comfort of my home!
Disclosure: I do know Ruby irl so am biased to liking this, but I also spent my own money on this book!

[Craig Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best I've read in a long time. In a time of great polarisation amongst society, Ruby has done an amazing job at communicating such a complex topic with great respect, sensitivity and nuance. If you want a read that makes you feel like you are amongst wild places whilst also learning about the nature and climate crises we face as a society, you will not be disappointed.

[Janet Panter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly inspirational book. Anyone who cares anything for nature and wildlife needs to read this and for those who don’t really care that much, you will once you’ve read it.

[Ryan Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book!

[Rhiannon Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A personal, lively and engaging account of a year with the seabirds and other wildlife on this special island which provides an insight into why we need to address the climate crisis now.

[Sammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

enchanting

[Suzammah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read rapidly and thoroughly enjoyed. Beautiful tales of nature intertwined with human relations, growth and life. Open, honest, curious.