Waterfalls of Stars: My Ten Years on the Island of Skomer

by Rosanne Alexander

When Rosanne Alexander’s boyfriend Mike was offered the job of warden of Skomer, a small uninhabited island off the south west tip of Wales, they had just ten days to leave college, marry (a condition of employment) and gather their belongings and provisions for the trip to the island. This was the first of many challenges Rosanne and Mike faced during their ten years on the nature reserve, from coping with periods of isolation when they were the island’s only inhabitants, to dwindling food supplies during the winter when rough weather made provisioning from the mainland impossible. Thrown on their own resources they had also to deal with catastrophes like the devastation of the island’s seal colony following an oil spill.

With great sensitivity, and humour, Rosanne Alexander relates their experiences on Skomer, including her observations of the island’s wildlife and landscape. It is an important breeding ground for many birds, and shearwaters, puffins and kittiwakes – and the seals – become a source of pleasure and companionship. With her lyrical evocation of the natural world and its enthusiastic and resourceful approach to the problems of island life, Alexander’s book will inspire and entertains anyone who has felt the need for escape.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Memoir, Travel, Biography, Biography Memoir

360 pages, Hardcover

First published April 10, 2017

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written relationship between Rosanne and the island of Skomer. Stream of consciousness at times, which makes it difficult for me to read for long periods of time. I wish it was structured in a more organized way. I enjoyed hearing about their isolated lifestyle and the animals on the island. Overall, very lovely!

[Natalie (CuriousReader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! I have written a full review of this magnificent book, which you can find here: https://curiousreaderr.wordpress.com/...

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book received from NetGalley.

I got through the book, but the author is extremely whiny in the first few chapters. She complains that she only agreed to sign up for the job on Skomer with her then boyfriend because he said they wouldn't get it. When they did get it, she complained about no electricity or telephones. She then started whining that she had to get married to take the job and she didn't want to do that before she was 27. Her later descriptions of Skomer Island are wonderful and I would love to visit it at some point but her initial bitching just ruined the book for me. Which sucks because I was really looking forward to reading this book, I love anything written about the non-touristy parts of Europe, the UK, and Ireland.

[Sian Lile-Pastore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little mixed for me - I absolutely loved the animal stories, the stuff about seal pups and puffins, goats and birds! And I loved her love of the place and that wonderful cozy feeling of belonging.
I did feel it could have done with a bit of an edit or a re-think structurally - and I also wanted to know more about her relationship with her husband and more about their jobs on the island and also more about the food they ate. Overall though it was very charming and touching , made me want to read more nature books and re-visit skomer.

[Marie Saville · Rating 3 out of 5]

3'5 ☆

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful, heartfelt, inspiring books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Stunning nature writing, tension in the right places, magical capturing of place and person. For anyone who has ever dreamed of living in the wild, this is a must. I will never forget this book.

[Jo Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I lived in Marloes, so not far from Skomer. I frequently used to cycle down to Martin’s Haven as a teen. I recognised a couple of names mentioned in this book. I think the author and her husband lived on Skomer for some of the time I also lived in Marloes. I remember the divers going missing that Roseanne refers to the book.
I suppose I am biased in my view of the book, since it’s about a part of the world I know well it meant I connected strongly to the book. It was very eloquently written and Roseanne’s love for the island is evident in her writing.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

There simply aren’t enough stars to give this book what it deserves. Poetic language brings the story of Rosanne’s life on the island vividly alive. Deeply moving, her care for the island develops into a deep attachment and dedication over 10 years. It is a story of what it is to be in isolation yet never alone, forming true bonds with people on the mainland but mostly with the island itself, and the birds and mammal visitors. In this modern age we are always ‘connected’ yet often disconnected to our own environment, this is a lesson in what it is to truly know and protect a place. The hardships she takes in her stride, yet it is hard to put yourself in her place thinking about how she managed, and the love she feels for the place comes bounding through the pages. I didn’t want to finish the book, as she didn’t want to leave the island. One of the best books I have read in a long time.

[Kiya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was like a reel of the highs and lows of the authors ten years on Skomer. Completely lacking in a linear narrative. Whilst the nature writing was nice, I felt that the reader was held at a distance. I wanted to know what arriving and settling on the island was like! What is everyday life like!? It was also terribly repetitive.

[Tutankhamun18 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A document of a unique experience that I think every nature lover is slightly jealous or at least intrigued by. The middle section could have been slightly condensed to make the book 100 pages shorter, but the descriptions of wildlife and the island, though notiably written by someone less experienced in writing, is also notably written by someone with an intense love and understanding of wildlife, particularly birds and seals. Recommend this to anyone who feels a tinge of jealousy when reading the title. This endearing account will leave you even more so! It is interesting to watch such an intense relationship with the island unfold. By the last chapter I was at the brink of tears that they hadto leave the island. And now If I ever have the chance to visit the island for a day, I desperately want to!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing in Alexander's memoir is very impressive - I don't think I've experienced such delicate descriptions of nature before, and for that reason I had to give this 5 stars. I really enjoyed the different stories that encapsulated the challenges and joys Alexander and her husband experienced while living on Skomer, and once they were unveiled the book was hard to put down. This book is not very plot-driven and might not be for some people. I personally wish that she had included more descriptions of her personal life apart from her relationship with the natural world. It feels like something is missing given how abruptly and permanently her life changes once she received as a warden away from civilization, and this is largely overlooked. All in all, I was happy to pick this work up.

[VG · Rating 3 out of 5]

The descriptions of Skomer in this book are evocatively crafted; if you have ever considered becoming a hermit, even temporarily, reading this will do nothing to quell that desire. However, whilst I enjoyed the tales of seal pups and nesting seabirds, I wished to hear more about the role of a warden, their daily challenges and the relationship between Roseanne and her husband, Mike. Here was an extremely young couple who married solely to secure a job, living on a island for ten years; the oft-repeated phrase ‘I loved it so much’ doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what their life must have been like, and that lack of personal reflection and emotions prevented me from fully connecting to this memoir.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this. Having volunteered on Ramsey Island several times, just round from Skomer, this book brought back so many lovely memories. It was beautiful descriptive writing about the power of nature, with lovely tales about puffins and desperately sad bits about oil spills. I loved the story about the goat and Raven. I think it would have benefitted from some more editing - I felt that some of the writing about seals and storms became repetitive. But overall a compelling tale about life on a beautiful and remote Pembrokeshire Island.

[Gail Kennon · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was on the island with this woman and her husband for 10 years and while i found the stories of individual animals moving and some to the descriptions of nature very beautiful i don't feel like i spent any time on the island except as a casual day tripper. i really don't know what she and her husband did with their days or the interactions with other people on the island.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful account of the author's 10 years living on an isolated island. I was mesmerised from start to finish, as nothing seems to happen but yet everything does: the seasons change, the wildlife comes and goes, challenges are overcome, friendships are forged and their relationship grows stronger. Absolutely beautifully written, I could see every detail in my mind's eye.

[Amy Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very moving account of living for a decade as the warden of Skomer island. Beautiful descriptions, I'm not usually one for nature writing but I was compelled by the human story of living amongst so much nature. The chapters about oil spills absolutely broke my heart.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely book. I felt I was right there on the island, the beautiful descriptions of the landscape and its inhabitants. The experiences of being isolated on a island and the people that helped them in times of need. I think this book will stay with me for a long time. I loved it!

[Margaret Wigmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. The author's deep love fort the island and all its inhabitants shines through. Can't wait to visit Skomer Island.

[Benjamin Franks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book to lovers of nature and a good story, great writing style too, Joyous and emotional

[Janine Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A special book that I will long remember. Grateful that it came into my life and opened up a whole new world for me here in the other side of the world. Rosanne Alexander writes beautifully and captures the reader in her world, despite the frustrating fact that she does not give much away about her relationship with her husband – but who can blame her for that anyway. Quite clearly, she is incredibly brave, practical and eminently sensible. I am in awe of how she could live for ten years on Skomer like that, and then to achieve such a highly successful telling of her story. A wonderful read.