This is a story about the rain, a boy, an angry dog and a gardener, and how some of them find peace and freedom...
In Spring Rain, writer and gardener Marc Hamer shares his path from difficult beginnings to contentment, by way of family gardens. As a young boy in a violent home, Marc found refuge in his small back garden. Here he kindled a lifelong love of nature and learning by observing the plants and insects in his private kingdom and reading the old encyclopaedias he found in the shed.
Marc has always found the answers to life's questions in the natural world, whether as a child watching ants, as a young man living rough in the countryside, or as a professional gardener creating places of calm and restoration for others. Now in his sixties, he is finally creating a garden for himself, at his home in Cardiff. In this beautiful and moving memoir, he considers what he has learned, from the spring of youth to his autumn years, and reflects on how we reconcile our childhoods with where we end up. With line drawings by the author, Spring Rain encourages us back in tune with the natural world and offers both consolation and a guide to a happier life.
Marc writes about the natural world, the animals and plants, the wind and the rain, the rivers and lakes, the streets and towns and the people that live in these places. He was homeless for a number of years and spent his time sleeping outdoors in the countryside, under hedges, in woodlands and at the margins of fields, employed in a hundred different jobs, from cooking in a chicken shop to building drystone walls and catching moles. For many years he has worked as a gardener.
Through all this time he has asked the question, 'Why'? what is it all about, 'Why live?'. 'What is our true nature?' Marc writes about this in his recent book 'How to Catch a Mole - And Find Yourself in Nature'
Marc has written for many years, he is an old man and has with this book released his words into the wild.
Marc's work is published by the great literary publisher Harvill Secker / Vintage in the UK, Greystone Books in North America and the USA and a dozen or so publishers in Western and Eastern Europe.
If one is fortunate, the right book calls into their hands at just the right moment. For.me, it was this book..I didn't know it was the third in a trilogy and I'm not sure I will ever read the first two...best laid plans and all that..too much to read more likely. I won't, however, forget this one. The writing is so.tender, poetic, natural, speaking to.my very soul. It is not all peaches and cream, hi early life was quite difficult but he found way to survive nd thrive. His love of the natural world, later his gardens, and his personal life brought him joy.A tremendously touching and positive life.
" Happiness is much worked than sadness. The melancholy fades, the present finds it's happy, and begins to float, and I want to spend what's left of my life floating on it. "
"When we take things apart there is nothing, it is only their togetherness that makes them into something."
" We tell stories because stories make us feel things, and feelings make us come alive. " .
Aug 10, 1220pm ~~ Review asap.. Spent more time reading than sleeping last night so now I need a nap.
Aug 11, 920pm ~~ First of all, my nap did not last from Aug 10 to now, I was just being lazy. Again.
Spring Rain is the author's third book in a series which discussed his life. I first learned about it by reading a review by GR friend Diane S., and when she mentioned it was part of a trilogy I treated myself to all three and went through them one right after the other. Thanks to Diane for helping me discover these lovely books!
This one revolves much more around the author's childhood than the first books did. I liked the format of beginning each chapter looking at life through his boyhood eyes, then continuing through his older, sort of grumpy old man's eyes. Hamer is looking back at what made him the man he is today, but also looking forward, and seems to be accepting that boy from the past into his present life, maybe even saying good-bye to him. Or perhaps just good-bye to the need to write about him?
I enjoyed the book, and love the reason for the title (I'm not telling, you'll just have to read it for yourself). I hope MH has found some extra measure of inner peace by writing these books. Seems to me he has figured out at least one essential for himself: how to face the future with the tranquility we all should have each moment in life but rarely find.
Hamer has a wonderful ability to see, appreciate, and describe details that most people would never notice. Small details that capture the eye and the imagination. I appreciated his desire to actually be living each moment, and the courage it took to be himself on the pages of all three books. Maybe the books helped him realize that 'himself' is not all that bad a guy. I hope so, because I think he is pretty cool.
This is the last of the autobiographical trio of books Hamer has written so far. How to Catch a Mole: And Find Yourself in Nature followed him both as a homeless young man and as a mole catcher, Seed to Dust: A Gardener's Story followed him for his last year working as a gardener, and this book takes us back and forth from the present to the author's childhood.
I adore the tenderness with which Hamer describes his childhood self, loving that little boy retroactively, since he received so little love then. His father was abusive, they had very little money, and they moved often, which made it very hard for him to make friends. I'm not going to diagnose anybody but as someone on the spectrum, I found his way of looking at the world very reminiscent of the way I saw it as a child.
This is a truly moving and beautiful book- poetic, thought provoking, life enhancing , melancholic, charming and ultimately full of heart. Marc Hamer takes us on a very personal journey as he creates a garden whilst simultaneously reflects upon his childhood and his journey into adult.
This a memoir that moved me in so many ways; the child who loved nature and the written word; the child who didn't quite fit in; the child who was creative ; the child who observed the small details of the world around him.
At times heart-breaking but also a message to us all that life is simply a curious, comical, difficult but also a beautiful journey when we step back from the insanity of commercialism and just reflect upon the simplicity of just being .
Marc Hamer's descriptions of his gardens and the natural world - through his childhood- and in the creation of his new garden should breathe life into all of us. It is the tiny details and observations of plants, insects, growth and the seasons that make this book so special - I can only imagine the emotions that Marc must have reflected upon whilst writing this memoir but the wisdom, warmth, kindness and love towards a simple view of life that pervades its way from the age makes this a very special read.
The personal and wonderful illustrations add another dimension. Highly Recommended.. and yes the smell of the encyclopaedia Brittanica collection is eternal for those of us of a certain age
I had the whole review written out, and then Goodreads crashed on me. This is a very introspective book that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. But Nature always prevails and nurtures. I’m not gonna write anymore in case Goodreads crashes again. I recommend this gentle read for its observations, poetic flow, and happy outcome.
for those of us who are brought to tears by the idea of jellyfish looking at the stars, or ants bringing their babies out into the sunlight to enjoy it. this book was an absolute joy to read, and I connected with everything Marc Hamer wrote very deeply.
This book was given to me as a gift from my friend Celia when we visited Arizona 2024 for a book themed trip. I loved it so much. I loved reading his journey of healing and enlightenment and gardening. So well done.
Favorite quotes: “Nothing we do in life ever has only one reason; we usually do what we were always going to do, then we find as many reasons as we can to try to explain or justify what we have done.” (Pp. 42)
“It is easy to forgive people if you love them-that is one of the ways you know that you love them. It is often easier to forgive other people than it is to forgive yourself, but you have to do both. It's harder to forgive people you don't love, and even harder to forgive those who are greedy or selfish, violent hate-filled people who like to make you hurt, and those who want to count the things they have and compare them with the things that other people have. You can't change the world by changing other people. You have to start with yourself by examining who you are, the harm you do, the things you think and feel and say, the things you use and consume. You must forgive and begin each day from where you are today, with nothing left from yesterday.” (Pp. 48)
“I put on my jacket to go and buy flowers for the kitchen table, and to stretch my legs. As I amble around the village where I was a gardener for so many years I see the flowers I planted in the little front gardens of people who've since died, moved house or just grown old, and I feel that I have added love. Most people won't consciously notice them, but will still have their day lifted. I planted when it was time to plant, pruned when it was time to prune and mowed when it was time to mow, and these things added to the sum total of beauty and politeness and positivity of the daily world.” (Pp. 99)
“I found my true self when I saw that the 'self is merely illusion-there is no such thing as a separate "self", only the stream. This idea of self makes Ego; it separates us from the animals and so destroys our world. It is not good to feel separate from the animals.” (Pp. 104-105)
“At school his art teacher asks him why he never finishes anything-he doesn't know, he says. He doesn't need to, isn't interested in finishing. His drawings are tools; they are not made to decorate the walls or look pretty, they are made to explore and understand.” (Pp. 108)
“There are only two kinds of knowledge we can have about a thing: we can say what the thing is made of and we can say what the thing does. Anything else is mystery and up for debate.” (Pp.120)
“ If I am worthless, then I will find the world worthless too, for creating things like me that are worthless—if the world is worthless, then everything is worthless—if everything is worthless, everything is equal-if everything is equal, there is no such thing as worth or worthlessness? Finally he thought, 'There is no such thing as worth or worthlessness, other than what my mind gives a thing? At this, his mind went silent. The scar of worthlessness had turned to gold and gave him strength, and became a word describing nothing more than the bark of a nervous dog.” (pp. 134)
“Nothing happens without a cause. Instead of taking control of my bit of the world, I had for some years been letting the world guide me, not resisting or paddling against the tide —taking care of myself and others, of my bit of the planet, but aware that I am not in charge, trying to be mindful of my part in the world when I could, when I remembered to pay attention.” (Pp. 146)
Marc Hamer has done it again. This is a beautiful book of meditation, slow living, mindfulness and acceptance. In between present moments, he re-examines his childhood and looks at how (an outdoor loving) life developed for him in a very unstable household. The writing is never complaining or grousing however, he manages to look upon his earlier days with a purely objective eye.
The book is interesting and engaging and has the usual Hamer Zen Buddhist calmness about it.
A real joy to read.
Note: I read the paperback version which doesn't appear to be on GR yet (gonna ask the librarians to get on the case! 😂)
Thank you for the advanced copy, this is my first book from this author and I will go back and read seed to dust.
I do not know what else to say about this book other than it's absolutely beautiful. The author Marc Hamers writing makes you believe you are in this garden creating it with him, you are drawn in to this memoir and you are taken on this journey and all manner of emotions are evoked - from joy, happiness, tears and heartbreak.
This author has a fantastic ability and his descriptive detail is some of the best I have come across - his observations of the natural world in the garden leave you speechless.
Such a beautiful little book which really, more than anything, expresses magically the breathing in and out of life.
Hamer merges the tale of his life in alternating paragraphs of his childhood and present. In both he describes a life full of the simple yet moving wonder experienced from nature and his surroundings. There are many poignant moments, especially when he is sharing memories of the 'Angry Dog' (his pretty unpleasant father). But there is no anger or resentment in this tome, rather an acceptance and understanding and profound gratefulness and happiness for the simple life Marc Hamer has lived.
There is poetry and art, albeit in short and simple bursts, interspersed in what is quite possibly my new favourite book.
Definitely recommended to anyone who loves the simple life, gardening and nature; but truly recommended to all who seek peace and contentment and gratefulness.
Told in dual time as the boy he was and the man he became, Marc Hamer’s story is at once charming and delightful. As a boy he had a deep affinity with nature but this was thought of as a waste of time by his father “the dog who growled”, so it wasn’t until much later in life he became a professional gardener. I loved the way he described his love of the outdoors, his calm acceptance of all the unpleasantness he experienced as a child and how he enjoyed his quiet but fulfilling life observing and tending the gardens of others. I found his almost zen understanding and great satisfaction in the simplicities of the life he chose really moving and the narration perfect - as I listened to the audio version - by Matt Addis.
Charming and beautiful meditation on a life lived in gardens. Felt so many of his thoughts deep in my soul. One to come back to.
“There are infinite ways to live a beautiful life and this simple one is mine: quiet, peacefully, and with love”
“I see the flowers I planted in the little front gardens of people who’ve since died, moved house or just grown old, and I feel I have added love. Most people won’t consciously notice them, but with still have their day lifted”
“I wanted to make a garden where I could forget, but in reality every garden is a garden of remembrance.”
This book is a wonderful journey! It is inspiring and emotionally provoking with fond reflection along the way.
Spring Rain really made me feel like I had just spent a day in my own garden - working, reflecting, enjoying the calm and the silent chaos.
I also relate to and found comfort in Hamer’s insights - the bow tie story and perfection, forgiving yourself, life is love, no self, magpies!! I loved this book and will be gifting it to several friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved reading this book. It made me remember things I‘ve loved about nature and made me think about some new things too. I think it has an unfortunate title though because it seems so much more than the title suggests.
Written beautifully, this book reads like a poem and gives you the space to appreciate the simpler things in life. Will definitely be reading Marc's other 2 books next!
A lot of the childhood memories parts were difficult to read because of his relationship with the "angry dog" - very sad. But so inspirational to read of his early interest in nature and art. I really enjoyed taking my time and reading a couple short chapters at a sitting. It is back on my shelf for a re-read.
I have read his other two books and really enjoyed them too. They are a bit like reading his memoirs but he makes them sound so alive in the way he describes them. Sometimes I read a few lines and have to stop and absorb what he has written. “ their dreams are over “ while he’s sat contemplating life in a graveyard . Even sad moments can be made amusing but really they can be quite heartbreaking. But he plods on … he portrays himself in a funny little manor I was laughing out loud at his recollections of building his shed and it was just a bloke putting up his shed. Not just a shed though it’s his new empire . He found solitude in a shed as a boy and now once again. , well he had to when he locked out of the house.
I love how Marc waffles on , he leads a simple life thinks he doesn’t matter to most , but he does . He was out here for a reason the recognise the beauty ima impel things . An ant , a ladybird the scent of lilac what ever it’s colours. He’s very intellectual about all things natural and has empathy for all . He’s a beautiful soul
I’m rubbish at writing reviews but it’s a lovely read . While say on the garden listening to the birds sing and a slight breeze through the trees
Spring Rain is a delightful and charming book which intersperses chapters of boyhood memories and current memories as a man in his sixties. Marc Hamer has a real gift of being able to invoke all the senses in his descriptive writing. His detailed observations really bring his words to life.
His childhood life is heart wrenching at times but I found it heart warming that this hasn’t defined his whole life and that he has got so much peace and solace from his love of nature throughout his life.
This is the perfect to book to curl up in a comfortable spot and let it soak in and take awake any stress and anxiety in your life.
With thanks to NetGalley and Vintage Books for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It was fine Kinda like with The 5am Club I didn't realise that this was gonna be that fiction/non-fiction hybrid which I dont really like I also listened to this solely on audiobook and I think that hindered the experience as I have trouble listening to fiction audiobooks - If I was following along with a physical copy 0f the book I think I would've enjoyed it a lot more
I did however love the idea of gardens being places of worship; that has stuck with me for sure
Spring Rains, A Life Lived in Gardens By Marc Hamer Marc Hamer is my nature guru! His little books connect me to nature while adding life wisdom to the garden experience. A wonderful quiet stop when things get too hectic! Love his books!
One of the best books I’ve read. Marc Hamer portrays the relationship between people and nature so beautifully, it’s truly inspiring. Such lovely, poetic language without sounding pretentious. What a beautiful soul.