Wolves and Honey: A Hidden History of the Natural World

by Susan Brind Morrow

Susan Brind Morrow brings her singular sensibility as a classicist and linguist to this strikingly original reflection on the fine but resilient threads that bind humans to the natural world. Anchored in the emblematic experiences of a trapper and a beekeeper, Wolves and Honey explores the implications of their very different relationships to the natural world, while illuminating Morrow’s own poignant experience of the lives and tragic deaths of these men who deeply influenced her.
Ultimately for Morrow these two — the tracker and trapper of wolves, the keeper of bees — are a touchstone for a memoir of the land itself, the rich soil of the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York. From the ancient myth of the Tree of Life to the mysterious reappearance of wolves in the New York wilderness, from the inner life of the word “nectar,” whose Greek root (“that which overcomes death”) reveals our most fundamental experience of wonder, to the surprising links between the physics of light and the chemistry of sweetness, Morrow’s richly evocative writing traces startling historical, scientific, and metaphorical resonances.
Wolves and Honey, attuned to the connections among various realms of culture and nature, time and language, jolts us into thinking anew about our sometimes neglected but always profound relationship to the natural world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, History, Memoir, Science Nature, Essays, Science

152 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[David Rubenstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book is interesting, it is very disjoint. There is no coherent story or thread of thought. The pages follow one another almost like stream-of-consciousness. A few pages about a type of tree, then Latin, then about a friend, then Greek, then ... you get the picture.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a strong undercurrent of nostalgia, the author's text is gorgeous. She covers many topics, including history, nature, friendship, family history and bees, all the while circling around an elusive central thesis.

[Annalise Kraines · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gorgeous piece of nonfiction. The writing was lyrical and the images beautiful. I feel like they were all supposed to be linked together somehow, but they weren't quite linked enough for it to make sense. Also, weird spirituality vibes. Other than that, this book was lovely and I really enjoyed learning so much about bees and fishing.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“One might say we are in a new Ice Age, the ice now concrete, metal, and asphalt – lifeless things, pushing forest back, leaving only edges of insubstantial new growth; and that wolves, I did almost to extinction 100 years ago, have come back among us in this new form. Marie emergent suggesting the spiral of insistent growth – destruction and decay followed by the blossoming of forms – that brings to mind the origin of animal in ‘anemos,’ the Greek word for wind.”

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and unique content about human's relationship with nature past and present. As a audiobook it would be a nice accompaniment to listen to while getting ready to take a long walk in the woods, or on the return. A slight issue is that there seems to be little organization, as I listened to the audio while walking dogs this wasn't too much of an issue, but I think the lack of structure would have really bothered me had I read it in print format. Worthwhile!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been on my list of to read since Kathy recommended a while ago. I found it in the neat little independent bookstore by the Clifton Springs Hospital. I have always liked Explore! the Bookstore, but Dog Earred in Palmyra is my favorite...
I did not know before I started it, the local connection. Brind Morrow is from Geneva and it was fun to read of many familiar places and learn more history and lore of the beautiful Fingerlakes Area. (NYS taxes are crazy high, but we do get alot for our money! at least as far as outdoor opportunities go) I agree with Carl that the book lacks some continuity, but that is how my brain works lately.. so I just jumped with her.
She went with her bee keeper friend to Sweet Sues for a cold beer--we go for the pancakes!
I kept waiting for the part where the wolves and the bees connect....

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't what I expected. I don't know why I didn't review it when I read it. I passed it along to a friend who is a Bee Keeper so I can't go back to it now for an accurate rating and review.

[Slmcmahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book of the musings and observations of a classicist and linguist who lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Her interests are wide and varied. She has lived in Egypt and translates Egyptian poetry. She is also interested in beekeeping.

The writing is beautiful, which is something one hears or reads of, but seldom encounters directly. She will sometimes dissect a word, revealing its Latin or Greek and ultimately Indo-European roots of her words.

I have also read her book "The Names of Things" which I will reread having so enjoyed "Wolves and Honey".

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book was almost like picking up loosely related books out of someone's library, and reading a few highlighted pages here and there. The topics were linked together by a shared geography, but reading them was like talking to an old-timer about the good old days, or the history of a town, or a family. Which is to say, the order was kind of confusing to me. I did develop a greater appreciation for the Finger Lakes region of NY State, though.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting relating of how humans and animals interact and how the animal kingdom affects us more than we think. Morrow ties the natural history of plants and animals in the area into the geography of the New York Finger Lakes area and into her personal history through the use of story, historical facts and general scientific knowledge. A great read, especially if you have an interest at all in gardening, food production or the animals in the forests and fields.

[Alex Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Brind Morrow, in this, her second memoir, tells you where she comes from. She hears her history in the buzz of bees in Central Park and feels it in the wind coming off a lake it upstate New York. Reading this book is like making love to a lover you thought was dead: urgent, brief, and exhaustingly comforting.

[Jeffrey Bumiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Very Beautiful. Annie Dillard comes to mind as a comparison with Susan Brind Morrow. This book is especially important to me because it revolves around my home, upstate New York. Morrow's background as a classicist really shines through, and the parts of the book dealing with etymology were fascinating. Can't wait to read more of her work.

[Lisbeth Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the other half who's just listened to the audio version (he's not on GoodReads):

"If you had told me what this was about before I started listening I'd have probably deleted it but it was absolutely wonderful - lovely, warm, rambling by a fascinating woman, highly recommended."

[Seth Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book and bought 3 copies. It is written with a lyrical style that makes me feel connected with the very nectar of life. It's good to escape tech land sometimes. :)

[Lwindjwla Thaliazalor · Rating 5 out of 5]

delightful and fascinating.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Described more as an informative reflection on the entanglement of elements of nature is a bit of a disservice to this book. While it does show a map of ideas that is about as weaving as a bee's flight to a light guide only it can see, this is part nature facts, but more so a memoir. Though Morrow is a beautiful writer and I enjoyed the historical/mythical linguistic connections she'd occasionally put in place, as well as found this to be incredibly informative, I failed to feel like there was a true cohesive thread. This is also far more a book about plants and bees with wolves, beavers, and other critters being only side notes. This also has a dash of historical culture information.

Well rounded, but also a little disjointed.

[Sabrina Rourke · Rating 2 out of 5]

**2.5 stars**
A lot of this books was really interesting, especially in the last third when the author goes into detail about bees and talks more about her personal experience. However, I found it hard to follow the meandering writing style. It’s very much like hearing a rambling story from an elderly relation, interesting and compelling at first, but hard to maintain interest in as it goes on. Still, I would recommend it for the thoughtful connections the author draws between different areas of naturalism and history but I would not say that this is the book you should pick if you’re only going to read one nonfiction book about the natural world.

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolves & Honey

This is a strange and wonderful little book written by a linguist who was schooled in the observation of the natural world. She gives an educational description of wolves, coyotes, and honey bees. She concentrates her observations on the Finger lake area of New York where she grew up.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing collection of hidden histories of the natural wold: bees, wolves, apple trees, beavers, including historical points that affected them...
This is sort of memorish - the author revisits her leaning about a nature, and who taught her.

One interesting snippet I kept was beaver fur was popular, in part, because it felted really well.

Nature is important!

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much arcane history, which might frustrate some but I loved it. Having grown up in the Northeast much of the landscape she lovingly described was familiar to me. I felt the author sometimes drifted off topic or digressed quite a bit but upon reflection, it was like a free association thought process that takes place during a long amble in the woods. Ultimately, quite soothing.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this following her Egypt-focused book, The Names of Things. Provides a little more insight to the author, her background and life. Very much enjoyed her descriptions of places I have been throughout upstate New York and beyond. Thought provoking. Visual. Easy read.

[Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a local of the area but I grew up near the Southern end of the lake, and she the North. It's not all about the history though. There's a real life story intertwined like the grape vines of that regions.

[Boweavil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually gave me the creeps. Not at all what I expected. Was hoping for science based information but, instead, got a way too personal memoir.

[Nathalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meandering with scattered detailed observations of animals and nature.

[jasper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet blend of memoir and nature writing, giving me a bit of a feel for a part of our country I have never seen.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting tidbits, but hard to read overall. I finally pushed through and read it because I could see myself spending forever getting through it.

[Amber Launstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very beautifully written

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting scientific data.

[Zoë Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

disjointed at times but overall really beautiful:)))

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything from Susan Brind Morrow before, so I was a little surprised. (In a pleasant way!) A collection of stories that bring the reader into her interresting world of travel, archeology, family, fishing, and of course the honey bee! I listened to this book on audio, as I am constantly stuck in Dallas traffic, and I was literally transported to the honey bee hive and away from the aggressive drivers on 121....Perfect.