| 
|
Thanks
go to bluegreenearth
& Graham Strouts for providing the reviews for these pages.
Reviewers are:
RA - Robert Allen
TB - Tim Barton
SB - Steve Booth
ED - Éanna Dowling
EV - Eric Valencic
CG - Chellis Glendinning
RR - Rob Ray
GS - Graham Strouts
ML - Muriel Lumb
|
global
community, ecological, environmental
and social reportage, opinion, analysis, and news |
|
|
 |
|
|
Unless otherwise stated you'll find a full description of the following
books and our full book listing in the browsing
pages. Just click on the book's title to get there.
|
| This
month I've literally been reduced to tears reading Hard
Rain by Mark Edwards and Lloyd Timberlake, a photographic
exploration of the state of the world and its peoples illustrating
Bob Dylan's prophetic lyrics. And I'm sitting here shaking with
emotion after just skimming through it and I have to say something
more about this book than 'This is Great. Read it.' …
If there's ever been a book that everyone should read this is
it. If you've a soul it'll touch it. If you've a sensitive soul
Hard Rain will tear it apart. |
 |
|
Hard
Rain
Our Headlong Collision with Nature
Lloyd Timberlake, Mark Edwards
(Ill), Bob Dylan (Contributor)
Reviewed by Muriel
Lumb
|
| Dylan
wrote the lyrics to Hard Rain during the Cuban crisis describing
a rain than kills people, animals, plant life, eco-systems,
oceans … and the planet itself. Today it's not just nuclear
destruction that threatens us - for years we've known the potential
catastrophic effects of climate change and have done next to
nothing about it. Hard Rain shows in painful detail the destruction
of planet and life that climate change has already brought about
and what the future holds if we carry on regardless. |
|
And it’s a hard, it’s
a hard
it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.
|
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it |
|
I know this
stuff; I've known it for years; it's what this tiny, environmental
bookshop is all about - raising awareness and inspiring and
empowering individuals to follow a path of sustainability.
But the knowledge that we need
to change and what we need to do
to bring about that change has been around for donkeys years
and how many people care? Who's taking this on board? I can't
even begin to describe how distressed this book leaves me.
A combination of horror at the injustices of the world, the
destruction, poverty, hardships; despair that nothing seems
to be changing; and, an urgent need to do
something. And the most immediate thing I can think of is
to tell as many people as possible about this book. And desperately
hope that they will feel even a fraction of what I'm feeling
and be inspired to do something themselves. Something more.
Something Real. |
| Yet
I'm left despairing, impotent, afraid that change cannot come
about without a global shift in consciousness. A shift away
from greed and power and hatred. A shift towards world mindedness,
compassion, equality and care. And people have been saying that
for decades, probably longer, and we don't seem to be any closer.
Maybe this book can help, I don't know. But I can't end on that
note, so I'll tell you a wee bit more about Hard Rain and why
you should read it. |
|
I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways
|
And I’ll tell it and think
it
and speak it and breathe it |
|
The core
of the book consists of Dylan's lyrics illustrated by Edward's
evocative photographic depiction of the effects of climate
change. That's the part that'll tear at your guts. But text
by Edwards and Timberlake supports this emotive journey with
facts and figures about climate change and policies and strategies
that have not been forthcoming by those who're in a position
to implement them. And Edwards offers simple, straightforward
things everyone can do right now, from buying low energy light
bulbs (How difficult is that? Why does anyone have to be told
to do that?) to life-changing development work. In this way
Edwards offers some hope. And he offers inspiration - a copy
of Hard Rain was sent to world leaders before its release
to the public and the accompanying letter is included in the
appendices:
"Our book is an appeal to you, and
an appeal to readers to get in touch with you and ask for
your attention, for you to demonstrate the responsibility
you promise when you ask for our votes or support."
Complete with a listing of organisations,
websites, books and journals Hard Rain is not only distressing
and provocative but also an excellent source of information
and inspiration.
|
If
any book can shake people out of their complacency, this is
the one. Make your libraries buy it, show it to your friends,
family and co-workers, show it to everyone you meet every
day. Read it and weep. And then do something about it. |
|
|
See
also previous book reviews:
|
|
