Abundance

Reviews

It is noteworthy for its impressive lyricism, the experimental nature of its format and for the philosophical richness and variety of its content. If I was to recommend one book people should read for their well-being, it would be this. In Abundance, Karen offers engaging, thought-provoking writing and asks many questions which should open up the discussion of what we value in the world around us. Abundance explores the wealth of nature in recovery and challenges the inevitability of biodiversity loss. Full of exuberant delight. There's depth and skill as her writing moves from the prosaic to the lyric, all the time making the technical accessible. Scientific research fits comfortably alongside descriptions of birds and watercourses, and wider observations on our everyday successes and failures in living interdependently. Abundance is a little masterpiece carrying an important message. It is a visceral if elegant plea that happiness lies in knowing what you look at – like the colours in a tiny bird’s eyes – where observation exists as the passport to truth. Lloyd’s book holds out the gateway to a new world. Lloyd writes with such courageous attention it seems the least we can do is respond to her request to think differently, to imagine a world where abundance begets abundance. She paints the vision of a world full of animals living in harmony and asks, can humans learn to be one of them? The essays in Abundance are characterised by an admirable urgency. Lloyd’s is a voice for now. Her ways of seeing reel in not just the deep wounds at the heart of nature but also glimpse moments of hope, of healing. You want to know how to help nature to heal? Read this. Here’s how. We live at a time when our writers need to challenge our apathy and call out our lack of ambition in restoring Britain’s nature. Very few are willing to do so, but in Abundance, Karen Lloyd opens up new pathways to a reimagined relationship with the wild. Expand reviews