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The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year
In The Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: fifty-two chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year. As we move through the seasons—from a crow spied on New Year’s Day, its resourcefulness and sense of community setting a theme for the year, to the lingering bluebirds of December, revisiting the nest box they used in spring—what develops is a portrait of joy and grief: joy in the ongoing pleasures of the natural world, and grief over winters that end too soon and songbirds that grow fewer and fewer.
Along the way, we also glimpse the changing rhythms of a human life. Grown children, unexpectedly home during the pandemic, prepare to depart once more. Birdsong and night-blooming flowers evoke generations past. The city and the country where Renkl raised her family transform a little more with each passing day. And the natural world, now in visible flux, requires every ounce of hope and commitment from the author—and from us. For, as Renkl writes, “radiant things are bursting forth in the darkest places, in the smallest nooks and deepest cracks of the hidden world.”
With fifty-two original color artworks by the author’s brother, Billy Renkl, The Comfort of Crows is a lovely and deeply moving book from a cherished observer of the natural world.
Along the way, we also glimpse the changing rhythms of a human life. Grown children, unexpectedly home during the pandemic, prepare to depart once more. Birdsong and night-blooming flowers evoke generations past. The city and the country where Renkl raised her family transform a little more with each passing day. And the natural world, now in visible flux, requires every ounce of hope and commitment from the author—and from us. For, as Renkl writes, “radiant things are bursting forth in the darkest places, in the smallest nooks and deepest cracks of the hidden world.”
With fifty-two original color artworks by the author’s brother, Billy Renkl, The Comfort of Crows is a lovely and deeply moving book from a cherished observer of the natural world.
270 pages, Hardcover
First published October 24, 2023
4205 people are currently reading
44610 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Renkl
6 books768 followersMargaret Renkl is the author of The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year (due from Spiegel & Grau on Oct. 24, 2023), as well as Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss and Graceland, At Last: Notes On Hope and Heartache From the American South. She is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, where her essays appear each Monday. A graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Carolina, she lives in Nashville.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,534 reviews
December 13, 2025
Did you know that this book has beautiful illustrations by Billy Renkl, her talented brother? The cover and the beginning of each chapter is illustrated by him which sets the tone for the seasons.
So, what is a backyard year?
For Renkl it is a way to bring the seasons alive in 52 chapters – a seasonal round – for the animals and plants – in her yard – in nearby parks – where she lives in Tennessee. She is living her despair of the human-caused crises that the natural world faces. She says…
“The very least I owe my wild neighbors is a willingness to witness their struggle, to compensate for their losses in every way I can, and to speak on their behalf about all the ways I can’t.”
Her intentions are to save animals that need mending, or insects, or birds that need food, or provide support for the monarch butterflies, or a haven for tree frogs, whatever it takes to make their living more naturally friendly.
She talks of human-caused global warming that is altering our environment and harming other species. Her awareness of the changes in the natural environment made me aware of the changes that I have noted in our ocean environment, as well, where I live in Morro Bay, CA. We use to see starfish all the time, and over the last few years, so few have been seen, that when we do see one, we seem to cheer when one is spotted. How sad is that?
And Renkl points these changes in our natural environment out readily. Especially noting that fewer birds and animals have come out as well.
Her ecological grief is real. Many of us require fuel to restore our spirits. Renkl’s chapters like…
Praise Song for the Dog’s Marvelous Nose…
The Bobcat Next Door…
Praise Song for the First Red Leaf of the Gum Tree…
Loving the Unloved Animals
Are perfect to read to help restore that fuel.
There were other chapters that brought so much joy to my heart. I found her chapters short and quick reads that definitely gave peace, joy and a sense of hope.
The compliment of words and drawings in this little book by this talented family is worth a visit.
But mostly…the animals and plants so treasured by Renkl need us now more than ever.
4.5 stars rounded up because of the illustrations.
So, what is a backyard year?
For Renkl it is a way to bring the seasons alive in 52 chapters – a seasonal round – for the animals and plants – in her yard – in nearby parks – where she lives in Tennessee. She is living her despair of the human-caused crises that the natural world faces. She says…
“The very least I owe my wild neighbors is a willingness to witness their struggle, to compensate for their losses in every way I can, and to speak on their behalf about all the ways I can’t.”
Her intentions are to save animals that need mending, or insects, or birds that need food, or provide support for the monarch butterflies, or a haven for tree frogs, whatever it takes to make their living more naturally friendly.
She talks of human-caused global warming that is altering our environment and harming other species. Her awareness of the changes in the natural environment made me aware of the changes that I have noted in our ocean environment, as well, where I live in Morro Bay, CA. We use to see starfish all the time, and over the last few years, so few have been seen, that when we do see one, we seem to cheer when one is spotted. How sad is that?
And Renkl points these changes in our natural environment out readily. Especially noting that fewer birds and animals have come out as well.
Her ecological grief is real. Many of us require fuel to restore our spirits. Renkl’s chapters like…
Praise Song for the Dog’s Marvelous Nose…
The Bobcat Next Door…
Praise Song for the First Red Leaf of the Gum Tree…
Loving the Unloved Animals
Are perfect to read to help restore that fuel.
There were other chapters that brought so much joy to my heart. I found her chapters short and quick reads that definitely gave peace, joy and a sense of hope.
The compliment of words and drawings in this little book by this talented family is worth a visit.
But mostly…the animals and plants so treasured by Renkl need us now more than ever.
4.5 stars rounded up because of the illustrations.
September 14, 2023
A Comfort of Crows is a lovely meditation on the changing of the seasons in nature. It was especially enjoyable because these are things from her backyard, not some exotic location. They encompass things those of us with even a little wilderness around us can witness. It’s a reminder of the small joys that nature gives us almost daily, if we take the time to look.
The book is written as 52 chapters, one for each week of the year. It’s a book that can be savored over time, that can be repeatedly picked up. It’s a gentle reminder to appreciate the beauty around us.
I had to laugh at the “owl pellet” segment. Only a dog lover can appreciate what her find actually was.
There are pictures between each of the chapters. This might be a book better suited to a paper copy or an e-reader that does color, as the pictures are black and white on the kindle. I was able to use the kindle app on my iPad to view the beautiful pictures.
My thanks to Netgalley and Spiegal & Grau for an advance copy of this book.
The book is written as 52 chapters, one for each week of the year. It’s a book that can be savored over time, that can be repeatedly picked up. It’s a gentle reminder to appreciate the beauty around us.
I had to laugh at the “owl pellet” segment. Only a dog lover can appreciate what her find actually was.
There are pictures between each of the chapters. This might be a book better suited to a paper copy or an e-reader that does color, as the pictures are black and white on the kindle. I was able to use the kindle app on my iPad to view the beautiful pictures.
My thanks to Netgalley and Spiegal & Grau for an advance copy of this book.
February 7, 2025
The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl is, undoubtedly, the most beautiful book I own!
Look at the cover that attracts you at a glance. The colors hold your eyes as you begin to investigate the intricacy and detail of the art. Greenery with pockets of wildflowers and berries, a swallowtail butterfly that's easy to spot, and a striped caterpillar hidden in the shadows. I think that's a wasp right above the Eastern Bluebird and is that a snake resting on the leaves? That's only the front cover. Inside there is so much more to see.
Through the pages are short poetic observations about the natural world as the seasons change from Renkl's vantage points: her backyard, neighborhood, local parks, and a friend's cabin in the woods. Her observations are from years of living in the same house and revisiting these locations she knows so well.
This was an immersion read and as I listened to the emotional inflections of Margaret Renkl's voice and flipped through the colorful illustrations by her brother Billy, this book of essays felt like a delicious meal of greenery and fruit from nature. The author's words have the mesmerizing and thought-provoking tone of poetry.
The Comfort of Crows is a book I took my time with, reading a bite every day for two months. Yet there is still much to explore in the detail of each of Renkl's 52 weekly essays and Billy's collage-like illustrations. This book is a treasure of observations I'll revisit as I view the changes in my cherished backyard from season to season.
5⭐
Look at the cover that attracts you at a glance. The colors hold your eyes as you begin to investigate the intricacy and detail of the art. Greenery with pockets of wildflowers and berries, a swallowtail butterfly that's easy to spot, and a striped caterpillar hidden in the shadows. I think that's a wasp right above the Eastern Bluebird and is that a snake resting on the leaves? That's only the front cover. Inside there is so much more to see.
Through the pages are short poetic observations about the natural world as the seasons change from Renkl's vantage points: her backyard, neighborhood, local parks, and a friend's cabin in the woods. Her observations are from years of living in the same house and revisiting these locations she knows so well.
This was an immersion read and as I listened to the emotional inflections of Margaret Renkl's voice and flipped through the colorful illustrations by her brother Billy, this book of essays felt like a delicious meal of greenery and fruit from nature. The author's words have the mesmerizing and thought-provoking tone of poetry.
The Comfort of Crows is a book I took my time with, reading a bite every day for two months. Yet there is still much to explore in the detail of each of Renkl's 52 weekly essays and Billy's collage-like illustrations. This book is a treasure of observations I'll revisit as I view the changes in my cherished backyard from season to season.
5⭐
October 23, 2023
"Who wouldn't want to start the new year watched over by crows? They're smart and brave and loyal . . . "
It was a cruel, cruel summer nature-wise in my own backyard. It started in early June when I returned one morning from the dog walk, and startled a little sparrow who flew into our sliding glass door. While I was standing on the patio chanting, "Please don't be dead, please don't be dead," a hawk swooped down less than five feet from me, grabbed the maybe-dead, maybe-not-dead Schrödinger's bird, gave me a "It's MINE!" glare, and took off with an easy meal. In July, I found our beloved pond frog literally dissected, and left discarded in the middle of the backyard. And, over the course of three months, a bloodthirsty chipmunk killed seven birds, one right in front of me, leaving their little headless corpses lying right by the feeders.
Fortunately, there were a few lovely moments to be found, as well, such as sitting outdoors, enjoying a book and a glass of iced tea whilst hummingbirds whistled dangerously close to my head in their attempts to lay claim to ALL of the feeders out back. It also helped to read about the cycles of birth, life, and death by nature writers like Margaret Renkl. Here she takes us through the seasons, sharing her observations and thoughts about the wildlife near her suburban home in Tennessee. It's good to be reminded that our control over nature is sometimes limited. Rescue attempts may not always succeed, but wild creatures seem to know what they're doing even without our help.
This is a lovely, and, indeed, comforting book, and one I look forward to reading again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for sharing this one.
It was a cruel, cruel summer nature-wise in my own backyard. It started in early June when I returned one morning from the dog walk, and startled a little sparrow who flew into our sliding glass door. While I was standing on the patio chanting, "Please don't be dead, please don't be dead," a hawk swooped down less than five feet from me, grabbed the maybe-dead, maybe-not-dead Schrödinger's bird, gave me a "It's MINE!" glare, and took off with an easy meal. In July, I found our beloved pond frog literally dissected, and left discarded in the middle of the backyard. And, over the course of three months, a bloodthirsty chipmunk killed seven birds, one right in front of me, leaving their little headless corpses lying right by the feeders.
Fortunately, there were a few lovely moments to be found, as well, such as sitting outdoors, enjoying a book and a glass of iced tea whilst hummingbirds whistled dangerously close to my head in their attempts to lay claim to ALL of the feeders out back. It also helped to read about the cycles of birth, life, and death by nature writers like Margaret Renkl. Here she takes us through the seasons, sharing her observations and thoughts about the wildlife near her suburban home in Tennessee. It's good to be reminded that our control over nature is sometimes limited. Rescue attempts may not always succeed, but wild creatures seem to know what they're doing even without our help.
This is a lovely, and, indeed, comforting book, and one I look forward to reading again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for sharing this one.
September 26, 2024
4+
Margaret Renkl’s 52 essays follow the weekly occurrences in nature. Beginning in winter, her formerly least favorite season, she reflects on the wonders of the outside world, not in the wilderness or a forest but in her small backyard. Each week I walked through the subtle changes she keenly observes in the flora and fauna, from the tiniest insect to the larger mammals, all right there for me to marvel at if I am awake enough to witness them. Renkl maintains that by slowing down and immersing in the natural world, she has been able to “cope with the toxic politics of this world”, an inexpensive stress reducer that only requires time and the senses.
There is joy and sorrow in this resurrection of nature, this cyclic pattern. The migrating birds return in spring, but some species will never return. The changing climate and poisons applied to lawns and gardens are deeply concerning, but the author has hope.There will be wonders to observe, wonders that will awe us and calm us if only we move slower, notice more closely, and appreciate the beauty of nature.
The Comfort of Crows is an ode not just to nature but to life itself. Renkl, an opinion writer for the New York Times, writes beautifully and convincingly. The illustrations by her artist brother are worth the price of the book alone. I am glad I own this book, as I know I will be savoring it over and over again.
Margaret Renkl’s 52 essays follow the weekly occurrences in nature. Beginning in winter, her formerly least favorite season, she reflects on the wonders of the outside world, not in the wilderness or a forest but in her small backyard. Each week I walked through the subtle changes she keenly observes in the flora and fauna, from the tiniest insect to the larger mammals, all right there for me to marvel at if I am awake enough to witness them. Renkl maintains that by slowing down and immersing in the natural world, she has been able to “cope with the toxic politics of this world”, an inexpensive stress reducer that only requires time and the senses.
There is joy and sorrow in this resurrection of nature, this cyclic pattern. The migrating birds return in spring, but some species will never return. The changing climate and poisons applied to lawns and gardens are deeply concerning, but the author has hope.There will be wonders to observe, wonders that will awe us and calm us if only we move slower, notice more closely, and appreciate the beauty of nature.
The Comfort of Crows is an ode not just to nature but to life itself. Renkl, an opinion writer for the New York Times, writes beautifully and convincingly. The illustrations by her artist brother are worth the price of the book alone. I am glad I own this book, as I know I will be savoring it over and over again.
July 12, 2024
"The Comfort of Crows" is a glorious celebration of the natural world written in lovely prose. The book follows the 52 weeks of the year starting with the winter season. There are 52 essays, and 26 additional mini-essays labeled "Praise Songs" which seem to be a spiritual reflection on a special experience that touched the author, Margaret Renkl. The author's brother, artist Billy Renkl, created 53 beautiful color illustrations, mostly collages.
Renkl's yard in Tennessee is planted mostly in wildflowers and trees. There are also carefully chosen plants in her gardens that provide nourishment and hiding places for birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Renkl writes about the interdependence of living creatures, and the cycle of life. She also writes about her family--the deaths of her grandparents and parents, aging, weekends at a cabin with her husband, the joy of raising her three sons and spending precious time with them during the pandemic.
While I admire her connection with nature outside, I was surprised that she keeps a potted plant containing a spider who spins a web around the plant's leaves sitting on her writing desk. Her writing desk is also home to a worm composter which turns kitchen scraps into dirt. She gives helpful ideas for being a friend of nature, some very simple like leaving out water during a heat wave.
"The Comfort of Crows" is a reminder to be more aware of nature during the four seasons. When the troubles of the world seem overwhelming, some time reflecting on the beauty of nature can be a source of peace. Although I read a borrowed book quickly, this would be a lovely gift so someone could read it slowly and thoughtfully during the 52 weeks of the year. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
Renkl's yard in Tennessee is planted mostly in wildflowers and trees. There are also carefully chosen plants in her gardens that provide nourishment and hiding places for birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Renkl writes about the interdependence of living creatures, and the cycle of life. She also writes about her family--the deaths of her grandparents and parents, aging, weekends at a cabin with her husband, the joy of raising her three sons and spending precious time with them during the pandemic.
While I admire her connection with nature outside, I was surprised that she keeps a potted plant containing a spider who spins a web around the plant's leaves sitting on her writing desk. Her writing desk is also home to a worm composter which turns kitchen scraps into dirt. She gives helpful ideas for being a friend of nature, some very simple like leaving out water during a heat wave.
"The Comfort of Crows" is a reminder to be more aware of nature during the four seasons. When the troubles of the world seem overwhelming, some time reflecting on the beauty of nature can be a source of peace. Although I read a borrowed book quickly, this would be a lovely gift so someone could read it slowly and thoughtfully during the 52 weeks of the year. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
April 28, 2024
Its not everyday we come across an author whose knowledge and passion for Nature is coupled with lyrical, often Shakespearean prose. This series of heart felt essays that pays homage to all living things is enhanced by her brother's colorful art resulting in a unique and memorable experience
With Margaret, we witness 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree', her mother's understanding of Nature fostering her own. Growing up in Alabama, the wildlife, plants and environment form the foundation for an unrivaled passion, interest and understanding of habitat, behaviors and in some cases, diets of all living things. After moving to Tennessee with her family, she educates herself through experience in the woods, backyard and a friend's cabin on the Cumberland plateau where she's surrounded by what she loves most. While many plant flower gardens and lawns, she steers clear of anything that could harm birds, the environment or wildlife. In their place she uses native plants in her gardens which are designed to 'feed' and so much more.
As the title infers, her first love are the beautiful winged creatures that surround us, crows among them which are part of Nature's ecosystem. While there are countless birders, and advocates for Save Earth, Margaret's knowledge, compassion and appreciation for what we're blessed with is unrivaled. Told through evocative, informative essays, we not only learn but understand the delicate interaction of plants, insects, birds and creatures and the glory of Nature as well. When you leave home, you'll find yourself embracing the beauty and wonder of your surroundings; and when you do, gratitude surfaces
This is the type of book that has a reader reflect on what most take for granted. Its beauty, lyric and message are as important as the context. Truth be told, I wasn't prepared for such breathtaking words and images, nor someone whose passion runs this deep. We were blessed with the perfection of Nature and appreciating 'the gift' is important. This is an emotional, unique journey that's difficult to review due to its nature. My only advice is you experience what the Renkl duo have created.
With Margaret, we witness 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree', her mother's understanding of Nature fostering her own. Growing up in Alabama, the wildlife, plants and environment form the foundation for an unrivaled passion, interest and understanding of habitat, behaviors and in some cases, diets of all living things. After moving to Tennessee with her family, she educates herself through experience in the woods, backyard and a friend's cabin on the Cumberland plateau where she's surrounded by what she loves most. While many plant flower gardens and lawns, she steers clear of anything that could harm birds, the environment or wildlife. In their place she uses native plants in her gardens which are designed to 'feed' and so much more.
As the title infers, her first love are the beautiful winged creatures that surround us, crows among them which are part of Nature's ecosystem. While there are countless birders, and advocates for Save Earth, Margaret's knowledge, compassion and appreciation for what we're blessed with is unrivaled. Told through evocative, informative essays, we not only learn but understand the delicate interaction of plants, insects, birds and creatures and the glory of Nature as well. When you leave home, you'll find yourself embracing the beauty and wonder of your surroundings; and when you do, gratitude surfaces
This is the type of book that has a reader reflect on what most take for granted. Its beauty, lyric and message are as important as the context. Truth be told, I wasn't prepared for such breathtaking words and images, nor someone whose passion runs this deep. We were blessed with the perfection of Nature and appreciating 'the gift' is important. This is an emotional, unique journey that's difficult to review due to its nature. My only advice is you experience what the Renkl duo have created.
August 28, 2024
Thanks so much to Margaret Renkl and Spiegel and Grau for sending me an ARC that I have won in a Goodreads giveaway a couple of years ago that I finally read and absolutely loved. My apologies for writing this review at such a late date.
I absolutely loved this author’s connection with the natural world around Nashville. I love that we get to follow the author’s journey throughout the seasons as the natural world and beauty and animals change throughout the year. Not only does this author share the story of nature. They share the story about how they themselves and their family have changed throughout their lives as well.
However, I felt that the story ended on a deeply intense and melancholy ending that never reached its conclusion.
I love all of the illustrations in the book created by the author’s brother, Billy. However, since I only have an ARC , all of the illustrations are in black and white and not available in color.
I absolutely loved this author’s connection with the natural world around Nashville. I love that we get to follow the author’s journey throughout the seasons as the natural world and beauty and animals change throughout the year. Not only does this author share the story of nature. They share the story about how they themselves and their family have changed throughout their lives as well.
However, I felt that the story ended on a deeply intense and melancholy ending that never reached its conclusion.
I love all of the illustrations in the book created by the author’s brother, Billy. However, since I only have an ARC , all of the illustrations are in black and white and not available in color.
June 11, 2024
5 🐦⬛ 🐝 🐛 🐿️ 🍂
Ann Patchett wrote "A howling love letter to the world" and for all of us out there who are like-minded, I would add a love letter to us. Lovely essays to read each morning, beautifully illustrated, about the connection of all creatures in the circle of life.
If you're a person who catches spiders in your home and releases them outside, or plants flowers to help pollinators, this is a must have book.
Margaret Renkl expanded my thinking on rewilding and her leaves would be welcome in my yard anytime. This was balm for my soul.
Ann Patchett wrote "A howling love letter to the world" and for all of us out there who are like-minded, I would add a love letter to us. Lovely essays to read each morning, beautifully illustrated, about the connection of all creatures in the circle of life.
If you're a person who catches spiders in your home and releases them outside, or plants flowers to help pollinators, this is a must have book.
Margaret Renkl expanded my thinking on rewilding and her leaves would be welcome in my yard anytime. This was balm for my soul.
October 24, 2023
**Happy Publication Day!!**
A year's worth of lovely nature essays from Margaret Renkl with original artwork from her son Billy. I could relate to so much of what she has written, having lived for many years on a half-acre of land that led down to a creek where nature abounded. Our daughters have so many wonderful memories of their childhood experiences!
This would make a wonderful gift for nature lovers on your list. I'll look forward to watching to see my first bird on the first day of the new year which will set the tone for my next twelve months. According to Renkl, that's a birding tradition and now it will be mine.
I received an arc of this new essay collection from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
A year's worth of lovely nature essays from Margaret Renkl with original artwork from her son Billy. I could relate to so much of what she has written, having lived for many years on a half-acre of land that led down to a creek where nature abounded. Our daughters have so many wonderful memories of their childhood experiences!
This would make a wonderful gift for nature lovers on your list. I'll look forward to watching to see my first bird on the first day of the new year which will set the tone for my next twelve months. According to Renkl, that's a birding tradition and now it will be mine.
I received an arc of this new essay collection from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 28, 2023
Very nice to read about nature in one's own backyard, and to realize that it can be very cruel as well. She goes so far as to turn her entire yard into a habitat for all sorts of creatures, incurring the wrath of neighbors who like their manicured piece of suburban lawns. My backyard is a little wilder than I'd like it to be due to my own age and laziness, but at least it's small and we back up to the woods so I get to enjoy that as well. I have to draw the line at snakes and wasps and moles though. And alligators, which will wander into the yard from local ponds during the spring mating season if fence gates are left open. I'm more of an "enjoy nature from the safety of my screened porch" kind of person. Good bedtime reading.
January 23, 2025
4 stars - a very lovely, nature-centered book of essays, mediations and reflections. Both informative and deeply insightful, and also both hopeful and mournful. Truly moving and a great way to start off a new reading year, kinda wish I could have lingered on it longer!
March 21, 2024
Nope. Couldn’t get into it. Try it if you like endless pages of minutiae about plants, animals, birds, trees, sealife, weather, etc., woven with stories and observations that are sad, sad, SAD. We all have losses but it felt like the author was trying to process all her losses in life in these essays, and it wasn’t what I needed to be reading. Two stars for competent writing ability and excellent artwork. Don’t get the wrong idea from the title, it’s not a comforting book. I took it back to the library the day after checking it out.
January 15, 2024
Surprisingly, considering my love affair with our own wild backyard, my overall reaction to this book is lukewarm. It has its bright spots, but I find the author's overall narrative to be repetitive, supercilious, judgmental of people who don't live or think like her, and even corny. Much preferred the spirit behind Saving Jemima, by Julie Zickefoose.
P.S. The illustrations by the author's brother are exquisite.
P.S. The illustrations by the author's brother are exquisite.
September 29, 2024
Wonderful, really comforting, nature writing! A gem of a book.
March 14, 2024
Well-written, but so boring. Pretty pictures though
November 4, 2023
Ann Patchett called this book “a howling love letter to the world” and I don’t think I could describe it any better than that. It’s a book that I want to give to everyone I know - not just because it is a beautiful book -both in writing and in illustration, but also because I want to give people the experience of sinking into these short essays that reflect on the natural world and our lives. It brings a sense of reflection and peace, of calmness and being set aside from the hectic pace of life. Structured as a set of 52 essays interspersed with praise songs, one for each week as you move through the year (and through life), it could easily be read as a devotional. For me, it is also a benediction - a blessing that I could alter my headspace, take a moment and breathe, and feel gratitude for the world around me. The mix of the visual arts with the beauty of her words is also wonderful - each essay is accompanied by an exquisite work of art by her brother, Billy Renkl.
“Turn your face up to the sky. Listen. The world is trembling into possibility. The world is reminding us that this is what the world does best. New life. Rebirth. The greenness that rises out of ashes.”
“. . . .more and more I ponder words like bounty and replete and enough. I think of what we are losing from this world and of what we will leave behind when we ourselves are lost. The trees. The stories. The people who love us and who know we love them, who will carry our love into the world after we are gone.”
“Turn your face up to the sky. Listen. The world is trembling into possibility. The world is reminding us that this is what the world does best. New life. Rebirth. The greenness that rises out of ashes.”
“. . . .more and more I ponder words like bounty and replete and enough. I think of what we are losing from this world and of what we will leave behind when we ourselves are lost. The trees. The stories. The people who love us and who know we love them, who will carry our love into the world after we are gone.”
January 21, 2024
Margaret Renkl, a contributor to The New York Times, has penned a book that’s equal parts Bailey White and E.O. Wilson: a book about nature with a lyrical, folksy quality. What a joy to read! The illustrations by Renkl’s talented brother, Billy Renkl, are simply the cherry on top for this wonderful book and its beautiful vignettes and poems from all four seasons.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Minerva in exchange for an honest review.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Minerva in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2024
If you are prone to depression and feelings of hopelessness, this book is not for you.
Firstly, if you think this is a book about a person's relationship with crows in their backyard from the title, as I did, it's not. In fact, crows are only mentioned briefly six maybe seven times. I also do not recall her explaining how they were a comfort to her.
Also, most of the positive things she conveyed were wrapped in negativity. The sentiment I came away with was... she bothers to plant a pollinator garden and plant trees because she feels she should, but should you? She feels probably not, because in today's suburbia it's basically futile. I know this isn't true because of the large native plant and pollinator Facebook groups I'm in, and the native plant and pollinator education pages I follow. These groups have been growing by leaps and bounds and the pages gain more and more followers every day. Where I live there are also local groups for organic gardening and planting indigenous gardens. I live in a city!
Despite my knowledge that saving wild environments and supporting native plants and pollinators is on the rise, she presented examples in such a way I had to shake off a depressed feeling most times I set the book down. I can only imagine how many people beginning to be interested in the the environment, and how they can start a positive change in their own backyards, came away from reading this book discouraged. I found it insincere to quote Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and then not reflect the positivity of Kimmerer's writings. Did Renkl even read Braiding Sweetgrass? She certainly was under-informed about a lot of subjects Kimmerer covered in her book.
I was seriously frustrated after reading how this author loves the invasive plants that green up and bloom earlier in the spring, hence bringing her out of her winter funk earlier; and how she knows the purple flowers which bloom in a ditch near her house are invasives, but they are so pretty they should be left there for her enjoyment. These "get out of jail free" love songs come after her lamenting the loss of so many wild native plant species she grew up with. Her thinking is disconnected. Does it matter to her that invasive Japanese knotweed chokes out and kills a plethora of native plants? Does she realize the native plants wiped out by these foreign invaders are usually supporters of specific pollinator species and when those plants are gone, so are those species; forever? Does she realize the "beautiful" but non-native Tree of Heaven is host to the invasive and destructive spotted lanternfly? The spotted lanternfly has been connected with hundreds of millions of dollars in decreased crop production in Pennsylvania alone. Is it important to her that people have access to affordable fruits and vegetables?
Someone with this much lack of knowledge, in my opinion, had no business being published. Now that I'm thinking about it, she also comes across as a selfish person. Also overly critical of others. She sent her children into a school environment as soon as possible and had a babysitter in her home to take care of her sons before they could go to nursery school, so she could spend the day writing undisturbed; yet she looks down her nose at multi-generational family homes and parents who have their children in afterschool activities such as music lessons, tutoring, and sports.
Another aspect of the book which bothered me was: yes this is a memoir... yet it's supposed to be about her interaction with her backyard environment (and crows, where were those comforting crows), but very little was about her backyard. She went into too much length and detail about her family's genetic eye diseases and cancer predispositions. Her childhood recounts were many times not related to the subject of her backyard and in this way the book was loose and wandering. And even though she is a mature person in her fifties, a lot of the writing had a contemporary "look at me" flavor; how she is such a martyr for the environment. She acts as if she is shouldering this environmental challenge we are facing on her own.
And then there were the constant depressing "life is short" comments; about how people in their fifties should start thinking about how little time they have left. These constant the-end-is-near chants were doubly depressing for me as I'm in my later sixties. I disagree, I don't think it's healthy to constantly measure how long one may, or may not, have on this Earth. Especially in one's golden years. It really irks me that the book was a Reese's Book Club Pick and so many more people read it because of this.
The author's writing style was average. She did have a few moments, but most times when she waxed poetic she was trying to give it a Mary Oliver feel, and it just didn't work out; the writing felt overly done when she did this. I think it becomes more apparent when an author's writing is plain in general. There were two or three times when she was talking about an event and then abruptly moved on to something else before telling what happen in the end.
My advice if you are planning on reading this memoir, is to read Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass either before or after. You will be left with a better picture of what is happening, knowing people working together are making significant differences and that yes... your little pollinator garden is worth it because when all of our pollinator gardens, full of carefully chosen native plants, are added together you can see the progress. And please join a native plants group on social media or in your area.
I feel books like this are irresponsible.
Firstly, if you think this is a book about a person's relationship with crows in their backyard from the title, as I did, it's not. In fact, crows are only mentioned briefly six maybe seven times. I also do not recall her explaining how they were a comfort to her.
Also, most of the positive things she conveyed were wrapped in negativity. The sentiment I came away with was... she bothers to plant a pollinator garden and plant trees because she feels she should, but should you? She feels probably not, because in today's suburbia it's basically futile. I know this isn't true because of the large native plant and pollinator Facebook groups I'm in, and the native plant and pollinator education pages I follow. These groups have been growing by leaps and bounds and the pages gain more and more followers every day. Where I live there are also local groups for organic gardening and planting indigenous gardens. I live in a city!
Despite my knowledge that saving wild environments and supporting native plants and pollinators is on the rise, she presented examples in such a way I had to shake off a depressed feeling most times I set the book down. I can only imagine how many people beginning to be interested in the the environment, and how they can start a positive change in their own backyards, came away from reading this book discouraged. I found it insincere to quote Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and then not reflect the positivity of Kimmerer's writings. Did Renkl even read Braiding Sweetgrass? She certainly was under-informed about a lot of subjects Kimmerer covered in her book.
I was seriously frustrated after reading how this author loves the invasive plants that green up and bloom earlier in the spring, hence bringing her out of her winter funk earlier; and how she knows the purple flowers which bloom in a ditch near her house are invasives, but they are so pretty they should be left there for her enjoyment. These "get out of jail free" love songs come after her lamenting the loss of so many wild native plant species she grew up with. Her thinking is disconnected. Does it matter to her that invasive Japanese knotweed chokes out and kills a plethora of native plants? Does she realize the native plants wiped out by these foreign invaders are usually supporters of specific pollinator species and when those plants are gone, so are those species; forever? Does she realize the "beautiful" but non-native Tree of Heaven is host to the invasive and destructive spotted lanternfly? The spotted lanternfly has been connected with hundreds of millions of dollars in decreased crop production in Pennsylvania alone. Is it important to her that people have access to affordable fruits and vegetables?
Someone with this much lack of knowledge, in my opinion, had no business being published. Now that I'm thinking about it, she also comes across as a selfish person. Also overly critical of others. She sent her children into a school environment as soon as possible and had a babysitter in her home to take care of her sons before they could go to nursery school, so she could spend the day writing undisturbed; yet she looks down her nose at multi-generational family homes and parents who have their children in afterschool activities such as music lessons, tutoring, and sports.
Another aspect of the book which bothered me was: yes this is a memoir... yet it's supposed to be about her interaction with her backyard environment (and crows, where were those comforting crows), but very little was about her backyard. She went into too much length and detail about her family's genetic eye diseases and cancer predispositions. Her childhood recounts were many times not related to the subject of her backyard and in this way the book was loose and wandering. And even though she is a mature person in her fifties, a lot of the writing had a contemporary "look at me" flavor; how she is such a martyr for the environment. She acts as if she is shouldering this environmental challenge we are facing on her own.
And then there were the constant depressing "life is short" comments; about how people in their fifties should start thinking about how little time they have left. These constant the-end-is-near chants were doubly depressing for me as I'm in my later sixties. I disagree, I don't think it's healthy to constantly measure how long one may, or may not, have on this Earth. Especially in one's golden years. It really irks me that the book was a Reese's Book Club Pick and so many more people read it because of this.
The author's writing style was average. She did have a few moments, but most times when she waxed poetic she was trying to give it a Mary Oliver feel, and it just didn't work out; the writing felt overly done when she did this. I think it becomes more apparent when an author's writing is plain in general. There were two or three times when she was talking about an event and then abruptly moved on to something else before telling what happen in the end.
My advice if you are planning on reading this memoir, is to read Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass either before or after. You will be left with a better picture of what is happening, knowing people working together are making significant differences and that yes... your little pollinator garden is worth it because when all of our pollinator gardens, full of carefully chosen native plants, are added together you can see the progress. And please join a native plants group on social media or in your area.
I feel books like this are irresponsible.
May 8, 2023
The Comfort of Crows excels in finding magic in the mundane.
My favorite part about The Comfort of Crows is that it doesn't shy away from grief. The Essay's as a whole paint a complete and thoughtful picture of what it is to be human. Readers will be privy to moments of immense joy and deep grief and the clever parallel to a creature or season gives these insights a unique and fresh prospective.
Part memoir, part nature study, this book and its thoughtful essays will help readers slow down and marvel at the simple moment.
My favorite part about The Comfort of Crows is that it doesn't shy away from grief. The Essay's as a whole paint a complete and thoughtful picture of what it is to be human. Readers will be privy to moments of immense joy and deep grief and the clever parallel to a creature or season gives these insights a unique and fresh prospective.
Part memoir, part nature study, this book and its thoughtful essays will help readers slow down and marvel at the simple moment.
April 24, 2025
i must be pms-ing bc this book made me cry
December 20, 2025
An absolutely beautiful book, both in Margaret Renkl's writing and her brother, Billy Renkl's, stunning color illustrations.
Although almost all my books are ebooks or audiobooks from the library these days, I actually purchased this hardback as a gift to myself. And what a cherished gift it became!
I read it as it was written, one week at a time, over the course of a year, starting in late December of 2024 and finishing in mid-December 2025. In this way, I could best relate to what was happening in my own garden and woodland as Renkl wrote about her own. In at least 3/4 of the chapters, I found a parallel between her stories and reflections and my own, and this synchronicity made the book even more special to me than it already was.
Sure, you could sit down and read this book in a day, or a week, but I wouldn't recommend it. I think it is best savored over time. Every week I anxiously looked forward to the next gorgeous drawing (what would it be?) and the next dose of Renkl's lyrical words. Reading a short chapter became a Sunday afternoon ritual for me, brief but relished.
My highest rating for this ode to our amazing natural world - and a prayer that we can preserve what's left of it.
Note: I highly, highly recommend the actual book rather than the audiobook. Billy Renkl's illustrations are not to be missed! There's still time to start it this year in the last week of December and read it the way I did. You won't be disappointed!
Although almost all my books are ebooks or audiobooks from the library these days, I actually purchased this hardback as a gift to myself. And what a cherished gift it became!
I read it as it was written, one week at a time, over the course of a year, starting in late December of 2024 and finishing in mid-December 2025. In this way, I could best relate to what was happening in my own garden and woodland as Renkl wrote about her own. In at least 3/4 of the chapters, I found a parallel between her stories and reflections and my own, and this synchronicity made the book even more special to me than it already was.
Sure, you could sit down and read this book in a day, or a week, but I wouldn't recommend it. I think it is best savored over time. Every week I anxiously looked forward to the next gorgeous drawing (what would it be?) and the next dose of Renkl's lyrical words. Reading a short chapter became a Sunday afternoon ritual for me, brief but relished.
My highest rating for this ode to our amazing natural world - and a prayer that we can preserve what's left of it.
Note: I highly, highly recommend the actual book rather than the audiobook. Billy Renkl's illustrations are not to be missed! There's still time to start it this year in the last week of December and read it the way I did. You won't be disappointed!
dnf
February 2, 2025Dnf’ed at 35%
Sadly, this was boring, and I didn’t like the writing style.
Sadly, this was boring, and I didn’t like the writing style.
December 30, 2025
as each chapter of this book is dedicated to a week of the year, my intention was to read a chapter each week and follow along as the seasons progressed. and while i ended up reading it in fits and spurts, it was nice to follow along with this book over the course of 2025.
i do adore the idea of being intentional about noticing the changes of the seasons, of ruminating on our surroundings as they slowly shift! but this nature study is memoir-adjacent, and it's hard to enjoy a memoir when you don't care for its author. i don't have any major foibles with renkl (oh, except when she groups autism with asthma, alzheimer's parkinson's, and cancer, YIKES), but she comes off as pretentious, and i couldn't vibe with her personality as it's presented on the page.
despite that, i didn't hate this - i don't have enough plants and critters to observe outside the windows of my apartment, so i felt i was living vicariously through renkl here. what a gift to indulge in nurturing nature with birdfeeders and birdhouses, heated birdbaths in winter, pollinator gardens, and letting the yard grow wild!
the doom of environmental destruction is balanced with hope, and with reminders that sometimes we need to zoom in - focus on the persistence of the earthworms, the bumblebees, the birds, all the delights to be found if we take the time to look. and when we cannot reduce suffering, it is our duty to witness it.
i do adore the idea of being intentional about noticing the changes of the seasons, of ruminating on our surroundings as they slowly shift! but this nature study is memoir-adjacent, and it's hard to enjoy a memoir when you don't care for its author. i don't have any major foibles with renkl (oh, except when she groups autism with asthma, alzheimer's parkinson's, and cancer, YIKES), but she comes off as pretentious, and i couldn't vibe with her personality as it's presented on the page.
despite that, i didn't hate this - i don't have enough plants and critters to observe outside the windows of my apartment, so i felt i was living vicariously through renkl here. what a gift to indulge in nurturing nature with birdfeeders and birdhouses, heated birdbaths in winter, pollinator gardens, and letting the yard grow wild!
the doom of environmental destruction is balanced with hope, and with reminders that sometimes we need to zoom in - focus on the persistence of the earthworms, the bumblebees, the birds, all the delights to be found if we take the time to look. and when we cannot reduce suffering, it is our duty to witness it.
Our favorites are the toads. You would not believe how soft a toad is to the touch - soft, soft, and so dry! Nothing like the way you'd think a toad would feel. I love the jutting toad elbows and the crouched toad knees and the splayed toad fingers and toes, all so dear, so similar to our own. We are gentle with the toads. They are as soft a great-grandmother you can hold in your hand.
November 20, 2025
Revel in thoughtful essays paired with artful mixed media collage created by the author's brother. While this collection is rooted in central Tennessee with many Alabama origin stories, relatable natural wonders and challenges are nearly universal -- including grief of climate changes. And several of these essays are profoundly moving.
Also listen to the audiobook narrated by the author.
I'm grateful for the privilege to have participated in a gathering to welcome this author and share time in a Kansas tallgrass prairie, thanks to KU Professor Megan Kaminski, The Commons at KU, Outdoors Unscripted, and Kansas Land Trust!
Also listen to the audiobook narrated by the author.
I'm grateful for the privilege to have participated in a gathering to welcome this author and share time in a Kansas tallgrass prairie, thanks to KU Professor Megan Kaminski, The Commons at KU, Outdoors Unscripted, and Kansas Land Trust!
September 6, 2024
Reese’s Book Club Sept. ‘24—100th club pick. {This is a devotional with 52 chapters on the wildlife and natural plant life in Margaret Renkl’s own backyard over the course of one year.}
Such a beautiful little gem. It details a true account of nature through the seasons, and the writers personal journey as a kind avid helper of all things plant and animal related in her urban backyard oasis. Margaret Renkl sets the scene, her backyard, as its own interconnected web of life. Renkl writes about her family, our current climate change and how her neighborhood growth + expansion is negatively affecting the ecosystem. Love the nostalgic feel + that it brought back childhood memories of nature walks through the woods and playing along the creek bank. I listened through Hoopla buying a copy to read throughout the year. Can’t wait to browse through the artwork created by her brother, Billy Renkl. 5 stars — Pub. 10/24/23
Such a beautiful little gem. It details a true account of nature through the seasons, and the writers personal journey as a kind avid helper of all things plant and animal related in her urban backyard oasis. Margaret Renkl sets the scene, her backyard, as its own interconnected web of life. Renkl writes about her family, our current climate change and how her neighborhood growth + expansion is negatively affecting the ecosystem. Love the nostalgic feel + that it brought back childhood memories of nature walks through the woods and playing along the creek bank. I listened through Hoopla buying a copy to read throughout the year. Can’t wait to browse through the artwork created by her brother, Billy Renkl. 5 stars — Pub. 10/24/23
August 8, 2023
i thought this was an absolutely beautiful book. it has given me a greater appreciation for the natural world and has taught me lessons in slowing down.
i will say that there were moments that felt, for lack of better terms, a little preachy that threw me off and took me out of the book a bit, but i would say that it’s still worth reading regardless of religious affiliation due to the beauty within.
i will say that there were moments that felt, for lack of better terms, a little preachy that threw me off and took me out of the book a bit, but i would say that it’s still worth reading regardless of religious affiliation due to the beauty within.
September 14, 2024
I don't recommend the audiobook. It's read by the author who (with absolutely no disrespect) sounds like the love child of Peggy from King of the Hill and Tiffany from Daria. As much as I'd like to read the book instead, I don't think I can unhear it. DNF; only made it 40 minutes in. I do think it could be a nice slow-living kind of book for those wanting that.
September 7, 2024
Unless you want to hear about owl vomit and squirrel nipples…sit this one out. Pretty sure Reece was running low on books to recommend this one.
January 3, 2024
A book club selection for January, i loved this book with all my heart.
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