Diary of a Young Naturalist

Dara McAnulty presents many faces in a hopeful memoir: a teenager, a complex and astute nature enthusiast, a sensitive autistic, a member of a loving Northern Irish family, an environmental activist and an eloquent writer. None of these tells the whole story but all are relevant in this diary of one year in his life.

The writing is at its best when it is poetically focussed on nature, particularly birds. In these moments it is like reading JA Baker, putting across the beauty of nature through perfectly chosen words and descriptions of moments. The depictions of his autism and his family are also wonderfully revealing and carefully considered. The moments of activism (and occasional linked anger) are the only ones that seem to lose the run of the book and become too polarised. But the diary is a marvel and a fascinating insight into a great mind and a section of the hopeful youth that are coming of age today.

I have been reading bits and pieces online by Dara for a while now and I'm always impressed with how eloquently he writes.  He sees nature in a way that so few can, he sees beauty in everything (because of Dara I now leave dandelions alone, no more ripping them up) and he has possibly the most patient parents ever,  mine would given me a slap if I started picking apart animal scat to find bugs, instead of freaking out Dara's parents discuss with him what his found.  This book shows that it is this parenting that has helped to create "A Rock-star of the Natural World".

Dara puts all his emotion onto these pages, telling the reader about the bullying he experienced at school, feeling so alone and not fitting in, he shares how close he came to ending it all.  I still see him getting bullied on twitter, it doesn't seem to be kids anymore, this is adults now and anybody with a soul can't help but defend him, it is great to see so many rallying to his defence.  I know a couple people who are autistic and reading this book gave me an insight into what is going on with them and how they deal with being overwhelmed.

One of my favourite books is Notes From Walnut Tree Farm by Roger Deakin and I couldn't help but compare when reading, it has that same smooth writing that hooks the reader.  The smallest thing Dara writes about, from a feather to a stone, becomes so easy to picture.  I reckon this book will be heavily quoted by writers in future nature books for years to come.  One of the best debut's I have ever read...still can't believe somebody so young could write something so wonderful and I look forward to what is next for him.

I'd also like to thanks Little Toller for the copy of this book they sent me.  This gets a 100% recommendation from me.

Blog reivew: felcherman.wordpress.com/2020/05/03/diary-of-a-young-naturalist-by-dara-mcanulty/