World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Hello again JT Friends and Critters! With fervor inspired by your passion for conservation, we’ve worked swiftly to prepare a second book review for the JT blog. In this first review of the new year, we present World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.

As many may agree, one of the greatest lessons we were presented with in 2020 was a resounding need to slow down and observe the world around us. All too often, we race to the finish line of any given goal or task and miss subtle changes in our environment. Sometimes the changes aren’t even very subtle, but we bypass them nonetheless as we move at lightning speed to check things off our ‘to-do’ lists. If any of what I’ve said resonates with you, I highly recommend planting yourself in a comfortable chair and begin reading World of Wonders. In this collection of essays, Nezhukumatathil reflects on some of the worlds’ most unique life forms, such as the axolotl and ribbon eel, and others we are generally more familiar with, like the peacock or grey cockatiel. These bite-sized ponderings do what many of us should make a habit of: observe not how nature imitates us (looking at you, superb lyrebird), but how we reflect nature. Gradually practice slowing down by reading this collection, one essay per sitting leaving plenty of time for reflection. You’ll notice yourself begin to feel more and more connected to the life forms we cohabitate with on this earth – I know I did. 

A personal example I’ll leave you with, in Nezhukumatathil style, is the role the Cardinal has played in my life. There is an enormous amount of material out there that discusses the symbolism behind seeing a cardinal, much of which interprets it’s appearance as a message from a departed loved one. However, the ‘Red Bird’, as we refer to it in my family, is our way of communicating with those we can still very much hold. It started when my great-aunt purchased a beautiful red bird figurine to give her mother Bertha one Christmas. When Christmas finally came that year and Bertha unwrapped the gift, she was confused to find the box empty. Unbeknownst at the time, her daughter had taken the bird out of the box to admire it and forgotten to put it back in! Always good humored, Bertha and her niece Eloise, who had been privy to the hilarious confusion, would send red birds back and forth to each other until their eventual passing. Bertha’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc (it’s a very large family) have continued to share red birds with each other, be it in the form of figurine, ornament or card. It’s our way of staying connected as members move farther away from the upstate NY farmstead, and receiving one is always a wonderful reminder that we are loved and missed. 

If you feel a special connection to any of the worlds wonders, we would love if you shared it with us! Please send all stories to administration@joshuastrust.org 

And for any family members out there who may be reading this, I leave you a Red Bird…know that you are loved and missed!

~Joyce Fountain