Review of 'Mountain Tails' by Sharyn Munro
As you may know from reading this blog, I am saving to start an animal sanctuary here in Australia. I have just finished reading a book by a lady who has an altogether different, but equally important kind of sanctuary. Sharyn Munro, the author of, Mountain Tails: The Lives and Loves of My Animal Neighbours lives in the Upper Hunter, NSW, Australia in a solar powered hut, far away from any human neighbours. Her home and land has become a refuge for wildlife. It is not a rescue centre, instead it is an area of the wild where the animals can just be.
How refreshing!
Over 30 years Sharyn Munro has lived surrounded by her wild animal neighbours. In this book we get to step into her gumboots and meet some of these characters. From the quoll who turns her shed into a marsupial nursery to the lonesome emu who tries to follow her home, every species get a chapter of their own. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. I was transported into this wild world where nature rules.
Along with the entertaining, observant and moving stories about her neighbouring wildlife, Munro provides beautiful illustrations of the animals throughout. This really added to my enjoyment of the book, as her drawings manage to capture the unique personalities of these animals.
There is the added joy in this book of finding out about Munro's past. When she first moved to the mountain, she lived with her children in a tent on the land and made an outdoor shower out of a bucket and 2 billies. I couldn't help but be drawn into this simple and sustainable world.
Munro is a vegetarian, which pleases me, as many environmentalists choose to ignore that important aspect of environmentalism. Who knows maybe she will go vegan and really show her commitment? She is passionate about Australia's flora and fauna and she has a great deal of knowledge that she shares in an entertaining tone throughout the book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in wildlife, sustainable living and wonderful stories. Buy it and treasure it.
Here is a link to Fishpond, an Australian book store where you can buy this book:
Click Here to Buy Mountain Tails: The Lives and Loves of My Animal NeighboursTags: Animal Rights Book Reviews
Comment on "Review of 'Mountain Tails' by Sharyn Munro"
