The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

A delightful and unusual tale occasioned by an illness that kept the author bedridden. She finds that a snail has taken up residence in a terrarium beside her bed, which gives her the chance to observe the life of this very different creature living an entirely different rhythm. This enables her to gain a fresh perspective on her own restricted life, and encourages her to find out a great deal more about snails, including, for instance the nature of its slime. She draws on both biology and literature to reflect on the various qualities of snails, about which most readers will know precious little if anything. She concludes that her own survival is of little importance when compared with the continuing evolution of life. The book offers a very different perspective and is beautifully written and meticulously researched.