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Loading... Servants of the Map: Storiesby Andrea Barrett
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will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. The book is a series of short stories with intertwined characters, most set in the 1800's. While each was involved in science or naturalist studies, the stories were much more focused on personal longings. One central theme was dealing with loss of family or friend. Although I enjoyed the book I was never enthralled for reasons that I can't quite put my finger on. (  ) snash | Aug 25, 2009 |  Each chapter can stand alone in this novel of exploration, science and the changing of human thinking. While the book centers in the 1800's it story is still today's story. Does the Bible or science tell the true story of the earth and nature. Still unresolved in some people's mind this book allows for further thinking on the subject. (  ) readersweb | Aug 13, 2009 | I thought that I would like this book of short stories better than I did. The subject matter, natural history, is one of great interest to me, however I found the stories a bit dry. The 19th century views of science that she portrayed were quite entertaining, and the prose gave me the feel of walking though a Victorian museum filled with curio cabinets containing jars of esoterica with handwritten paper labels. Many people who gave this book high reviews were entertained by the fact that these stories were populated with characters from some of her novels - perhaps if I had read the novels first, I would have been more engaged in the characters. ( ) Jennisis | Jun 17, 2009 | A beautifully written collection of short stories that spans multiple historical periods while subtly weaving together families and characters. Science and discovery combine with personal turning points and direction seeking. Whether an epiphany regarding how to move forward or a reflection on a decision from years past, each story provides moving descriptions of the influences and desires that shape lives, relationships, and dreams. This is a quiet and reflective book. At times haunting, evoking thoughts of loss and dreams deferred even when personal peace is realized. (  ) Griff | Feb 2, 2009 | Her best book. I love how the characters in stories reappear in other stories. The consistent reader slowly pieces together their lives, and those around them. ( ) majorbabs | Apr 4, 2008 | 
 As in her previous books ''The Voyage of the Narwhal'' and ''Ship Fever and Other Stories,'' Ms. Barrett demonstrates her ability in these pages to write as persuasively about the mysteries of science as she does about the mysteries of the human heart, as vividly about distant landscapes as she does about the domestic rituals of daily life.
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Fans of Barrett's earlier books (the sublime Ship Fever and Voyage of the Narwhal) will delight in tracing the stories and characters that wind in and out of these three books, producing the sense of something lovely, ongoing, and whole. In the final story, Elizabeth finds consolation in her work caring for tubercular patients--"as if, in the order and precarious harmony of this house and those it shelters she might, for all that gets lost in this life, at last have found a cure." The same might be said of science, and of Barrett's art. --Mary Park
(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:57:57 -0400)
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