Servants of the Map: Stories

Late 19c / early 20c backdrop. The author uses letters as a literary device effectively but perhaps a shade too much. The use of letters does signify how little we truly understand the inner minds of others. The six stories each stand on their own but several characters weave throughout a shared narrative. The book is satisfying, but something was missing for me. While an interesting glimpse into the lives of the characters, all with an interest in science, I didn’t find it moving or offering fresh insights overall. Good but not a preferred style perhaps. Character driven, historical info. Strong influence of mothers; those who wander vs those who stay; biodiversity; searching for those we lost in other people. Best stories are the show more first two: Servants of the Map and The Forest. show less

I chose this book because he had been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and Barrett had previously won a National Book Award. This is high praise. The book is a collection of 4 short stories and 2 novellas and deals with time frames spanning a 150 years. The prose was excellent and I admired how well crafted the stories were. Seeing how science was viewed in the 19th century was interesting and I got a great sense of life during those times. Barrett connected some of the characters between the different stories and that added to the enjoyment of the book. The book was not a page turner but was worth the effort. As one reviewer noted, they enjoyed the book but was never enthralled by it. I do recommend it if you are intrigued by natural show more history because that theme along with dealing with loss ties all of the stories together. show less

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.

While I wasn't quite as fond of these stories as I was those in "Ship Fever," Barrett has still crafted some great narratives here, weaving together characters from earlier stories in ways that are unexpected and intriguing.

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.

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.

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.