Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile Summary and Reviews

Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile
by Verlyn Klinkenborg

Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile
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Book Summary Information

Author: Verlyn Klinkenborg
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2006-02-07
ISBN: 0679407286
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Knopf

Book Reviews of Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile

Book Review: Reptilian Sense and Sensibility
Summary: 5 Stars

What a wry, original, disarming, imaginative, and instructive tale! Author Verlyn Klinkenborg considers the subjective journaling of 18th century English curate Gilbert White regarding a real life tortoise who lived on White's property in Selborne, and from White's biased human observations crafts a rebuttal unlike any other: a bestial philosophic treatise. Timothy is a sentient being who has much to teach us from her example (White in his paternalism erroneously concludes Timothy is male).

Through Timothy's narrative we are shown our own species' arrogance, cruelty, and bumbling tack. "How do I escape from that nimble-tongued, fleet footed race?.... Walk through the holes in their attention". Timothy's discourse on instinct versus reason is worthy of university level discussion. "Tottering, stilt-gaited beasts. A sad plight. Reason too often a will-o'-the-wisp. Instinct a relic within them."

Jane Austen in a carapace. Elegance amongst the asparagus.

As one reviewer notes, this is "one of the best meditations on slowness, patience, and endurance". It will make you re-consider humankinds place in the world. An excellent book club read, it will lead to many long discussions. One can also predict increasing crowds at the reliquary of Timothy's shell at the Natural History Museum in London.

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