It's never a very thrilling introduction for a book to be described as  "a journal of a man in solitude, written in the form of short essays."  None the less, Walden, written by Henry David Thoreau is a mountain of a book to get through. ( I feel more inclined to say a vast field that goes on forever in no particular direction and 300 pages later you are back where you started.)  Some may suggest this is the work of a complete genius who required complete submersion in a life like 'test', others feel this could have been a desperate attempt to run from or confront homosexuality, and others yet feel this was just some guy writing a book that needed more attention in the editing department.

Having said that, I am coining Thoreau the most quotable man on earth.  Never have I dog-eared so many pages in a book I absolutely dreaded picking up every time.

A brief synopsis would have me say, this book is the deeply thorough thoughts of a man who chooses to live in isolation near a pond in the woods.  He was educated and social.  He visits town every other day, becomes very close to nature around him and has numerous guests coming and going.  As you read through the book, you'll find yourself wondering if this man is a complete hypocrite.  Read on, you may find Thoreau is onto something else.

And now to share some of those quotes which perhaps demonstrate that Thoreau was not only wise beyond his 20 and 9 years when he wrote this book but just how insightful one can become...alone in the bush.

"It is not all books that are as dull as their readers."

"Sha'll a man go and hang himself because he belongs to a race of pygmies, and not be the best pygmy that he can?"

"As he made no compromises with Time, Time kept out of his way..."

I have to admit, in hind sight, this book is truly impressive.  Proud to have read it, I only recommend it to those up for the challenge.  This book is not for the faint at heart and requires x amount of patience.

tks

jennine