The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
By Elisabeth Tova Bailey
Algonquin Book of Chapel Hill, 2010. 190 pgs. Nonfiction

While in her early thirties, Elisabeth Bailey found herself ripped from her busy life by a rare illness that left her bedridden for months at a time. As an afterthought, Elisabeth’s friend places a woodland snail inside a potted plant she brings on a visit. This small wild snail becomes an unexpected source of inspiration, fascination, and companionship through her long months of convalescence. Bailey has written this short compilation of what she learned about snails, along with what her mollusk friend teaches her about life and survival.

This is a very short, sweet, and informative book. As strange as it sounds, it is really just a love letter to snails and their fascinating abilities and traits. Bailey does such a good job describing these little creatures that I actually thought about adopting a little snail pal for myself.

CZ