The spirit of human nature, demonstrates farmer/writer Gruchow in this fine little book, is connected to the natural world in a way that demands our respect. Four essays comprise the book. Two are new, two are revised from previous publication. Each is devoted to a different season and filled with Gruchow's observations of the boundary waters, the interconnected lakes and forests running between northern Minnesota and Ontario. As he navigates these waters by canoe and boat, and crosses the land by foot and ski, sometimes alone, sometimes with a companion, Gruchow finds, and elucidates, numerous moments that feed his "capacity for delight and wonder: The water tumbling from one lake into the next, the laughter of loons, the howling of wolves...." Such natural acts and occurrences may be simple, yet they are spectacular and, Gruchow argues, can provide human beings a feeling of renewal. Slices of natural history and stories of early pioneers keep Gruchow's pacing and story lines on a spacious winding path. (Aug.)
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