It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me think.
The moment I heard about this book I knew I had to read it. I have fallen in love with the Scottish Highlands and want to go there as often as possible. Furthermore, I saw a great documentary about Ken Smith last year and was charmed by his personality, so I wanted to get to know him better. But I was surprised how beautifully written and even profound this volume turned out to be.
The first part is a pretty classic autobiography, describing Smith's fortunes from birth to the time he began his life in the hut near Loch Treig. I knew the main facts from the documentary, but this detailed story moved me deeply. I found it so disturbing that although he was a young, intelligent and industrious man, he had no chance of finding employment other than grueling, poorly paid physical labor (in his own words, “I’d rather be freezing cold, hungry, poor and free; than freezing cold, hungry, poor and trapped”) - I guess because of his background and lack of education. Of course, it was because of these circumstances that he ended up living a much happier and more fulfilling life than most highly educated professionals, so by no means did I feel sorry for him - it just made me sad that our world can still be such an unfair, backward place.
I loved his adventures in the Canadian wilderness - I would gladly read a separate book devoted solely to his travels there. But here it is just an introduction to the main part of the story: what life as a modern hermit really looks like.
He describes in detail every possible aspect of it - from building a wooden house, to tending a garden (“You shouldn’t feel self-conscious about saying a few kind words to the things that grow in your garden. You shouldn’t feel self-conscious about saying kind words to anything”), to fishing, to being prepared for the worst weather. It may sound boring, but he somehow makes it fascinating. From each chapter you learn not only survival strategies (“Above all, your level of risk needs to be managed as much as possible, and that starts with shutting up the voice that says, ‘It won’t happen to me.’ It bloody well will”), but also his philosophy, and it is enlightening. He does not try to preach, he is a very humble and straightforward person, but time and again I found myself inspired by his words.
His story may be sobering for us city dwellers who dream of getting off the grid - he is not shy about the challenges and dangers he faces on a daily basis. I am sure this kind of life is not for everyone. But somehow it makes me feel better to know that it is possible and that he is happy there, on the slopes of Treig.
Many thanks to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Rusty
Summer Bendle
Tardigrade
Jacqui Murray