Like many of us I'm having a hard time concentrating, Covid, stress about the election. This has had the result of tapering off my reading and review writing quite a bit. This book of essays took me back to a happier time. A time when my eldest son, now in his forties, fell in love with Winnie the Pooh. In his former years he was never without his stuffed Pooh toy. The stories, the shows are still imprinted in my memory all these years later.

Of course these essays are not all about the beloved bear, but they did give me insight into this wonderful man whose creation meant so much to so many. The first essay on his bookshelves had me going to mine and resulted in a two box giveaway if books. There is no conceivable way that in this lifetime I will ever read so many. His essay on cabinets and all the oddities stored there has me packing up an unused for years, food processor as well as many other things I have not seen not thought of in years. One could say I found and unexpected benefit in this reading.

There are humorous anecdotes, he has I believe, a great sense of humor. Some are melancholy, such as his essay on the ocean, thinking back to the fun he had there as a child, wondering if there were enough small crabs and shells left to delight today's children. Lamenting the loss of freedom today's children have, compared to his time growing up.

There is enough here to delight many, be essays are much easier to concentrate on now, at least for me. Though I do keep attempting to plod through my other books. Hopefully, as they say, this too shall pass.

ARC from edelweiss. ( )