In “Firefly,” Nezhukumatathil paints a mesmerizing picture of these insects as innocent and nostalgic as a childhood summer: Who knew the adorable axolotl has cannibalistic tendencies or that red-spotted newts are filled with deadly toxins? Interesting as each anecdote is, they also embody the theme of each essay. Even for non-nature enthusiasts, the nature anecdotes are interesting and digestible. Some mostly memoir, some mostly nature anecdotes, there is enough of each to fascinate and draw us all in. Structured into a series of bite-sized essays, Nezhukumatathil offers vignettes on a selection of flora, fauna, and natural phenomena while drawing on her own life experiences. Widely known for her poetry, Nezhukumatathil uses clean, playful prose to guide us through interesting anecdotes about nature and morsels of memoir about growing up as a woman of color in America. Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s first essay collection, World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments, stands with one foot in nature writing and the other in memoir.
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