Why read The Book of Unconformities?

Book cover of The Book of Unconformities: Speculations on Lost Time

Book description

From the author of the acclaimed Insectopedia, a powerful exploration of loss, endurance, and the absences that permeate the present

When Hugh Raffles’s two sisters died suddenly within a few weeks of each other, he reached for rocks, stones, and other seemingly solid objects as anchors in a world unmoored,…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Book of Unconformities as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Hettie Judah

Author

Raffles explores geology through both a historic and an autobiographical lens.

We might understand the ‘unconformities’ of the title as both unconventional geological formations and members of Raffles’s own family (though I imagine he might question my urge to distinguish between the two.)

The book is episodic, and follows Raffles on his travels to sites of geological and personal significance.

Throughout he also draws out the long history of exploitation bound up in our relationship to the mineral realm, including the removal of iron-rich meteorites from indigenous communities in the arctic circle, and the forced labour of the Glimmerwerke –…

From Hettie's list on making you fall in love with stones.