August 20, 2024
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Review: Secrets of Creatures that Thrive in the Dark
in Night MagicDarkness is worshipped and its secrets revealed
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Magic of the Night: An adventure with glowworms, moon gardens, and other wonders of the dark
By Leigh Ann Henion.
Algonquin, 2024 ($30)
After returning from a recent camping trip with legs covered in insect bites and a renewed sense of dependency on artificial light and the glow of electronics, writer Lee Ann Henion found a similar remedy by venturing into the Appalachian Mountains after work. Night Magic The book chronicles her journey to “reclaim the heart of darkness” by experiencing creatures that thrive in darkness, from spotted salamanders performing a mating dance before an audience of fairy shrimp to tricolor bats seeing through sound. Henion’s vivid descriptions of nature and complementary self-reflection remind us that witnessing extraordinary sights can be as easy as delaying bedtime an hour and getting outside.
