The Way Through the Woods

May 15, 2019
In this debut memoir, an anthropologist recounts how mycology eased her out of mourning. Long's husband, Eiolf, collapsed suddenly at his office and died at age 54. A "paler, stupider, ashen" version of herself, the Norway-based author took a beginner's course on mushrooms at the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo. Finding voluptuous, golden chanterelles and flavor-bomb morels gave her a sense of joy--"for me there is no doubt that my discovery of the realm of fungi steadily nudged me out of the tunnel of grief"--and she trained to become a "mushroom inspector." In Norway, certified mushroom inspectors, who must learn 150 species, review foragers' hauls (for free!) to ensure no one inadvertently makes a deadly error, like mistaking a destroying angel for a tasty meadow mushroom. Long focuses on many aspects of various fungi--beauty, oddity, edibility, toxicity, hallucinogenic properties, potential as antidepressants--and less on mourning. The two subjects don't always mesh well, though the author makes interesting observations about loss--e.g., "the map of my friends and acquaintances was redrawn after Eiolf's death." She brings an anthropologist's perspective to the book, considering various cultures' differing views--the clouded agaric smells "perfumed" to Norwegians and skunky to Americans, for example, and Norwegian mycologists really don't like talking about magic mushrooms, which isn't the case in the States--and she unearths endless fodder to liven up cocktail conversation: "Members of the fungi kingdom are more closely akin to those of the animal kingdom and, consequently, to Homo sapiens, than to the plant kingdom!" The book is more a collection of edifying tales and facts than smooth narrative, but it's entertaining nonetheless. Learning about glow-in-the-dark jack-o'-lanterns, puffballs that "smoke" when you smash them, or toothy hedgehog mushrooms never gets old. Anyone with an interest in the natural world will delight in Long's sharp-eyed descriptions (and Viskari's line drawings) of fungi and her therapeutic rambles through Norwegian woods. A wonder-inducing dive into the unique kingdom of fungi.

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May 27, 2019
In this enchanting debut memoir, anthropologist Long tells of her life in Norway after the sudden death of her 54-year-old husband left her “alone in the world.” A beginner’s course in mushrooming was an unexpected life raft, leading her to find community and a sense of meaning while wandering the woods: “It was out in the open woodland, on moss-covered ground, that I stumbled on what I was searching for.” Long depicts the bleak lows she felt while mourning (“I went willingly into inner exile”), as she went deeper into her study of mycology. Along the way, she relates debates among mushroomers—such as ones regarding which fungi are actually toxic, which have simply fallen from favor in certain countries, and what are the best ways to cook mushrooms. It’s clear that mycology gave her a path out of despair, and her passion for mushrooms is evident as she describes the many varieties that are “luminescent and can light up a forest path when darkness falls” and the ancient true morels, with their “scent that can arouse powerful longing even in those who have forgotten where it comes from.” This unique tale of rebirth after loss doubles as a riveting foray into the world of mushrooming.

June 14, 2019

Upon the sudden death of her husband, Woon finds herself in an unfamiliar world, unsure of how to navigate her new reality, much like when she arrived in Norway as an exchange student from Malaysia many years prior. When the author enrolls in a course on mushroom hunting at the University of Oslo, she doesn't expect it to be the light out of the darkness, but that's just what it becomes. This thoughtful, touching account explores Woon's experience learning mushroom foraging in the aftermath of tragedy. She learns not only how to identify the various edible, poisonous, and notorious mushrooms that grow in Norway's forests (and city center), but also how to live again in her adopted home. VERDICT With charming sketches of the various mushrooms Woon encounters, this moving memoir explores one woman's journey through grief and will please fans of personal narratives as well as those who may be interested in mushroom foraging.--Venessa Hughes, Denver

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2019
When Long's husband, Eiolf, dies suddenly at work one morning before even making it to his desk, the days that follow overwhelm her until she finds refuge in an unexpected place. In this unique memoir, Norwegian author Long effortlessly weaves her innermost thoughts and anguish into her path to becoming a certified mushroom expert. Starting with her first mushrooms for beginners course, Long describes her journey through mourning and how mushrooming helped alleviate the weight of losing Eiolf. Although it is not intended as a field guide to mushrooming, her story may inspire readers to begin. It is, however, a heartfelt and honest account of overcoming loss that will give hope to readers in a simple, yet profound way. In her beautifully written first book, Long shares a way to feel anew by setting foot on a different path, discovering a spark of joy, and finding meaning again. Readers who appreciate the journeys through grief found in memoirs like Cheryl Strayed's Wild (2012) or Shannon Leone Fowler's Traveling with Ghosts (2017) should pick this up.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)