Meetings With Moths by Katty Baird book review

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I am so excited to write this book review because I just adored this book. I want to share it with as many people as possible! It usually takes me a long time to read non-fiction books, but I really got into Meetings With Moths. Since I finished reading it, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book.

Recently, I have been experimenting with writing different blog post topics. I love reading and wanted to try and incorporate it with nature and sustainability because that is primarily what my blog is about. I think that I will write some other non-nature book blog posts because I really enjoy it. Also, I recently went interrailing and want to share it but I’m not sure what I will write about just yet haha. So, expect a variety of content coming up.

Onto the book review of Meetings With Moths by Katty Baird.

About the book

Discovering Meetings With Moths

I found this book in the environment & conservation section of Borrow Box. Meetings With Moths was published on the 27th of April, so only a few months ago. Normally books stay on my TBR list for a long time before I end up reading it. But I am about to start my masters course in Applied Ecology and I’m hoping to widen my knowledge in preparation for it. Since February, I have been going to a few moth trap sessions. So when I saw the book, I borrowed the book from the library straight away. I downloaded it on my iPad ready for my holiday where there was no wifi.

Related post: 8 ways to read sustainably

Reading the book

To be totally honest, as much as I love reading nature books, I find it a bit challenging. I am so so interested in all things animals and conservation, but I want to learn and remember it all. It makes reading these books a bit harder because I put so much pressure on myself to remember. Since there was no wifi on holiday, I had lots of time to just read and avoid distraction. I had previously read Swan by Dan Keel, and loved it, so I was on a good nature book run.

Structure of the book

One thing about non-fiction books that I struggle with, is the length of the chapters. I much prefer a book with chapters that aren’t too long. I found that with Meetings With Moths, the length of the chapter was a good amount. It gives a great overview, and left me wanting to research more into each species of moth Baird mentioned.

I was expecting for each chapter to be a different species, as it sometimes is in other nature books. As much as I do like that, it was nice for Baird to not follow that. For example, there was a chapter on the caterpillars, who are often forgotten when it comes to moths and butterflies! They are such a pivotal point in the creation of moths and butterflies, so I found that very interesting. There was also a chapter on citizen science and the importance of the public in determining the population numbers. For example, where there is the Big Garden Birdwatch and Big Butterfly Count.

Writing style

I think part of the reason why I enjoyed this book so much was because it felt like listening to a friend. I related to her a lot, though at the moment it’s butterflies for me. The way she popped down to see some moths on her bike, that is exactly what I want to be able to do! Going to an old building to find a specific moth and discovering a colony. Meeting with more experienced ‘moth’ers and learning from them, taking on their techniques. It was really nice to read about the mothing community.

Learning

As I mentioned earlier, when I read non-fiction, I just want to soak all the information in. I remembered a lot more than I thought I would. It has given me a new-found need to get out in the field and find moths, read more moth specific books and just learn. During reading it, I was on holiday with my parents and kept telling them all about how amazing moths were. I managed to see a hawkmoth in France, the Broad-bordered bee hawk-moth (below) which was so exciting.

My rating

5 stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I definitely recommend this book, it is really good if you don’t know much about moths as it gives a great overview. There is a section at the end (and Baird writes throughout) about what you can do to help.

I am so glad that I started reading this book, as I became so invested in what Baird was writing about. Now that I have read it, I am hoping to buy a copy so I can go back through.

Buy from Bookshop* | Waterstones* | World of Books

Have you read Meetings With Moths?

Caroline ♡