Through a series of short memoirs, Laura Valeri’s After Life as a Human visits Dog Island, a remote, amenity-deprived, hurricane-prone islet where pelicans rule, residents are resourceful, and human ambition is suspect. With uncanny observation and lyrical reflection, these essays explore the persistence, fragility, and connectedness of life on the island and off. Valeri masterfully links local history, environmental research, and spiritual meditations to reflect on the island’s wild beauty, while coming to terms with the heartbreaking destruction of its fragile ecology. Sandra Beasley, author of four poetry collections, including the forthcoming Made to Explode, joins her in her musings.
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