Evergreen Book Review
Searching the shelves of Waterstones for my next book to read, I spotted ‘Evergreen’ by Lydia Millen. What initially caught my eye was its beautiful gold embossed cover, the work of Dianne Sutherland, who also provided the enchanting illustrations in the book itself. In a fast paced world, with its relentless drive for novelty, Evergreen is a brilliant guide to navigate the twists and turns, the ups and downs of every day life. Millen draws on her own experiences to share invaluable tools with all of us striving for a quiet confidence to navigate the chaos of the world. And the toolbox she draws upon to provide this help and encouragement is one that’s freely available to everyone - nature. Millen’s deep affinity with the changing seasons and the lessons they can teach us is something we can all appreciate. Spring, summer, autumn, winter- in different ways they can help us to celebrate the joyful moments and to recover from the sad times. She’s particularly drawn to the symbolism of the evergreen - hence the name of the book. For Millen they embody resilience, endurance, strength and grace. She reminds us that life doesn’t have to be endless sunny days; sometimes the shade is a welcome place to be. The austere beauty of winter is as wonderful as the lush days of summer.
Millen is refreshingly honest about her own successes and failures, about not always being in a good place, how nature helped her to deal with negative feelings and to focus on qualities of gratitude and resilience. Dealing with grief at the loss of loved ones, from people to pets, feelings of inadequacy at the failure of a business, gave her valuable insights into her ability to recover, learn lessons, bounce back and move on. To quote the poet Rumi: “The wound is the place where the light enters you”, which encapsulates Millen’s own approach.
Her book is like a close friend you go back to whenever you need it most - a companion to carry with you and help you negotiate the messiness and the wonder of what it means to be alive. As well as her reflections on nature and the seasons, she includes practical tips such as ‘mid-winter prompts’ including recipes, things to look out for on country walks and in the garden, things to celebrate and things to let go of. Small things in themselves that bring more joy than any amount of material fulfilment. My favourite words in the book are:
“Seeing wildflowers in full bloom…never ceases to remind me of the joy that can be found in this world….if we choose to see it.”
Overall, Evergreen is a refreshing and emotionally resonant book that lingers in your mind long after the final page is turned. Seasons come and go, it’s the inner strength you find in yourself that should remain, just like an evergreen.