Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place by Terry Tempest Williams

     Memories are an important part of our everyday lives. Whether recalling a math problem discussed in class or reminiscing on an event from childhood, these memories continue to establish emotion even if they have passed. In Terry Tempest Williams' Refuge, vivid memories of landscape, locations, and the environment are recalled that help establish setting and emotion for the reader. Although several important memories were mentioned, the most important seems to be of the trip to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge with her grandmother. 

     Through Williams' memory of this refuge, a clear connection can be made through the "subjugation of women and nature." The author grew up in Utah where atomic bomb testing was common. As a result, several women in her family encountered health problems that resulted in their death. Through these experiences, Williams develops a unique bond or connection with the environment around her. One such situation that illustrated Williams' passion and connection to nature was the discovery of an erased mound that was used by the burrowing owls. Terry clearly expresses her angered emotions when she says, "I knew rage. It was fire in my stomach with no place to go." The connection with her homeland and the owls fuels her emotion in the gestures made to the insensitive men at the Canadian Goose Gun Club. 

     The details present through the experiences and connections Williams has with her life experiences and nature are the ones that most stood out for me. The attention to detail allows for the reader to feel a greater connection to the land and environment surrounding Terry. Through these details, one can develop the same emotion Terry is experiencing as she sees changes in nature and around her environment. These details brought a sense of change as nature brought Terry a sense of life, but has also illustrated the anger she feels at the destruction continuing to be made. On a broader scale, these details allow the readers to think about their own environment and what they can do to help as well.