A group of 12 to 14 members of First Church is being organized to study Annie Dillard’s nonfiction book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Told in first-person, the book details Dillard’s explorations near her home, and contains a series of chapters on features of the natural world and ruminations on her personal life. Separated into four sections that signify each of the seasons, the narrative takes place over one year.
The book records Dillard’s thoughts on solitude, writing and religion, as well as scientific observations on the flora and fauna she encountered. It touches on themes of faith, nature, and awareness, and is also noted for its study of theodicy and the cruelty of the natural world. Dillard describes her ruminations as a “book of theology,” and she rejects the label of nature writer. The book is similar in design to Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.
Contact Dennis Conta for more information and let us know if you’d like to join us.