Name: Archives of Joy
ISBN: 9781771649322

Jean-François Beauchemin

David Warriner

Reflections on Animals and the Nature of Being

Archives of Joy

Rochelle Butcher

Archives of Joy by Jean-Francois Beauchemin is a short book of reflections on animals and the natural world.

“In the author’s note, he says, “This is not a novel, nor is it a collection of poetry. It is not an essay, a diary, or a work of autofiction. Rather, as animals feature so prominently, I like to think of this, as a bestiary of memory.”

And a bestiary of memories it is. Each memory is a short musing on nature and life and usually features an animal. Some memories are pulled from his childhood, and some current ones read like dreamlike nature diary entries. You read a passage and you feel like you are there in the memory alongside Jean-Francois. The writing is beautiful and poetic. 

If you like nature writing, you’ll love this book! I have been spending my mornings with it, each day reading a short vignette and my mornings have been richer because of it. The author has lit a fire under me to get outside more, explore my backyard, and write about it in my nature journal.

Archives of Joy Reflections on Animals and the Nature of Being