The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

"The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating:  A True Story" by Elisabeth Tova Bailey.

I came across this book through my online library and was intrigued by its title.  I had never given any thought to how or what a snail eats let alone what kind of a sound it might make while eating.  Was there actually an entire book about the sound of a wild snail eating?  That wouldn't make sense, so what would such a book truly be about?  It was advertised as a true story about the meaning of life, about one woman's survival and the companionship of the snail that helped her survive. 

Elisabeth shares the story of a severe flu-like illness she contracted in her mid-thirties that turned into a mysterious, almost paralyzing & life-threatening illness that would change her life forever.  While she was bedridden in a studio apartment and away from home, a friend found a wild Maine snail in the woods and brought it to her, placing it with a potted plant by her bed in hopes that she might "enjoy" it.  Elisabeth is perplexed by the snail and finds herself wondering why should she enjoy it and what should she do with it?

Soon, Elisabeth begins to observe the snail and its activities.  She becomes intrigued by it, feels comforted by it, almost lives vicariously through the snail as it lives its life while she herself is stuck there in bed next to it; unable to fully live her own life.  She likens the snail's experience to her own (both trapped in small space, away from home).  She explains how the snail helps her through her own journey and in the process treats the reader to such an unusual wealth of snail knowledge including a description of snail "romance" that can take up to seven hours to complete.  Honestly, snails are far more complex creatures than I had ever imagined, and hopefully if "Snails" or "Mollusks" is a category on Jeopardy or Trivia Night I will now be fully prepared for any snail trivia thrown my way.

The story is about (in my opinion) the survival of our species and other species through adaptation and also just appreciating & understanding the different forms of life around us.  In a more general way it considers where we came from, how we evolved for survival, and what creatures may exist someday based on these evolutions.  It is of course also about the sound of a wild snail eating.  You can hear that sound for yourself in this short Flash presentation given by Elisabeth about her book.

It wasn't the type of book that I would normally read, but I am glad that I gave it a try.  It was definitely worth reading and a welcome change to my world of fiction and technology books!