I was immediately intrigued to read this memoir by Marcia Bjornerud, currently a Professor at Lawrence University with degrees in Geophysics and Structural Geology. I don’t get many chances to read memoirs from people in my general field of academic study much less a woman. I enjoyed reading about her travels and the various research projects she has undertaken in other countries including Norway and Canada.

I immediately loved the structure of this book with each chapter labeled with a type of rock and relating her studies, research and life experiences back to the meaning and setting of each. And since she started off in chapter one with sandstones, a rock I studied for both my undergraduate and graduate theses, I felt a quickly growing affinity for her storytelling. I really enjoyed the journey.

It amazes me that even though there is only a decade between our times of study how different our experiences were although some of that was probably a factor of location. Having worked in industry rather than academia through my almost twenty-year career, I know I’m a little behind in keeping up with the latest geological research and theories but am a little overwhelmed with just how much information I have missed. This memoir introduced me to several new concepts that I am eager to learn more about in the future.

I switched between the ebook and audiobook while reading this one. The book was narrated by Rebecca Stern. This was my first audiobook listen by this narrator, and I found her voice to be pleasant, propelling me along the narrative in a smooth and easy manner.

Thank you to Netgalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

A book that is part autobiography and partly science in the geology field. The book is organized rock types, each rock type being the focus of a chapter and the author fits this into this portion of her life too. Such as, beginning with being a child running to the bus with sand in her shoe leads to sandstone rocks. I liked the format. I found myself connecting more with her life than the science as I'm not that adept with geology. Some of it was too scientific, while other parts were not. A bit of a mix.

There are discussions of some of the controversies over the years, such as the asteroid hit that killed the dinosaurs. The field of geology, such as understanding of earthquakes and volcanoes, is relatively new. It comes with disagreements when new knowledge doesn’t support the current theory.

There were a few points where I glossed over the areas that got too deep in geologic terms, but a more determined reader would likely glean more if pausing and turning towards other resources to understand the terminology better. Possibly the book would work best for those with some understanding of geology, or a strong interest.

The narrator did an excellent job with this book.

As someone who took a geology class in college, I thought this would be an awesome re-introduction to the field of study. I think this came down to being something not meant for me. This is part memoir, part science information, but the science isn't an introductory level, and I didn't find the story parts super interesting. I think for those more interested in the field and those who enjoy these types of memoirs will enjoy this. It is well written and the audiobook is well-produced.

Turning to Stone was such a delightful surprise! It is part memoir, part science, delving into the life experiences of the author, using different rocks and rock formations to give context to the varying chapters.

From the very beginning of the book, I recognized my eldest daughter in the prose written by the author: thinking about where sand came from to studying and collecting rocks on vacations. While fictional stories are my preference of choice, I chose to listen to this audiobook because my eldest daughter is currently working toward a PhD in Earth Science (Geology). After five years of her studying in Australia, I wanted something to talk to her about other than “how is your thesis going.”

This book was perfect and helped me understand my daughter just a little bit more (when she was 4 years old, she carried one of my old purses slung around her like a field bag collecting interesting rocks). Turning to Stone provided insight, clarity, and wisdom that few books include this days. Plus, it never became too scientific so an average reader could enjoy it.

I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys learning something while listening to an interesting story. I enjoyed it so much, I bought a hardcopy of it to give away to a friend.

Growing up, I was fascinated by my brother’s set of cards with 1/2” rock specimens. I pocketed rocks and shells on vacations. And when I finally bought myself a rock tumbler, it turns out that the composition and hardness of the rocks was of less interest to me than their varied colors and patterns. At one point I checked out a field guide to rocks from the library and spent a couple of evenings perusing it. All this is to say I have a passing interest in geology and volcanism.
One could learn a lot about rocks from this book. Of course the audiobook has no illustrations, so I was somewhat at a disadvantage (the library book long since returned). The author discusses how different theories of the Earth have come and gone over the years. As an experienced professor with decades of fieldwork and teaching under her belt, she also doesn’t shy away from some of the controversies. The book is also a memoir in which we learn about her loves and marriages, chasing tenure, and raising children while needing to do research and teaching simultaneously.
I imagine her editor was extremely helpful in getting the pacing and storytelling right, as dry chapters about rocks (basalt, dolomite, granite, etc.) are broken up with her trips around Lake Superior, to Norway and Italy (during an earthquake!) and her personal life. The artful blending kept things interesting.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook for review purposes. The book and audiobook are now available!