And this right here is why I LOVE the “staff recommendation” shelf in any library or bookstore!! I found such a gem! The Last Unicorn: A Search for One of Earth's Rarest Creatures is a nonfiction book about the author, a nature writer, on a journey to find a saola out in the wild - but it's so much more than that.
There I was, as always, flying through the adult section (chasing Emily) trying to figure out how I was going to grab a book for myself, and a little sign with a handwritten review from one of the librarian's caught my eye. So I picked up the book, and I'm so glad that I did! I read a lot of nonfiction like this, but I'm not sure I would have found this title without a recommendation.
Throughout the book, the author accounts (in fascinating detail) his trip to the remote corners of Laos in search of a newly discovered species - the saola. He turns essentially a hike involving a group of men planting cameras to spot this creature into a riveting adventure tale… let's be honest here, it's actually an amazing feat in itself.
As background, I had never heard of a saola. The animal resembles in looks (and even closer in temperament), the mythical unicorn. But I'm telling you, as you read this book, the animal will become so endearing to you - thanks to the author.
If you're not a biologist, I'm pretty sure it's likely you haven’t heard of this animal either. But the author will also you up to speed explaining how truly special it is to be able to see one in the wild. The animal has been written about in certain circles, but it's actually a newly discovered species - and the only new mammal species to be discovered in over 50 years! And it's newly discovered because it's SO rare. There are, at most, only a small number still alive. So as of the beginning of his journey (no spoilers here), a westerner had never seen one in the wild. So yeah, "rare" and "special" are probably understatements here... but I'll let him convince you with his beautiful prose. :)
And of course the journey to find the saola is exciting, but what also made the book exceptional is a few things - the tangential topics he manages to cover, the detail in which he describes his journey, and the humanizing writing.
This guy covers - one level down from the surface - so many topics that surround his journey in Laos. Like everything from history of the language, the culture, the geography, plus topics like conservation and evolution. He gives you a feeling of having the full picture so you understand the importance of the journey. It’s his story but he makes it everyone’s story.
He also spends time describing everything in detail. For example - all the sounds - from the subtle sounds of the forest to the sounds of the Lao language. And on that note, it's no secret (well, if you follow us on Instagram - need to get the blog up to speed here!) that we love traveling to Southeast Asia - especially to Laos. So I also felt that I was back there. But I'm telling you that I don't think that gives me too much of an advantage - even without this experience, he paints such a vivid picture that you can feel like you’ve been there. And you can feel like you’ve met some locals, too.
And even though you're not likely that you'll ever be in his shoes (a guy with funding to travel the world in search of a unicorn-like animal... not likely), he makes the story relatable. Not only by giving you some passion for the search, but he's also subtly funny. He humanizes the whole experience (including detailing his limited hiking abilities). Anyway, I appreciated that as I seethed in jealousy.
So I suggest you take a chance on this recommendation from both of us (me and the librarian)!
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