Book Review – ‘The Volunteers’ by Carol Donaldson
After finding herself jobless and single for the first time in over a decade, Carol Donaldson faces a new start in her mid-thirties. But as the saying goes, when one door closes another opens – albeit the door to a leaking, rodent-ridden portacabin.
The Volunteers follows Donaldson’s journey after she becomes the volunteer group leader for the Kingsdown Partnership, where she must get to grips with executing practical countryside management tasks, navigate a stubborn boss in a less-than-glamourous office, and, above all else, learn to lead a diverse group of volunteers. As the pages and seasons turn, it becomes clear that Donaldson’s role isn’t just about planning conservation tasks; the volunteer group is much more than that. It’s a misfit microcosm of society, and Donaldson becomes its heart.
Old and young, rich and poor, disabled and able-bodied – all have a place here. Whether they are looking for a social retirement pastime or a signature on their community service form, each member brings their own unique life experiences and quirks to the volunteer group. Unlikely friendships form and will-they-won’t-they romances blossom in the process of installing gates, surveying water voles and clearing invasive plants. At the same time, we learn alongside the volunteers about different methods of countryside management and conservation.
Donaldson’s warmth and curiosity towards the volunteers, regardless of how difficult they make themselves to like at first, lends itself to the interwoven theme of mental health. We learn of the struggles faced by the volunteers, from homelessness and depression to social anxiety and medication issues. But through weekly tasks surrounded by nature, the teamwork and camaraderie demanded by conservation work provides a rewarding sense of belonging. This exploration of others’ difficulties and triumphs is somewhat unique in the nature memoir market, which tends to look inwards on the author’s own journey. Fittingly, The Volunteers is a story of collective growth.
That said, Donaldson’s reflects on her own growth with a blend of touching honesty, self-deprecating humour and emotional vulnerability, recounting her story like a catch-up with an old friend—in the best way. Initially, we are presented with someone whose world has unexpectedly unravelled, placed in front of a group of strangers to manage a job she doesn’t quite understand. But through her role and her relationships, old and new, Donaldson finds confidence, determination and a healthy dose of stubbornness.
If you’re looking for a book detailing personal growth, community and reflections on our relationship with the natural world, The Volunteers will be the perfect read. With prose that is as informative as it is touching, this memoir reminds us to get outside, try something new, and avoid judging others based on the first glance – you never know, it could lead to something unexpected.
A big thank you to Summersdale for sending me a copy of The Volunteers to review!