A Feeling for Rock

“This fresh, eclectic mix of utility and art illustrates why we climb – alongside the how, where and what.”

Lynn Robinson, BMC President

UNITED KINGDOM:

Book (£12.99) + UK postage (£1.00)

£13.99

EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND*:

Book (£12.99) + postage to Europe, North America etc* (£7)

£19.99

Follow Instagram / Facebook – @afeelingforrock

SPIRITUALITY: surely made by God, right? #Lewisian gneiss. FEAR: I was scared of heights when I took up climbing. Anyone terrified of water and started deep sea fishing? Frightened of needles and took up knitting? ENCOURAGEMENT: smashing review by Ian Parnell on UKC - “One of the pleasures of reading this book is you rarely know what Dobner is going to come up with next...” INVISIBILITY: totally failed to find a pyritised ammonite, which was quite high up on my reasons for being on the Jurassic Coast. I’ve found them before! But only when I wasn’t looking. ASTONISHMENT: isn’t this like Portland, UK? Been a gorgeous week. Here’s a Glacé Cherry poem for all the sport climbers - ATTRACTION: brilliant to be back on the coast. COMMUNITY: the shops are open! And @dicks_climbing have set me up lovely. Go to Dick’s, Bristol people!!! PRIVILEGE = travel! Sleeping in the van is no longer a crime. EXCITEMENT: a caravan in Portland next week! Never thought that would thrill me so much.

Through a mix of poetry, cartoons, essays, interviews, weavings, photographs and technical tips, A Feeling for Rock explores being bamboozled by a route, connecting with the landscape or flicking through a guidebook. In addition, the book ventures into ethical regions of bias and privilege and questions our relations with each other and the rock. Each chapter is headed by a different feeling – Love, Curiosity, Astonishment, Pain, Lust, Fear, Wonder and so on – conveying the emotional vividness of a climbing life.

“Rock climbing has shaped my body, my bookshelves, my home, my holidays, the clothes I wear, the vehicle I drive, how I spend my money and what happens when I die. I am a product of the rock. The dynamic is visceral, spiritual, intellectual and emotional – no area untouched by this curious hobby.”

Reviews:

Natalie Berry, UKClimbing Editor in Chief: “Sarah-Jane deftly explores the smorgasbord of emotions that rock, climbing and rock climbing culture have roused in her…As ever, SJ rocks the boat and tackles gender issues head-on; subverting the dominant discourse of men and mountains and instead putting sex, sensuality and emotion on the menu, through this highly immersive collection of prose, poetry and essays.“

Ian Parnell, Review in UKClimbing: “As the months [of lockdown] have dragged on, I’ve wondered is this just an enforced hibernation of the climbing spirit or is 2020 the year climbing’s soul finally died? It was a relief therefore to be asked to review A Feeling for Rock, Sarah-Jane Dobner’s first book, and recognise all the little unquantifiable wonders that make up the climbing life…” https://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/publications/other_publications/a_feeling_for_rock_by_sarah-jane_dobner-13463

*If you live outside these zones and you would like a book, please contact us via https://dobdobdob.co.uk/contact/ and we’ll make a plan.

Thank you for supporting A Feeling for Rock. Happy climbing