A Feeling for Rock

Ian Parnell, review in UKClimbing 2021:

“One of the pleasures of reading this book is you rarely know what Dobner is going to come up with next… If you too have been wondering where the joy of climbing has gone, I recommend you get yourself a copy of A Feeling for Rock.”

Natalie Berry, UKClimbing Editor in Chief, 2020:

“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.”

Andy Clarke, review in Climber Magazine, UK, September - October edition 2021

“A day’s climbing - let alone a lifetime’s - takes us through an ever-changing spectrum of intense feelings and this fascinating new book by Sarah-Jane Dobner tackles pretty much every one of them…Dobner deals with many difficult issues in this intriguing collection, not least Is Climbing Better Than Sex? in the mini-essay Confusion. Not sure how to answer? Buy the book!”

Immy Sykes, review in Beta Magazine 2021:

”[Sarah-Jane] does not shy away from questioning the very foundations of climbing practice to see if she can make more space; ushering in new thought, or new ways of doing things. […] This book has become my manifesto…If you find yourself struggling to find your place within rock climbing, you’re not quite sure where you fit, what you want to achieve, why you take part, A Feeling for Rock will have something for you. A truly wonderful book that will brighten your climbing experiences.”

Jen Roberts, review in Austrian Alpine Club (UK), Newsletter 231, Autumn 2021:

“This book breaks down the entire process of climbing into its minutiae, often the unspoken elements - emotional, sensory - making it feel more intimate and heightening our awareness…You’ll be amused, entertained and, potentially, challenged by the content, and regularly have a wry smile on your face thanks to the universal understanding of what it means to be a climber.”

Adrian Trendall, review in All Things Cuillin, September 2021:

“Anyone who is or has been a climber or who just wants to ask “why” then this is the book for you. Lots of questions answered but best of all it’s done in a unique style. It encapsulates feelings, thoughts and reasons in a multi sensory, multi media experience that leaves you wanting to read more, to turn just one more page…The book is raw, climbing life and ethos told as it is, no Instagram posing production”.

John Appleby, review in Footless Crow, October 2021:

“I’ve no doubt that the book will not be to everyone’s taste. Certainly for those who like their climbing literature to be structured in a style which they are used to, the book might seem discordant and a bit too edgy for their liking. Certainly the pieces don’t follow a clear trajectory in the way they are set out. There is almost a nervous energy here which usually works but occasionally, like a hex dropped from the top pitch of a climb, the piece ricochets down. Glancing off rocks until you lose sight of it in the undergrowth.”

Lynn Robinson, former BMC President, 2020:

“This fresh, eclectic mix of utility and art illustrates why we climb…”