This book is formatted in a way that each chapter focuses on one North American bird species. The first several chapters are written in a easy, personal memoir style, about the author's experiences with the featured bird. Included were also interesting scientific facts about the featured birds. The book was great while the story was written in this vane. These chapters were heartwarming, as well as, educational. It started as one of those books you start to think is going to be fabulous and one you'll always cherish.

Halfway through the chapters started to read more and more like a scientific textbook of ornithology. With hardly any personal experiences in these chapters it just lacked the easy & heartwarming style that the previous chapters did. It quickly disappointed me written in this style.

By the last few chapters the author picked up where she left off in the first chapters. By this time I was too bored to really be too excited about this book, again. The book ended on a happy and fun note. These last chapters were educational and personable too, tho, a bit too late for me.

Overall, a 3 star read.

Share/Like this Review?

This was a fast & enjoyable read riddled with insights and facts told in a witty point of view. The author is easy to like with her down-to-earth prose & her obvious love for the natural world. I especially enjoyed her account of raising Chimney Swift babies. What was a little distracting was that a good portion of the birds she talks about live on the West Coast, so for an East Coast reader I felt a little left out since many of these birds like the Steller's Jay & the Spotted Owl are not birds I will see unless I travel. Although this was told from a first person narrative, it still felt a little text bookish to me. I enjoyed Suzie Gilbert's "Flyaway" better since it felt more personal & tender hearted.

Share/Like this Review?