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alexabritni's review against another edition
5.0
A narrative non-fiction that follows the author through a year as she observes birds and ponders her own life. I have a lot of difficulty with this kind of writing and this concept of focusing on "small" things, but in her chapter on "Lulls" the author discussed the very thing I was having a problem with. I am not comfortable in lulls or in pauses. Sometimes it's really hard for me to focus on and care about "little" things like birds because I feel guilty for taking the time to do so. I feel guilty for focusing on the tiny things when there are so many big things that need our energy and attention in the world, but this book allowed me to think about a different perspective and to reframe my thinking around taking time to focus on "small" things
jel_sim's review against another edition
4.0
trying to get over my fear of nonfiction and this was lovely
bookkoob17's review against another edition
4.0
Life's library book club book. There are some great bits of wisdom in here.
sebs_gaybooks's review against another edition
5.0
oh my GOSH THAT WAS GOOD!
side effects of reading this book: strong desires to go to parks and sit on benches or at lakes and just be consumed by nature and watch all the birds and wildlife and think of all the things and have your mind wander all over the place.
10/10 was such a soft, insightful, philosophical-without-sounding-pretentious book.
you follow Kyo Maclear through a year as she begins to get into birdwatching and uses her experiences with that to reflect on certain aspects of her life, as an artists and as just a regular person. each month she talks about a certain idea, and each time i read them i just feel so enlightened and it makes me feel so sweet but also highly impactful and i jUST LOVED IT!
everyone should read this...e v e r y o n e
side effects of reading this book: strong desires to go to parks and sit on benches or at lakes and just be consumed by nature and watch all the birds and wildlife and think of all the things and have your mind wander all over the place.
10/10 was such a soft, insightful, philosophical-without-sounding-pretentious book.
you follow Kyo Maclear through a year as she begins to get into birdwatching and uses her experiences with that to reflect on certain aspects of her life, as an artists and as just a regular person. each month she talks about a certain idea, and each time i read them i just feel so enlightened and it makes me feel so sweet but also highly impactful and i jUST LOVED IT!
everyone should read this...e v e r y o n e
julied's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
vik_b23's review
4.0
I think this book works better as a physical read rather than audiobook. I’m giving it a 4 rating because of that potential, I want to pick up a copy and own so I can flip through instead of listening to it, since it got hard to keep up with some of the quotes and birds and formatting of the book. Very introspective, though, and nice to listen to when going for a walk
alysamorley's review against another edition
4.0
This was so beautiful. It was such a quiet, meaningful read about appreciating the world around you and finding nature in an urban environment. It was also super well written. Some parts of it seemed unnecessary to me, but I loved it.
bananavc's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
I felt so at peace even though I also felt so called out.
saarahn's review against another edition
5.0
Freeing
Maclear writes this book in a candid manner, reflecting upon her life against the backdrop of her new found love for birds and birding. At times, her birding adventures arrive at the forefront, humbling her and reminding her of the growing struggles in the world; that there are greater issues. In light of her discovery of her love for birds, she learns to look at the world in a different perspective: looking outwards, and realising that nearly all of us desire freedom from something and we read books, daydream, create art in hopes of manifesting a better reality for ourselves. She herself tried running away as a teenager, but quickly awakened to the fact that she was running from a part of her. It was from this situation, she developed an adoration for living within one's means, what a person can do with what they have- for limitless freedom is not something we all posses, other philosophers tend to be of the opinion that it's an impossible concept altogether.
Maclear however is a firm believer of freedom, and she voices several of her biggest regrets in this book, as well as the lessons she has acquired through her keen and eager observation of bird life. How, it is not just a simple and beautiful hobby but that it can give way to the grim knowledge that there is damage in the world but that often, it's birds who are the victorious ones in battling the crimes of humanity on the earth that is their home too.
Personally, I especially enjoyed reading of Maclear's passion for birding, how it was inspired and how she kept at it. I'm one of those people who dabble in multiple hobbies, I may have learnt a good deal but I can never stay committed to any one thing. Well, aside from reading, and writing from time to time: those are my constants. I shared Maclear's stance on bird extinction, the idea of scientifically engineering the birds that the world has lost and the still prevalent practice of caging wild birds. Caging the species that make up the wilderness, or oppression in all its forms, is something I've always been opposed to. In reading this book I was reminded of Maya Angelou's words on the unfairness of oppression, racism, and the motivation behind protests in the endeavour of living in a better world: of freedom. She wrote, as part of her poem 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings',
"The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom."
I received this book through NetGalley and it is one I do recommend even if you possess little interest in birds, for there are some valuable tidbits you'll learn and appreciate nonetheless.
Maclear writes this book in a candid manner, reflecting upon her life against the backdrop of her new found love for birds and birding. At times, her birding adventures arrive at the forefront, humbling her and reminding her of the growing struggles in the world; that there are greater issues. In light of her discovery of her love for birds, she learns to look at the world in a different perspective: looking outwards, and realising that nearly all of us desire freedom from something and we read books, daydream, create art in hopes of manifesting a better reality for ourselves. She herself tried running away as a teenager, but quickly awakened to the fact that she was running from a part of her. It was from this situation, she developed an adoration for living within one's means, what a person can do with what they have- for limitless freedom is not something we all posses, other philosophers tend to be of the opinion that it's an impossible concept altogether.
Maclear however is a firm believer of freedom, and she voices several of her biggest regrets in this book, as well as the lessons she has acquired through her keen and eager observation of bird life. How, it is not just a simple and beautiful hobby but that it can give way to the grim knowledge that there is damage in the world but that often, it's birds who are the victorious ones in battling the crimes of humanity on the earth that is their home too.
Personally, I especially enjoyed reading of Maclear's passion for birding, how it was inspired and how she kept at it. I'm one of those people who dabble in multiple hobbies, I may have learnt a good deal but I can never stay committed to any one thing. Well, aside from reading, and writing from time to time: those are my constants. I shared Maclear's stance on bird extinction, the idea of scientifically engineering the birds that the world has lost and the still prevalent practice of caging wild birds. Caging the species that make up the wilderness, or oppression in all its forms, is something I've always been opposed to. In reading this book I was reminded of Maya Angelou's words on the unfairness of oppression, racism, and the motivation behind protests in the endeavour of living in a better world: of freedom. She wrote, as part of her poem 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings',
"The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom."
I received this book through NetGalley and it is one I do recommend even if you possess little interest in birds, for there are some valuable tidbits you'll learn and appreciate nonetheless.