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funnellegant's review against another edition
5.0
This book is presented humbly by the author as a "sketchbook" of observations. I picked it up as an accessible, easy read for moments of downtime. I was surprised by how wholesome, touching, and wise Maclear's cross-over observations were.
I found it delightful as an amateur birder and sometime-creative, but I think this book has huge appeal for the uninitiated, as well.
I found it delightful as an amateur birder and sometime-creative, but I think this book has huge appeal for the uninitiated, as well.
annathesockaholic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
madisonwray's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
mossymadi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
happyglowlucky's review against another edition
5.0
This is a gem. An absolute beauty. A small book, filled with wonder - but not false wonder, not the go-go-go-you-must-be-happy-all-the-time Pop Psychology books that have, unfortunately, become so popular lately. No, not at all. Those books pushpushpush you - you must be this! You must be that! Here's how to have it all, be it all, do it all, and look fantastic while doing it! No. This book is like open space. Like breathing room. Like permission to be sad if you're sad, anxious if you're anxious. What I love, though, is, while it gives you that breathing space to feel whatever you're feeling, it also hands you some hope, and give you a gentle lift. It felt a bit like going on a long, meandering river-walk, with a good friend, chatting to me, pointing things out, that give-and-take, the back-and-forth, the comfort that comes with true intimacy.
As someone who is struggling a lot with anxiety (a not-mentally-well mother to contend with as she ages, a lifetime, soul-mate-ship with a beautiful man who also happens to be an addict, my own anxiety problems, serious health issues, and more....), I really appreciated this book. I was drawn to it because I've also started bird-watching, although, to be honest, I'm more of a jackrabbit watcher. True story. I love them, and their velvet ears. I saw one in the backyard about a year ago, and have been observing and learning about them since then. In fact, some of the things the author said about birds, I've experienced with my beautiful jackrabbits, especially the part about sitting and waiting for them, waiting for their beauty to appear.
Like I said, a gem. Pick it up. Read it slowly. Savor it.
As someone who is struggling a lot with anxiety (a not-mentally-well mother to contend with as she ages, a lifetime, soul-mate-ship with a beautiful man who also happens to be an addict, my own anxiety problems, serious health issues, and more....), I really appreciated this book. I was drawn to it because I've also started bird-watching, although, to be honest, I'm more of a jackrabbit watcher. True story. I love them, and their velvet ears. I saw one in the backyard about a year ago, and have been observing and learning about them since then. In fact, some of the things the author said about birds, I've experienced with my beautiful jackrabbits, especially the part about sitting and waiting for them, waiting for their beauty to appear.
Like I said, a gem. Pick it up. Read it slowly. Savor it.
carolinethereader's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 out of 5 stars
Kyo Maclear undertakes a year of bird-watching as a way to recentre and deal with anxiety surrounding her father's poor health. She tours Toronto with a bird-loving musician as her guide and uses their experiences as jumping points to reflect on various things- relationships, her father, art, birds, grief, life and death.
There's a lot to love about this book. Some of the prose is beautiful and I think the thread of 'take the time to appreciate the little things' woven through the book is lovely. There are descriptions of nice moments of community in the bird-watching community which were wholesome. It was also nice to feel the author appreciating the hobby more as the book went.
However, I was always waiting for this book to make a point. For it to hammer something home and it never did. This book is 259 pages but it felt much longer to me. I feel a little guilty rating this 2 stars because although I didn't enjoy this book there were some great moments and I think it could be the perfect book for some people at the right moment in their life. Just not for me.
Kyo Maclear undertakes a year of bird-watching as a way to recentre and deal with anxiety surrounding her father's poor health. She tours Toronto with a bird-loving musician as her guide and uses their experiences as jumping points to reflect on various things- relationships, her father, art, birds, grief, life and death.
There's a lot to love about this book. Some of the prose is beautiful and I think the thread of 'take the time to appreciate the little things' woven through the book is lovely. There are descriptions of nice moments of community in the bird-watching community which were wholesome. It was also nice to feel the author appreciating the hobby more as the book went.
However, I was always waiting for this book to make a point. For it to hammer something home and it never did. This book is 259 pages but it felt much longer to me. I feel a little guilty rating this 2 stars because although I didn't enjoy this book there were some great moments and I think it could be the perfect book for some people at the right moment in their life. Just not for me.