Reviews

This book had me laughing and riveted the entire time. I was so invested in these three people's big year, and fascinated by the lengths they went to in order to achieve their record counts. I also found it inspiring how far they went to pursue something they loved doing, even though birding is not my thing, it just gave me a challenge to put my all into the things I love as well. Highly recommend.

kitdunsmore's review against another edition

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5.0

I loved this book. Even though I am a birder, I think the appeal is in watching people with an obsession go after a crazy dream. Obmascik includes triumphs and failures plus interesting background on the origin and history of the Big Year. There are also great stories about dinner specifics bird species and bird behavior. Even though I already knew the outcome of the competition, I couldn't put this book down.

lacyk_reads's review against another edition

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5.0

Wonderful book for birders, bird watchers or those that just appreciate birds. I'm not an avid birder by any means so I did have to look up a lot of the species that were mentioned. That helped me to visualize but I don't think it is necessary to everyone reading the book.

The author included breaks from the characters by following up on the natural history of certain species and some history of locations and human interactions with birds. For example, in 1703 one writer suggested that birds wintered on the moon, as migration was still quite a mystery until wide travel was more available.

The big year contestants that were followed were mostly likeable guys. The focus was, of course, the birds they were chasing but the author also included enough personal details to make Miller, Levantin and Komito very human and sometimes quite vulnerable.

I don't think this is a book that just anyone can read and enjoy... but if you appreciate the sport of bird watching and can relate to having a passion that drives you to do insanely crazy things, I think you will enjoy this book.

shellydennison's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative tense medium-paced

3.0

Well written journalistic account of a year of obsessive birding. That said, the protagonists are not always entirely (or at all) likeable and it's a bit on the blokey side.

elishapsmith's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.25

Very obvious that this book is written by a journalist, in that he does a great job of painting a detailed picture of these 3 men's personalities and differing approaches and motivations for birding, but in the end does nothing more than report the facts. Really wish it would have made some attempt to say something interesting in the end, which the movie (which sucks for the most part) weirdly does a decent job of

side note: the review feature of this app is SO weird to me lol, why is it asking me all these questions about pace and moods and characters changing?? I just want to type some thoughts and have them appear in my friends' feeds!!

mollygoods's review against another edition

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4.0

Interesting. Picked up from a little free library. I think it may have helped to know that it was based on a true story. I was unaware at first and then was curious and couldn’t tell from the back. I usually (or my preferred way) go in to books blind not knowing what it’s about. Some of the details about specific birds are things I’d like to have an interest in but don’t have much knowledge so those words were a bit blurred or ok to skip. Overall an interesting read and any description about adventures outside I generally enjoy.

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