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mrsreads1's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fascinating look into the world of salmon fly-tying. It tells the story of a young savant and how his obsession with recreating classic lures led his to steal birds from the largest museum collection in England. The author became obsessed with the case and decided to hunt down some of the missing birds. He writes about how he first found out about this case; the thief's life, the events leading up to the heist, and its aftermath; and the author's involvement after the case was officially closed.
I have to admit that I picked this one up Sunday morning and lost myself in it. I finished it in one sitting.
I have to admit that I picked this one up Sunday morning and lost myself in it. I finished it in one sitting.
materialambition's review
4.0
edwin is such a huge piece of shit and the entire community seems psychotic ! the story could’ve been written in a more compelling way but still really good
timna_wyckoff's review
4.0
This was *such* a bizarre story, on so many fronts: the art form, the obsession, the thief, the crime, the author...but, it was pretty interesting to listen to!
celticboar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
4.75
thalia16's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Incredibly informative book about humanity's evolving relationship to birds (studying, possessing, using, trading), however I would argue the analysis into the dark side of possession of natural wonders like birds of paradise doesn't go deep enough. The fathers of natural history are regarded in an uncomplicatedly positive light, where there is certainly room to question their methods of collection, the role they played in bringing on the victorian feather obsession and the ways that their studies superceded the knowledge of indigenous peoples who had been living among these birds far longer. Gender was also an under-discussed dynamic for a topic so centered on fields primarily and historically led by men. Johnson refers to "men and women" fly tiers but every major player in this book, save the author's wife and the detective tasked with the original Tring case, are men.
Overall I learned a lot that I didn't know before, but I can't help but be left sitting with all the analysis and questions still left on the table.
Overall I learned a lot that I didn't know before, but I can't help but be left sitting with all the analysis and questions still left on the table.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Mental illness
waynediane's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating story- somewhat of a Memoir of the author- not really
More about the bird feather tying group and their fascination of different feathers. He opens with the history of different birds many extinct but found in the 1800's around the time of Darwin- Wallace should be remember, but Darwin got all the fame. Anyway this Narcissistic individual who steals millions in bird feathers gets caught and does not do the time. Uses the Asperger's defense- unconscionable due to he does not have Asperger's. GREAT STORY.
More about the bird feather tying group and their fascination of different feathers. He opens with the history of different birds many extinct but found in the 1800's around the time of Darwin- Wallace should be remember, but Darwin got all the fame. Anyway this Narcissistic individual who steals millions in bird feathers gets caught and does not do the time. Uses the Asperger's defense- unconscionable due to he does not have Asperger's. GREAT STORY.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
This is definitely a nonfiction book that a fiction-lover could enjoy. Though I found some of the initial chapters a bit boring, as no aspect of this obsession with exotic feathers in order to make elaborate fishing flies that wouldn't be used appeals to me at all, diving in to this particular case and the crazy, niche world of fly-tying was a fascinating journey.