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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Wonderful memoir, great story telling. The conversational tone of the writing combined with the author's own reading of the audiobook made me feel like I was getting a private personal behind the scenes tour of the Tower. Highly recommend for literally anyone.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
I can’t remember the last time I got through a book so quickly. An easy and entertaining read as long as you are interested in birds - and I am very interested in birds. There was possibly a bit too much autobiography (which felt like padding) but still an easy read.
A heartwarming tale and fascinating histoy of the Ravens and their Master.
I adored this book...it's absolutely lovely! As you read it, you will feel as though you're sitting in a pub with Skaife listening to him talk about the ravens.
3.5
"The Ravenmaster" is a fun and interesting look at the ravens at the Tower of London.
The book has a bit of many things -- Tower history and lore, Skaife's army stories, information about ravens in general, and then stories about the particular Tower ravens. None of it is gone into with great depth, but I wasn't expecting it to as it's a fairly short book, and the lack of scholarly depth doesn't diminish the enjoyment the book offers.
Skaife is a good storyteller. He comes off as an intelligent but relatable narrator, the kind of guy who you'd like to have a drink and conversation with. He's a good representative for the Tower and the people it stands for (even if you don't agree with the monarchy).
Overall, "The Ravenmaster" is a light, fast, fun read. Recommended for those who are interested in ravens, corvids, or other intelligent animals, or who just want an enjoyable non-fiction read. I'd personally enjoy a part two with even more raven stories.
"The Ravenmaster" is a fun and interesting look at the ravens at the Tower of London.
The book has a bit of many things -- Tower history and lore, Skaife's army stories, information about ravens in general, and then stories about the particular Tower ravens. None of it is gone into with great depth, but I wasn't expecting it to as it's a fairly short book, and the lack of scholarly depth doesn't diminish the enjoyment the book offers.
Skaife is a good storyteller. He comes off as an intelligent but relatable narrator, the kind of guy who you'd like to have a drink and conversation with. He's a good representative for the Tower and the people it stands for (even if you don't agree with the monarchy).
Overall, "The Ravenmaster" is a light, fast, fun read. Recommended for those who are interested in ravens, corvids, or other intelligent animals, or who just want an enjoyable non-fiction read. I'd personally enjoy a part two with even more raven stories.
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced
This is an incredibly informative and interesting take on a job I had no clue existed until listening to this book.
The author clearly cares deeply for his raven wards and the way he tells his story helps draw the reader into the history of not only the ravens at the Tower of London, but his own personal history as well.
If the Tower of London wasn't already on my bucket list, it definitely is now!
The audiobook also has an interview with the author after the recording, which was a great little surprise.
The author clearly cares deeply for his raven wards and the way he tells his story helps draw the reader into the history of not only the ravens at the Tower of London, but his own personal history as well.
If the Tower of London wasn't already on my bucket list, it definitely is now!
The audiobook also has an interview with the author after the recording, which was a great little surprise.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
I picked up this book last summer while visiting the Tower of London for my honeymoon and have finally got around to reading it. The ravens of the Tower are truly amazing, and were way more fun to look at then the Crown Jewels! Learning their history at the Tower was very interesting. I also loved the details included about all of their personalities and their remarkable intelligence.
This book is also tells the story of the Yeoman Warders. The author does a wonderful job with his carefree and personal writing style. You’ll learn a lot and not be bored.
This book is also tells the story of the Yeoman Warders. The author does a wonderful job with his carefree and personal writing style. You’ll learn a lot and not be bored.
This book is a fascinating look into the lives, history, personalities, and quirks of famous Tower of London Ravens. The book goes beyond that though into the history and myths of Ravens in general and the Yeoman Warders amongst whose role the care and protection of these wonderful animals falls.
Told by Christopher Skaife, current Ravenmaster and Yeoman Warder, it's an accessible read full of personal anecdotes about life around the Ravens. Skaife does a good job of these personalised touches and it's where the book really shines. The more autobiographical parts and tangents about Skaife's life in the army and upbringing work less well as they fail to mesh properly with the exploits of the Ravens Skaife attempts to connect them to.
Throughout there's a sense of passion and enthusiasm for the birds which really carries the book to be the enjoyable light read that it is.
Told by Christopher Skaife, current Ravenmaster and Yeoman Warder, it's an accessible read full of personal anecdotes about life around the Ravens. Skaife does a good job of these personalised touches and it's where the book really shines. The more autobiographical parts and tangents about Skaife's life in the army and upbringing work less well as they fail to mesh properly with the exploits of the Ravens Skaife attempts to connect them to.
Throughout there's a sense of passion and enthusiasm for the birds which really carries the book to be the enjoyable light read that it is.
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced