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annabellelee411's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
bookwoman1967's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating, charming, enlightening. Utterly delightful.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Subtitle: My Life With the Ravens at the Tower of London
This memoir details Skaife’s career path to what has become his life’s work: the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. He recounts what led to his joining the Army, some of his experiences in service and his chance decision to apply for a position as a Yeoman Warder at the Tower upon retirement from active service. But he spends most of the book regaling the reader with stories about the ravens.
Skaife is clear at the outset: he is not a scientist. But he has a passion for his work and has made a determined effort to educate himself on the history, anatomy, habits and natural behaviors of corvids in general, and ravens in particular. His dedication to his position as Ravenmaster is evident, as is his great love for the birds. But there were times when I felt the book dragged as he overwhelmed me with scientific detail. I most enjoyed the stories of his various escapades: tracking an escaped raven, climbing scaffolding in the near-dark to get a recalcitrant bird “ready for bed” or embellished histories used to amuse (and partly to educate) the public.
Final verdict: interesting but not gripping.
This memoir details Skaife’s career path to what has become his life’s work: the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. He recounts what led to his joining the Army, some of his experiences in service and his chance decision to apply for a position as a Yeoman Warder at the Tower upon retirement from active service. But he spends most of the book regaling the reader with stories about the ravens.
Skaife is clear at the outset: he is not a scientist. But he has a passion for his work and has made a determined effort to educate himself on the history, anatomy, habits and natural behaviors of corvids in general, and ravens in particular. His dedication to his position as Ravenmaster is evident, as is his great love for the birds. But there were times when I felt the book dragged as he overwhelmed me with scientific detail. I most enjoyed the stories of his various escapades: tracking an escaped raven, climbing scaffolding in the near-dark to get a recalcitrant bird “ready for bed” or embellished histories used to amuse (and partly to educate) the public.
Final verdict: interesting but not gripping.
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
This was a compelling memoir of Christopher Skaife, Ravenmaster at the Tower. I thoroughly enjoyedthe descriptions of the seven ravens that live in the Tower, and their daily life, but I found the stories of Skaife's life working with the ravens just as interesting. Skaife has a wonderful sense of humor, and what a great job he has.
diane_m's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Unexpectedly funny, well-written, well-researched, a treat of a book. Don't let the cover deter you
from picking this book up. The soldier/Viking turned raven-whisperer delivers a page-turner. Did you know that ravens can fly upside-down and do barrel-rolls? That these two-feet long giants love routine and kick up hell if their keeper varies the goodnight ritual an iota? That two ravens once laughed at his misfortune? Skaife can recite Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, but would never name an avian newcomer Nevermore. To him, these intelligent birds are much more than Halloween tricksters, undeserving of that reputation, as well.
from picking this book up. The soldier/Viking turned raven-whisperer delivers a page-turner. Did you know that ravens can fly upside-down and do barrel-rolls? That these two-feet long giants love routine and kick up hell if their keeper varies the goodnight ritual an iota? That two ravens once laughed at his misfortune? Skaife can recite Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, but would never name an avian newcomer Nevermore. To him, these intelligent birds are much more than Halloween tricksters, undeserving of that reputation, as well.
jend33's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a lovely combination of anecdotes, British history and ravens (of course). Christopher Skaife talks about how he and his fellow Yeoman Warders learn to be storytellers and it shows. I really enjoyed it from cover to cover. This has definitely made me want to visit the Tower of London and learn even more about its history and see if I can spot some of the ravens.