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livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful and heartfelt book!
Chris is an engaging and fun storyteller and his passion for his ravens is evident on every page of this unique and insightful book. It’s a delightful combination of Chris’s own memoir, the daily routine and adventures of the Tower Ravens, and Tower of London history.
The writing style is so unique and inviting. It’s just like meeting up with an old friend!
I highly recommend this book!
Chris is an engaging and fun storyteller and his passion for his ravens is evident on every page of this unique and insightful book. It’s a delightful combination of Chris’s own memoir, the daily routine and adventures of the Tower Ravens, and Tower of London history.
The writing style is so unique and inviting. It’s just like meeting up with an old friend!
I highly recommend this book!
nuthatch's review against another edition
5.0
I've enjoyed watching the ravens when I have visited the Tower of London. It is obvious that they are very intelligent and they are watching us back. This book added to my appreciation of these fascinating birds and their important jobs at the Tower.
cosy_novel_niche's review against another edition
Funny, informative and perfect as an autumnal non fiction read
dawnlizreads's review against another edition
4.0
An entertaining tale of the history of the ravens at the Tower of London by the "Ravenmaster" Christopher Skaife. I mostly listened to the audiobook version, which I think is probably the best way to read The Ravenmaster. Skaife's enthusiasm for the ravens, the Tower, and his job comes across much more strongly when he's the one telling the story. You can well imagine him regaling tourists at the Tower with a tale or too (no doubt embellished here and there all in the name of telling a good story).
I could have done without hearing about his life as solider, but that's a personal preference thing. And, it's not randomly thrown in to be fair - it's often to draw parallels between the challenges his faced as a soldier and those he faces looking after the ravens.
I could have done without hearing about his life as solider, but that's a personal preference thing. And, it's not randomly thrown in to be fair - it's often to draw parallels between the challenges his faced as a soldier and those he faces looking after the ravens.
cattylou's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a wonderful glimpse into the history, lore and personalities of the ravens living at the Tower of London as well as the man entrusted with their care, Chris Skaife. I listened to this on audio and Chris’s narration made it all the more enjoyable. It is clear listening to him that he loves the ravens, loves telling stories, and is very adaptable to changing situations which is paramount to his success as a Ravenmaster having to handle the birds that are not trained nor tamed to do his bidding.
It is clear that the Tower of London made the right choice when hiring him straight out of a 20+ year successful military career. He seamlessly blends his love of the birds with Tower of London history and his own life experiences so well it’s like you’re there just hanging out with him as he goes about his daily routine. He goes into great and fascinating detail about each of the birds’ ages, pedigree, and personalities; it’s clear he has spent a lot of time getting to know his subjects and in return the birds obviously respect Chris because almost none of them have flown off in his time as Ravenmaster (one bird did disappear after flying out of scaffolding but they never found him, he was presumed dead). The ravens could fly off if they wanted because he does a minimum amount of wing clipping and Chris prefers to keep the Ravens as close to wild as possible in case they need to flee from foxes or otherwise find themselves on their own.
This will be enjoyable to anyone who appreciates good storytelling, a bit of humor and history all while learning about the ravens that live at the Tower of London. Chris knows his birds intimately and appreciates the unique environment where he is lucky enough to live which shines through in his storytelling and his love of the ravens in the Tower of London.
It is clear that the Tower of London made the right choice when hiring him straight out of a 20+ year successful military career. He seamlessly blends his love of the birds with Tower of London history and his own life experiences so well it’s like you’re there just hanging out with him as he goes about his daily routine. He goes into great and fascinating detail about each of the birds’ ages, pedigree, and personalities; it’s clear he has spent a lot of time getting to know his subjects and in return the birds obviously respect Chris because almost none of them have flown off in his time as Ravenmaster (one bird did disappear after flying out of scaffolding but they never found him, he was presumed dead). The ravens could fly off if they wanted because he does a minimum amount of wing clipping and Chris prefers to keep the Ravens as close to wild as possible in case they need to flee from foxes or otherwise find themselves on their own.
This will be enjoyable to anyone who appreciates good storytelling, a bit of humor and history all while learning about the ravens that live at the Tower of London. Chris knows his birds intimately and appreciates the unique environment where he is lucky enough to live which shines through in his storytelling and his love of the ravens in the Tower of London.
sarah_mcmullan_nz's review against another edition
5.0
I fed a raven by hand at the Tower of London in 2000, and it remembered me when I came back 13 years later with my Mum, and demanded lunch again. In fact it just hopped right up onto my lap and kinda coo/cluked.
They are sweet birds.
(And yes I got told off every single time. Don't do it - you really could lose a finger!)
They are sweet birds.
(And yes I got told off every single time. Don't do it - you really could lose a finger!)
graceless's review against another edition
4.0
Loved reading the a week after visiting the Tower of London. I think I enjoyed reading it after I'd seen them in the flesh. The ravens are so freaking cool.
kittymamers's review against another edition
4.0
see tundus kuidagi nii... ehe raamat. natuke justkui vastu tahtmist kirjutatud, aga samas jälle hästi siiralt: olen siin, vaadake, lihtne maapoiss ja eluaeg sõdur olnud, aga nüüd on mul maailma kõige ägedam töö Toweri kaarnate hooldajana ja seega võin teile kaarnatest ühtteist rääkida. ainult et pool aega kisub ikka sõdurimälestusteks ära :)
Toweri kaarnad muidugi on teema, mis ei saa külmaks jätta, sest kõik ju teame, et kui neid linde seal oleks, siis variseks kogu kuningriik. (selle müüdi päritolu on Skaife põhjalikult läbi uurinud ja... pole mingit tõestust, et see eriti vana oleks või et sel üldse mingit tõepõhja oleks ses mõttes, et seda mingi kuningas kunagi väitnud oleks. alles 19. sajandi lõpus hakatakse seda lugu rääkima). ja kuigi ma ise suur Toweri-huviline pole, siis seda tahtsin küll teada, kuidas seda linnumajandust seal siis hallatakse.
selgub, et ise see populatsioon end ikkagi ei uuenda ja kui mõne kaarnaga midagi juhtub, siis lihtsalt hangitakse kiiresti uus asemele, enamasti mingitelt spetsiaalsetelt kaarnakasvatajatelt, keda riigis paar tükki ikka on. ja mis nendega juhtub... üllatavaid asju juhtub ausalt öeldes. mõned langevad rebaste saagiks (jaa, Toweris elavad ka rebased) ja mõned lendavad lihtsalt minema, aga mõned näiteks on surnuks kukkunud, kui püüavad minema lennata ja selgub, et lennusulgi on kärbitud. samas jälle puuris neid ju ka hoida ei saa. nii et eks see üks igavene balansseerimine on linnu vabaduse ja elu ja kohaloleku vahel.
kenasti, kuigi kohati veidi kuivalt antakse siin ülevaade ka kaarnatest mütoloogias ja kirjanduse,s loetletakse üles, kus ja milliseid neid mujal maailmas elab jne. kõige toredamad on ikkagi lood konkreetsetest isenditest ja nende seiklustest sealsamas Toweris (või mujal, eks põgenemislood on ikka meeleolukad), serveeritud ehtinglasliku self-deprecationi kastmes, ehk siis kaaren võidab alati ja me jutustaja jääb targale linnule alla.
ei oleks uskunud, et minus tekib soov kunagi veel Towerit külastada (olen korra käinud ja ma pole eriline vanade kindluste ega kuulsusrikka ajaloo huviline), aga nüüd küll mõtlen, et puhtalt kaarnate pärast võiks ühe korra ikkagi veel minna ja selle pilguga seal ringi vaadata.
Toweri kaarnad muidugi on teema, mis ei saa külmaks jätta, sest kõik ju teame, et kui neid linde seal oleks, siis variseks kogu kuningriik. (selle müüdi päritolu on Skaife põhjalikult läbi uurinud ja... pole mingit tõestust, et see eriti vana oleks või et sel üldse mingit tõepõhja oleks ses mõttes, et seda mingi kuningas kunagi väitnud oleks. alles 19. sajandi lõpus hakatakse seda lugu rääkima). ja kuigi ma ise suur Toweri-huviline pole, siis seda tahtsin küll teada, kuidas seda linnumajandust seal siis hallatakse.
selgub, et ise see populatsioon end ikkagi ei uuenda ja kui mõne kaarnaga midagi juhtub, siis lihtsalt hangitakse kiiresti uus asemele, enamasti mingitelt spetsiaalsetelt kaarnakasvatajatelt, keda riigis paar tükki ikka on. ja mis nendega juhtub... üllatavaid asju juhtub ausalt öeldes. mõned langevad rebaste saagiks (jaa, Toweris elavad ka rebased) ja mõned lendavad lihtsalt minema, aga mõned näiteks on surnuks kukkunud, kui püüavad minema lennata ja selgub, et lennusulgi on kärbitud. samas jälle puuris neid ju ka hoida ei saa. nii et eks see üks igavene balansseerimine on linnu vabaduse ja elu ja kohaloleku vahel.
kenasti, kuigi kohati veidi kuivalt antakse siin ülevaade ka kaarnatest mütoloogias ja kirjanduse,s loetletakse üles, kus ja milliseid neid mujal maailmas elab jne. kõige toredamad on ikkagi lood konkreetsetest isenditest ja nende seiklustest sealsamas Toweris (või mujal, eks põgenemislood on ikka meeleolukad), serveeritud ehtinglasliku self-deprecationi kastmes, ehk siis kaaren võidab alati ja me jutustaja jääb targale linnule alla.
ei oleks uskunud, et minus tekib soov kunagi veel Towerit külastada (olen korra käinud ja ma pole eriline vanade kindluste ega kuulsusrikka ajaloo huviline), aga nüüd küll mõtlen, et puhtalt kaarnate pärast võiks ühe korra ikkagi veel minna ja selle pilguga seal ringi vaadata.