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sneeps's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Colonisation and Classism
Oh this one made me so angrymadelinedavis's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Interesting story but felt more like a summary retelling until the last section.
ruinedlanguage's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that proves nonfiction can be interesting even outside of just memoirs. I have no idea why 17-year-old me wanted to read this as I consumed little to no nonfiction at that age, but I’m glad she did! Even if it took me six years to get around to it.
Cannot believe that a 20 year old flautist robbed a museum and stole a bunch of birds for a Victorian art I’ve never even heard of. Truly one of the most random things I’ve ever read about.
I listened to this on audio while walking through a trail. With the first half setting the stage about the significance of the theft and the lengths Alfred Russell Wallace went to in order to procure and preserve these birds it felt like the ideal setting.
From there we transition into the archaic art of fly tying, which I can’t say I’ve ever heard of. I enjoyed the different perspectives captured. We hear from everyone involved, the fly tying community, the museum, and law enforcement, and though the book makes it clear why it was a serious crime, there are brief flashes where I rooted for Rist.
Sometimes when author’s place themselves within the narrative I get bored, but Johnson has actually done things of interest and it’s completely understandable why he needed the distraction that Rist and his crime provided. And it brought me this book so no complaints on my end.
Cannot believe that a 20 year old flautist robbed a museum and stole a bunch of birds for a Victorian art I’ve never even heard of. Truly one of the most random things I’ve ever read about.
I listened to this on audio while walking through a trail. With the first half setting the stage about the significance of the theft and the lengths Alfred Russell Wallace went to in order to procure and preserve these birds it felt like the ideal setting.
From there we transition into the archaic art of fly tying, which I can’t say I’ve ever heard of. I enjoyed the different perspectives captured. We hear from everyone involved, the fly tying community, the museum, and law enforcement, and though the book makes it clear why it was a serious crime, there are brief flashes where I rooted for Rist.
Sometimes when author’s place themselves within the narrative I get bored, but Johnson has actually done things of interest and it’s completely understandable why he needed the distraction that Rist and his crime provided. And it brought me this book so no complaints on my end.
ashurq's review against another edition
4.0
This book was fantastic! I originally heard Kirk's episode about the Tring heist on This American Life. I was worried the book would be repetitive since I already knew the gist of the story, but it has a ton of additional information (as promised).
I'm not sure if this is the author's intent, but I really just feel so mad at the fly-tying community and at Rist. There's just very little remorse to be found and a wild disregard for what these birds really mean on a scientific (and just basic human ethics) level.
Overall, I found this to be a quick read especially for a non-fiction book. It's a quirky true crime story that I think a lot of people will find fascinating. What's true? What's a lie? And where are the rest of those bird skins???
I'm not sure if this is the author's intent, but I really just feel so mad at the fly-tying community and at Rist. There's just very little remorse to be found and a wild disregard for what these birds really mean on a scientific (and just basic human ethics) level.
Overall, I found this to be a quick read especially for a non-fiction book. It's a quirky true crime story that I think a lot of people will find fascinating. What's true? What's a lie? And where are the rest of those bird skins???
lexish00's review against another edition
5.0
Niche hobbyists? Check. History lessons? Check. Crime? Check. Grayness of morality? Check.
What else do you need, really?
What else do you need, really?