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kimswhims's review against another edition
5.0
This wonderful book is a hard book to find a genre for, it fits into many.
Part a memoir of the author's interesting life as part of a literary family and associates.
Each chapter is sheltered under the wing of a particular well known European bird and there are bright gems of references to that bird in poetry and literature feathered throughout the chapter. Memories of Swifts in Paris, Waxwings in Russia, Seagulls on a Boston beach, and many encounters throughout the UK spark these musings. The chapters are accompanied by fresh colourful artwork by Neil Gower, who is also illustrating the new release covers of Bill Bryson's backlist.
A beautiful example of nature writing and literary criticism.
One I'd like to re-read but reluctantly need to return to the library.
Highly recommended to read and savour at your leisure.
Part a memoir of the author's interesting life as part of a literary family and associates.
Each chapter is sheltered under the wing of a particular well known European bird and there are bright gems of references to that bird in poetry and literature feathered throughout the chapter. Memories of Swifts in Paris, Waxwings in Russia, Seagulls on a Boston beach, and many encounters throughout the UK spark these musings. The chapters are accompanied by fresh colourful artwork by Neil Gower, who is also illustrating the new release covers of Bill Bryson's backlist.
A beautiful example of nature writing and literary criticism.
One I'd like to re-read but reluctantly need to return to the library.
Highly recommended to read and savour at your leisure.
robin_go's review against another edition
2.0
A beautifully illustrated curate's egg of semi-academic essay and personal anecdote.
The memoir, as other readers have said, is the more compelling element. When the author metaphorically 'loosens his tie' it becomes infinitely more absorbing. I could have happily heard more tales of the eccentric relative in France and an extension to the lovely portrait of his father in the collared dove chapter. As it is, the poetry, and some of the author's own adjectives and verbs, don't always make for comfortable comprehension for the casual reader.
The memoir, as other readers have said, is the more compelling element. When the author metaphorically 'loosens his tie' it becomes infinitely more absorbing. I could have happily heard more tales of the eccentric relative in France and an extension to the lovely portrait of his father in the collared dove chapter. As it is, the poetry, and some of the author's own adjectives and verbs, don't always make for comfortable comprehension for the casual reader.
halfmanhalfbook's review against another edition
5.0
It was Alex Preston’s Aunt that foster his love of the natural world and birds in particular. But in his teenage years, skateboarding and listening to Niverna was considered much cooler by his peers than being stuck in a draughty hide. This passion was suppressed but it never went away. Instead, Preston was drawn into an avian world between the covers of books where the poetry and writings from luminaries such as Dillard and Fiennes, Hardy and Hughes. It took another decade and a half for him to feel comfortable in the things that he wanted to do and this reignited his desire to watch birds again.
Taking us through twenty-one birds as exotic as the blue streak that is the kingfisher and the inspiration for the title of the book, the tiny wren, and the speed of the swifts, Preston extols the virtues of each, weaving in poetry and prose taken from the books that made an impact as he grew up. There are personal stories too, his father with cancer, being alone deep into Russia and his wedding in December. All of these memories are written with a stark honesty.
Each of the twenty-one chapters is fronted by a breath-taking image created by the graphic artist Neil Gower. These full sizes colour plates show the bird is a typical scene, a peregrine in a stoop, the murmurations of the starlings, Skylarks float over golden fields and the silence of the barn owl. Scattered throughout are black and white sketches of the birds and other objects, even the endpapers are a thing of beauty; the kingfishers that make up the pattern are caught by Gower in that moment as they dive to fish. Whilst I have read some of the books that he mentions in the text I now have a longer list of items that I want to read. Preston has got to the very essence of what makes the natural world and birds in particular necessary to make ourselves whole. The book is so well produced, with its spectacular cover, high quality pages and tactile binding. It is a joy to hold and a delight to read.
Review with pictures on my blog:
http://halfmanhalfbook.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/review-as-kingfishers-catch-fire-birds.html
Taking us through twenty-one birds as exotic as the blue streak that is the kingfisher and the inspiration for the title of the book, the tiny wren, and the speed of the swifts, Preston extols the virtues of each, weaving in poetry and prose taken from the books that made an impact as he grew up. There are personal stories too, his father with cancer, being alone deep into Russia and his wedding in December. All of these memories are written with a stark honesty.
Each of the twenty-one chapters is fronted by a breath-taking image created by the graphic artist Neil Gower. These full sizes colour plates show the bird is a typical scene, a peregrine in a stoop, the murmurations of the starlings, Skylarks float over golden fields and the silence of the barn owl. Scattered throughout are black and white sketches of the birds and other objects, even the endpapers are a thing of beauty; the kingfishers that make up the pattern are caught by Gower in that moment as they dive to fish. Whilst I have read some of the books that he mentions in the text I now have a longer list of items that I want to read. Preston has got to the very essence of what makes the natural world and birds in particular necessary to make ourselves whole. The book is so well produced, with its spectacular cover, high quality pages and tactile binding. It is a joy to hold and a delight to read.
Review with pictures on my blog:
http://halfmanhalfbook.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/review-as-kingfishers-catch-fire-birds.html
kingjason's review
5.0
I love everything about this book, the hardback cover is a close-up of a kingfisher, you can clearly see the fire in the feathers, the paper used is thick and a joy to turn, each time I thought I was turning two pages at once when it was only one and it made me smile each time. The content is a fusion of birds, books, poetry, autobiography and art.
Alex Preston shares the moments in his life when he falls in love with each bird featured here, these scenes are well written, from being shown his first bird by an aunt to his father battling cancer in bed being watched over by Collared Doves, you can really sense his love for these feathery creatures.
I knew that poets and writers over the years had been influenced by birds in their writing but I never realised just how much they were ingrained into their work. D. H. Lawrence especially uses them a lot, Ted Hughes too, I knew he had his book called "Crow" but so many more birds influenced him, I think he gets a mention in most chapters. This book has greatly increased my reading list. My favourite clip of a poem mentioned has to be about Heron's by Paul Farley:
"One of the most begrudging avian take-offs
is the heron's fucking hell, all right, all right,
I'll go the garage for your flaming fags
cranky departure"
Also featured was one of my favourite poems, written by Kathleen Jamie about geese:
"Whit dae birds write on the dusk?
A word niver spoken or read.
The skeins turn hame,
on the wind's dumb moan, a soun,
maybe human, bereft."
Finally there is the art work by Neil Gower, absolutely stunning, it blends perfectly with the prose on the pages and he has captured the birds perfectly. My favourite has to be of the Wrens, he has reproduced their bossiness, you can almost hear them shouting at you to move along and go walk by another hedge.
This book is highly recommended by me, you've gotta own a copy even if you aren't a bird lover.
My Blog review is here: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/as-kingfishers-catch-fire-birds-books-by-alex-preston-neil-gower/
Notes on the second reading: The poems and clips of other writers work have been taken from Alex Notebooks over the last 25 years, I find it awesome that he has read something he likes and has copied it down in a notebook. Info about the Dove, a bird associated with peace, it made the most of WWII to spread far and wide. Finally, I love how Neil Gower has made the Nightingale look like one of the most beautiful birds ever.
Alex Preston shares the moments in his life when he falls in love with each bird featured here, these scenes are well written, from being shown his first bird by an aunt to his father battling cancer in bed being watched over by Collared Doves, you can really sense his love for these feathery creatures.
I knew that poets and writers over the years had been influenced by birds in their writing but I never realised just how much they were ingrained into their work. D. H. Lawrence especially uses them a lot, Ted Hughes too, I knew he had his book called "Crow" but so many more birds influenced him, I think he gets a mention in most chapters. This book has greatly increased my reading list. My favourite clip of a poem mentioned has to be about Heron's by Paul Farley:
"One of the most begrudging avian take-offs
is the heron's fucking hell, all right, all right,
I'll go the garage for your flaming fags
cranky departure"
Also featured was one of my favourite poems, written by Kathleen Jamie about geese:
"Whit dae birds write on the dusk?
A word niver spoken or read.
The skeins turn hame,
on the wind's dumb moan, a soun,
maybe human, bereft."
Finally there is the art work by Neil Gower, absolutely stunning, it blends perfectly with the prose on the pages and he has captured the birds perfectly. My favourite has to be of the Wrens, he has reproduced their bossiness, you can almost hear them shouting at you to move along and go walk by another hedge.
This book is highly recommended by me, you've gotta own a copy even if you aren't a bird lover.
My Blog review is here: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/as-kingfishers-catch-fire-birds-books-by-alex-preston-neil-gower/
Notes on the second reading: The poems and clips of other writers work have been taken from Alex Notebooks over the last 25 years, I find it awesome that he has read something he likes and has copied it down in a notebook. Info about the Dove, a bird associated with peace, it made the most of WWII to spread far and wide. Finally, I love how Neil Gower has made the Nightingale look like one of the most beautiful birds ever.
sifter's review
5.0
There ought to be more books like this. It's beautifully designed, a compelling mix of genres and suffused with care and attention. Each chapter takes a specific bird and mixes autobiography, literary criticism and bird biography - essentially, rather like listening to a fascinating lecture - and gives you the story of both the bird as a piece of nature and the bird as cultural metaphor. The writing is clear and compelling and the presentation is stellar - from the endpapers to the bespoke paintings of birds that introduce each chapter - the book is physically a really great artefact.
halfmanhalfbook's review
5.0
It was Alex Preston’s Aunt that foster his love of the natural world and birds in particular. But in his teenage years, skateboarding and listening to Niverna was considered much cooler by his peers than being stuck in a draughty hide. This passion was suppressed but it never went away. Instead, Preston was drawn into an avian world between the covers of books where the poetry and writings from luminaries such as Dillard and Fiennes, Hardy and Hughes. It took another decade and a half for him to feel comfortable in the things that he wanted to do and this reignited his desire to watch birds again.
Taking us through twenty-one birds as exotic as the blue streak that is the kingfisher and the inspiration for the title of the book, the tiny wren, and the speed of the swifts, Preston extols the virtues of each, weaving in poetry and prose taken from the books that made an impact as he grew up. There are personal stories too, his father with cancer, being alone deep into Russia and his wedding in December. All of these memories are written with a stark honesty.
Each of the twenty-one chapters is fronted by a breath-taking image created by the graphic artist Neil Gower. These full sizes colour plates show the bird is a typical scene, a peregrine in a stoop, the murmurations of the starlings, Skylarks float over golden fields and the silence of the barn owl. Scattered throughout are black and white sketches of the birds and other objects, even the endpapers are a thing of beauty; the kingfishers that make up the pattern are caught by Gower in that moment as they dive to fish. Whilst I have read some of the books that he mentions in the text I now have a longer list of items that I want to read. Preston has got to the very essence of what makes the natural world and birds in particular necessary to make ourselves whole. The book is so well produced, with its spectacular cover, high quality pages and tactile binding. It is a joy to hold and a delight to read.
Review with pictures on my blog:
http://halfmanhalfbook.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/review-as-kingfishers-catch-fire-birds.html
Taking us through twenty-one birds as exotic as the blue streak that is the kingfisher and the inspiration for the title of the book, the tiny wren, and the speed of the swifts, Preston extols the virtues of each, weaving in poetry and prose taken from the books that made an impact as he grew up. There are personal stories too, his father with cancer, being alone deep into Russia and his wedding in December. All of these memories are written with a stark honesty.
Each of the twenty-one chapters is fronted by a breath-taking image created by the graphic artist Neil Gower. These full sizes colour plates show the bird is a typical scene, a peregrine in a stoop, the murmurations of the starlings, Skylarks float over golden fields and the silence of the barn owl. Scattered throughout are black and white sketches of the birds and other objects, even the endpapers are a thing of beauty; the kingfishers that make up the pattern are caught by Gower in that moment as they dive to fish. Whilst I have read some of the books that he mentions in the text I now have a longer list of items that I want to read. Preston has got to the very essence of what makes the natural world and birds in particular necessary to make ourselves whole. The book is so well produced, with its spectacular cover, high quality pages and tactile binding. It is a joy to hold and a delight to read.
Review with pictures on my blog:
http://halfmanhalfbook.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/review-as-kingfishers-catch-fire-birds.html
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