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A review by saarahn
Birds Art Life Death: A Field Guide to the Small and Significant by Kyo Maclear
5.0
Freeing
Maclear writes this book in a candid manner, reflecting upon her life against the backdrop of her new found love for birds and birding. At times, her birding adventures arrive at the forefront, humbling her and reminding her of the growing struggles in the world; that there are greater issues. In light of her discovery of her love for birds, she learns to look at the world in a different perspective: looking outwards, and realising that nearly all of us desire freedom from something and we read books, daydream, create art in hopes of manifesting a better reality for ourselves. She herself tried running away as a teenager, but quickly awakened to the fact that she was running from a part of her. It was from this situation, she developed an adoration for living within one's means, what a person can do with what they have- for limitless freedom is not something we all posses, other philosophers tend to be of the opinion that it's an impossible concept altogether.
Maclear however is a firm believer of freedom, and she voices several of her biggest regrets in this book, as well as the lessons she has acquired through her keen and eager observation of bird life. How, it is not just a simple and beautiful hobby but that it can give way to the grim knowledge that there is damage in the world but that often, it's birds who are the victorious ones in battling the crimes of humanity on the earth that is their home too.
Personally, I especially enjoyed reading of Maclear's passion for birding, how it was inspired and how she kept at it. I'm one of those people who dabble in multiple hobbies, I may have learnt a good deal but I can never stay committed to any one thing. Well, aside from reading, and writing from time to time: those are my constants. I shared Maclear's stance on bird extinction, the idea of scientifically engineering the birds that the world has lost and the still prevalent practice of caging wild birds. Caging the species that make up the wilderness, or oppression in all its forms, is something I've always been opposed to. In reading this book I was reminded of Maya Angelou's words on the unfairness of oppression, racism, and the motivation behind protests in the endeavour of living in a better world: of freedom. She wrote, as part of her poem 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings',
"The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom."
I received this book through NetGalley and it is one I do recommend even if you possess little interest in birds, for there are some valuable tidbits you'll learn and appreciate nonetheless.
Maclear writes this book in a candid manner, reflecting upon her life against the backdrop of her new found love for birds and birding. At times, her birding adventures arrive at the forefront, humbling her and reminding her of the growing struggles in the world; that there are greater issues. In light of her discovery of her love for birds, she learns to look at the world in a different perspective: looking outwards, and realising that nearly all of us desire freedom from something and we read books, daydream, create art in hopes of manifesting a better reality for ourselves. She herself tried running away as a teenager, but quickly awakened to the fact that she was running from a part of her. It was from this situation, she developed an adoration for living within one's means, what a person can do with what they have- for limitless freedom is not something we all posses, other philosophers tend to be of the opinion that it's an impossible concept altogether.
Maclear however is a firm believer of freedom, and she voices several of her biggest regrets in this book, as well as the lessons she has acquired through her keen and eager observation of bird life. How, it is not just a simple and beautiful hobby but that it can give way to the grim knowledge that there is damage in the world but that often, it's birds who are the victorious ones in battling the crimes of humanity on the earth that is their home too.
Personally, I especially enjoyed reading of Maclear's passion for birding, how it was inspired and how she kept at it. I'm one of those people who dabble in multiple hobbies, I may have learnt a good deal but I can never stay committed to any one thing. Well, aside from reading, and writing from time to time: those are my constants. I shared Maclear's stance on bird extinction, the idea of scientifically engineering the birds that the world has lost and the still prevalent practice of caging wild birds. Caging the species that make up the wilderness, or oppression in all its forms, is something I've always been opposed to. In reading this book I was reminded of Maya Angelou's words on the unfairness of oppression, racism, and the motivation behind protests in the endeavour of living in a better world: of freedom. She wrote, as part of her poem 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings',
"The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom."
I received this book through NetGalley and it is one I do recommend even if you possess little interest in birds, for there are some valuable tidbits you'll learn and appreciate nonetheless.