Scan barcode
A review by ruinedlanguage
The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson
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.