Birds Art Life: A Year of Observation

This elegant, dreamy book melds all that is dear to me right now: my aging father, my new husband's shared love of hummingbirds in the morning as we gaze out over our mini-ranch that is just beginning, parsimony, quaint sketches and the quest for justice in an unjust, Trump presidency....it's all there in a year of telling. The tugs and pulls of marriage, the fears and hopes of parenting. Even the strain of being the only child of oddly matched parents. And the introverts fear of her own narcissism, bravely displayed. I love this book, and recommend it to all.

I liked this book because I liked the author's sensibility: careful, intelligent, thoughtful, wry. I kept the book on the bedside and read it occasionally and slowly. It is a meditation on the things in its title -- and that's the best description I can come up with. It is not informational. It is not particularly enlightening. I learned little from it. That said, I enjoyed it because I enjoyed witnessing the world through the author's special eyes. I came to it as a bird watcher, and yet the birds are not really the point. In fact, there is no point -- and sometimes that is why we read, to be some one else for a little while.

I bought this book over two years ago because I wanted a book about nature and being drawn to art and birds this one, plus the description of the novice birder year and dealing with an aging parent seemed like a perfect fit. Having lost my parents not that long before I was unprepared for how much the author’s wise and discerning words articulated my experiences with my ailing parents. It was hard to read and so healing as well to see that experience expressed so beautifully and shared in the world. Her depiction of learning to bird resonates as well with any that can relate not only to an appreciation of the natural world but the uncomfortableness with putting yourself out there as a novice, possibly to appear as ignorant as you feel. The author’s humanity, willingness to share her struggles and growing love for birds were a balm for my soul. I recently gifted it to a friend with an aging parent and I hope she is as blessed as I was by this treasure! And as a side, her included sketches added a lot…it’s a lovely book, on lovely paper, with wonderful sketches and photographs.

I can't even deal with how much I love this book. I've read chapters, then reread them again the next night to highlight them. I want to pass along my copy but I'm too afraid I'll want to look back to it again in a couple weeks! I feel like so many parts of the book said things I've been thinking or feeling, as a writer, artist, and anxiety-filled mama. I picked this book up because I had been looking for something to give me a bit of respite from life's crazy, and there in the first couple of chapters Maclear talked about looking to art and birdwatching for the same reason. I've found that the book itself has helped me be mindful of the world around me. Though it in itself does not teach you how to do birdwatching or art or life, it makes you appreciate the small and look for beauty. In turn, I am finding myself listening for birds even when I'm driving with the windows down, longing to sketch flowers, taking time away from my many duties to think and write, focusing on the sweet things at home. If you're looking for something to jolt you out of what the world says is important and remind you what really matters, read this book. And especially if you are an artist or an introverted, stressed out, new mother, you have to get this book. I'm not lending you mine!

Some parts were slow going. It is written in a relatively choppy style of short paragraphs in many of the chapters. I did enjoy reading it though. A very personal set of essays combining beginning birding with associated thoughts about life and death and points in between. I like that it was divided into months and that birds were specifically identified for each month. She provides many book references for further review and she has read a LOT of books.

ok

A dedicated Underliner for sixty years, I am able to revisit the 'gems' (pretty much near half of the text) again & again...& months later again, not intending to ever deny myself the joy, still. For someone so young to be so perceptive & wise, then so gifted at expression, Kyo Maclear is a precious gift to the discerning reader. "ENCORE!"

Gret for my nature loving wife. Grabbed it out of my hands and started reading.

well written keeps your interest