My second 20BooksOfSummer book, read alongside “Tahiti” as I thought that one might contain not-suitable-for-mealtimes passages (in fact, this one was more likely to in the end!). The picture is from the post in October 218 where I shared the books I’d bought in Penzance, and I’m pleased to say I have now read three of them, with “Rising Ground” coming up on the 20BooksOfSummer TBR very soon, so well done, me.
Alex Horne – “Birdwatchingwatching”
(12 October 2018. charity shop, Penzance)
Horne is known to us as the writer and co-presenter of “Taskmaster”, a TV show we really enjoy, and I wish I’d realised he’d done a stand-up show based on this year of birdwatching, but the book was a real treat anyway.
A really sweet book about Horne doing a Big Year of birdwatching, which basically involves spending a year seeing as many bird species as you can (with some rules – none in captivity mainly), in competition with his dad, in order to learn something more about his dad’s hobby and prepare himself for not-yet-impending fatherhood. He’s a gentle and timid soul, in awe of ‘real men’ who know things about trees and nature and can mend things, and it’s a nice read as he discovers birds and the birding community – he discusses a couple of other books on birdwatching sociology I have on my TBR, which made me think I should have read them first (but I bought them in 2019!).
It was odd and a bit uncomfortable-feeling that the year in question was the year when the bird flu pandemic hit the world, not quite along the lines of this current one of course, but there were enough parallels to be a bit uneasy! But anyway, he experiences all the joys and frustrations of birdwatching and indulges in a bit of proper twitching (something I have only done once which involved a walk of about a mile, and which he finds both exciting and boring). I loved the descriptions of his mum’s experience of a birding holiday (it was nice, but …) which echo my own, although everyone seems to have enjoyed Bird Fair in Rutland more than I did the one time we went! His frustration with a million seemingly identical warblers was something I could identify with, too.
So a nice and warm book, gently funny with some read-out-loud moments and I’m hoping Matthew will find time to read this paperback as he will enjoy it, too.
This was Book 2 in my 20BooksOfSummer project.
Jun 09, 2020 @ 11:06:02
I love Alex Horne, I might read that. My dad was a huge birdwatcher when I was growing up and I was hugely embarassed about it, especially when he picked me and my friends up from a night out while listening to his bird calls CD… I’m becoming a bit interested in birds myself these days.
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Jun 09, 2020 @ 11:13:02
Oh, if you like Alex Horne and you’ve had that experience in childhood, you will love this! Hope you manage to find a copy!
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Jun 09, 2020 @ 14:39:17
This sounds just lovely. I did a lot of birdwatching with my Dad as a kid.
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Jun 09, 2020 @ 14:58:08
It’s a really nice read though also a gateway to lots of other books about birdwatching! I expect you’d enjoy it! I have missed proper birdwatching but gained great solace from looking at the familiar birds in our parks over lockdown.
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Jun 09, 2020 @ 16:44:25
Sounds lovely! I’m not a huge fan of birds myself – I can tolerate them at a distance, but… However, Middle Child adores them so might like this!
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Jun 11, 2020 @ 15:48:58
Oh, well, that’s fair enough. I’m a big bird fan and it’s got easier to be one as I’ve got older. The sociology of birding is fascinating!
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Jun 09, 2020 @ 18:02:01
Sounds like a good book, perfect for you. I didn’t know Alex Horne had written any books, not seen taskmaster but he’s been on The Last Leg recently.
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Jun 11, 2020 @ 15:49:20
Taskmaster is highly recommended and this was very good.
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Jun 09, 2020 @ 20:18:14
I did not even know he had books out there! I love his sense of humour, and I may keep an eye out for this one.
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Jun 12, 2020 @ 07:52:35
This was really a lovely book – not sure he’s written any more but I do recommend it if you can find a copy. And welcome to my blog!
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Jun 12, 2020 @ 13:33:54
Thanks š
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Jun 11, 2020 @ 08:19:28
Sounds wonderful. I think many of us are finding solace and comfort in nature at the moment, particularly when so much else in our world feels so fragile and uncertain.
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Jun 11, 2020 @ 15:49:40
Yes, indeed, and I’m finding my nature books are good for These Times, too.
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Jul 15, 2020 @ 13:23:01
Yep, I need to read this one as well!
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Jul 15, 2020 @ 13:46:20
This was excellent although I’m not sure where you’re going to find a copy. Let me know if you get stuck!
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Jul 15, 2020 @ 17:36:24
Thanks Liz!! I found a kindle version which will do the trick, although I do like physical books much better!!
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Nonfiction November Week 3 – Be the Expert / Ask the Expert / Become the Expert #NonFicNov | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Nov 16, 2020 @ 09:01:29