renskunk's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Totally hit my spot as a book that explores our relationships to nature through more personal stories. I think I expected this to be more of a linear memoir - I was hoping to dig more into his experiences in school, research, and his interactions with birds via his work because that's always the most fascinating to me. Overall, absolutely would recommend to anyone thinking about how they fit into the natural world.
mrspenningalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the roots of the South being exposed in a subtle, secondary way while nature and the Home Place took precedence. I also loved his raw honesty about the challenges in being a bird watcher as a “rare bird” himself” and the fears he has within his work and career as a Black man. The book is broken into three sections, all thematic to birds and his journey, which I loved. Lanham’s writing is amazingly poetic and powerful. It will be a great option for AP Lang!
“I am a scientist a I am a black man; my skin defines me no more than my heart does. But somehow my color often casts my love affair with nature in shadow.”
“Each of is is so much more than the pigment that orders us into convenient compartments of occupation, avocation, or behavior. It’s easy to default to expectation. But nature shows me a better. Wilder way. I resist the easy path and claim the implausible, the indecipherable, and unconventional.”
“I am a scientist a I am a black man; my skin defines me no more than my heart does. But somehow my color often casts my love affair with nature in shadow.”
“Each of is is so much more than the pigment that orders us into convenient compartments of occupation, avocation, or behavior. It’s easy to default to expectation. But nature shows me a better. Wilder way. I resist the easy path and claim the implausible, the indecipherable, and unconventional.”
arrrgh_schooling's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
katetracy's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Really beautiful recount of a birder’s origin and the history of his family and where they’re from. The writing was a little too descriptive at times, but you could liken it to poetry. I listened to this as an audiobook and really felt the author’s words. If I read the hard copy, it would be wonderful to see some photos of his home and birds to pair with the writing.
I’d be interested in reading more of his recent writing’s to see if he’s able to start bridging the gap between academia and the rest of the world.
I’d be interested in reading more of his recent writing’s to see if he’s able to start bridging the gap between academia and the rest of the world.
smemmott's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook read by the author, which made it feel particularly personal and meaningful. I really enjoyed the story of the author's life, his family, and the history of his connection to nature as a Black man.