After reading a few rather intense books, I decided I could benefit from something light hearted and easy. Enter Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles. A nature journal at its heart, Amy Tan rediscovered her childhood curiosity and channeled it into what became the pages of this lovely book.
The process was a balm for her aching heart, just as it is for mine during these seemingly endless challenging times.
First Line
September 16, 2017
While watching hummingbirds buzz around me, I recalled a fantasy every child has: that I could win the trust of wild animals and they would willingly come to me.
Page 56
I am going to start learning bird songs. I will lure them back by singing off-key. They will return to see what lousy singers have taken over the home and mealworms they abandoned.
Since the pages contain her journal entries and gorgeous illustrations, it is an easy ready that is perfect for picking up and getting a few pages in when I have just a few minutes to spare. It’s even been tucked in my backpack on errand days 🙂
I’m not sure what’s up next, but I’m thoroughly enjoying a little levity right now.
Do tell! What are you reading these days?
Linking up this weekend to First Line Friday with Carrie, Book Beginnings with Gilion, The Friday 56 with Anne, and the Sunday Salon with Deb. Have a look around to see what everyone else is reading these days.
Onward,
Melissa
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Hi Melissa, do you have the Merlin bird App? It identifies by listening to the sounds of the birds in your garden. It also gives you more information about the birds
I don’t have the Merlin app! I’ll check it out, thank you!
This just sounds nice. 🙂
I keep being a little tempted by this, it sounds lovely!
Sometimes we just have to lean into temptation 🙂
I quite liked Amy Tan’s birding — I wrote a pretty long review here (combined with a review of another book):
https://maefood.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-egg-and-i-and-other-reading.html
I’ve also enjoyed several other books by Amy Tan — in fact I’ve read all of her fiction.
Awesome! Thanks for linking it, I’ll check it out!
I checked this out, and then I found I liked it so much that I went ahead and bought a copy to keep. I enjoyed Tan’s amateur status; she became a birder and a bird artist because she loved it so much. I think that’s wonderful.
I am also enjoying the amateur status of each page! It’s a solid reminder that we are all beginners at one time 🙂 I’m glad to hear you’ve made this book a home on your shelves.
I loved this book and think about it all the time.
This sounds like a delightful book. Yes, we all need a distraction at the moment, don’t we?
Really and truly <3
It looks like a wonderful book. Right now all I have on my desk are school books about different types of research.
A season for everything 🙂
Yes 🙂
This sounds like a lovely read! I also enjoy some levity after reading a heavier read.
I’m such a mood reader and this is one of the ways it manifests! 🙂 Hope you have a great week ahead!
A lighter read after some intense ones sounds like a great idea. The sentences that you shared are lovely.
Happy Sunday, Melissa.
Thank you, Shari! It’s been very enjoyable <3
I got that book for Christmas and have been dipping into it. As you noted, a perfect read for these troubled times.
Oh how wonderful! I’m glad you’ve been able to sit with its pages, too <3
This sounds delightful, thanks for sharing your thoughts
You’re very welcome!
I just finished Criss Cross By C.C. Warrens (an intense thriller), and I think I am going to start reading The Backpack Bride by Dulcie Dameron, which will be a lighter read. Have a great week!
This book and its beautiful illustrations sound delightful! I’m an aspiring birder, too!
P.S. Have a wonderful week!
Sounds like an absolute delight.
This sounds like such a happy book. I need one of those kind of books in my life too. Even the novels I’ve been reading lately are heavy; I could use some lightening up! 🙂 My slow read for 2026 is Women Who Run with the Wolves, which has been fun.
I love the Merlin app. I actually just thought of it while I’m sitting here with the window open and they are chirping. Right now I’m reading Quiet by Susan Cain, and a few others. I have Silent Book Club at our library tomorrow and just attended another Silent Book Club last Thursday with a friend at Nocturnal, a cool, dark themed coffee shop. Thanks for sharing what’s on your TBR!
I LOVE the idea of a Silent Book Club! How fun to just read with community with no pressure! I hope March has treated you well, Kathleen!