Book Blog #358: The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

 

Title: The Backyard Bird Chronicles

Author: Amy Tan

# of Pages: 280 (hardback)

Genre: Nonfiction

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Synopsis: A gorgeous, witty account of birding, nature, and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight. Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world. In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater—an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.

Review: I knew exactly what I was getting myself and that I wouldn't be interested in the topic (birds) of this book any more than the average non-birder. Did that stop me? Apparently not.

This book deserves 5 stars for delivering exactly what it advertises: whimsy journal entries from famous author Amy Tran on her birdwatching hobby with some very realistic illustrations.

But based on my level of enjoyment, it would be 2 stars. I don't share Tan's fascination of birds. She even humanizes their behavior which can either come off as charming or a bit obsessed (nothing wrong with an obsession but makes it harder to relate). While I was open to learning more, the entries got repetitive as she sees more of the same birds visit her backyard. This book really should have been limited to a max of 80 pages, if that.

So I'm settling on 3 stars for delivering but maybe not worth being delivered for the average reader. I would only recommend this if you're interested in a birds and want to see some amazing illustrations (although I didn't appreciate the larger-than life yellow jacket drawing). 

Book Blog #357: Funny Story by Emily Henry

 

Title: Funny Story

Author: Emily Henry

# of Pages: 384 (hardback)

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Synopsis: Daphne always loved the way her fiancé, Peter, told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it... right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra. Which is how Daphne begins her new story: stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak. Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned-up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them? But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex... right?

Review: The title is false advertising; it's not a funny story. 

Solidly a 2 star read, if not lower. I went back to reading Emily Henry's works because I wanted a quick and cheesy romance. This is one of the rare moments where I was also actually expecting MORE of the romance aspect and less of everything else. 

Despite Henry's attempts at character growth, there really wasn't enough? The relationship where the protagonist is supposed to exhibit growth seems to be a relationship of infatuation and no reason to be compatible (in her own words, she likes him because he's "so nice and so hot and so fun and funny," and she thinks he smells good). These characters are red flags that create problems amongst themselves because of bad communication.

Also really tired of the whole shy bookworm protagonist trope where somehow despite being socially dead and "dowdy," she still gets some hot guy and everything she does is amazing! The fantasy doesn't work if it's too unrealistic. 

Would not recommend.