The Backyard Bird Chronicles (Unabridged)
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A gorgeous, witty account of birding, nature, and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight, written and illustrated by the best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club • With a foreword by David Allen Sibley
“Unexpected and spectacular” —Ann Patchett, best-selling author of These Precious Days
"The drawings and essays in this book do a lot more than just describe the birds. They carry a sense of discovery through observation and drawing, suggest the layers of patterns in the natural world, and emphasize a deep personal connection between the watcher and the watched. The birds that inhabit Amy Tan’s backyard seem a lot like the characters in her novels.” —David Allen Sibley, from the foreword
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 world: 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.
This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF of images and resources from the book
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
As Amy Tan notes in this delightful nature journal, you never know what beauty and wonder are in your backyard unless you look. The chronicle covers a period of five years, during which Tan journaled and illustrated her self-described obsession with the varied avian visitors to her backyard in Sausalito, California, from vibrant hummingbirds to majestic raptors to small sparrows and finches. Tan has an elaborate setup of feeders (known as Amy’s Bistro), and we loved hearing her describe the interactions, confrontations, and occasional predatory behaviors she observes there. Her observations are so interesting that even a nonbirder will be drawn into this marvelous world of color and song. Tan’s narration evokes her sense of awe at the beauty of the natural world. This audiobook will have you looking at birds with new eyes. In fact, you might even want to go out and buy your own binoculars.
