Guide to the Birds of East Africa

Just exactly what have I been doing with myself lately? I've certainly been MIA in the blog world. You already know I've been straightening and pitching out and cleaning like a mad fiend. But I've also managed to spare a moment or two to squeeze in some reading and, at long last, some knitting.

It's been a good long while since I picked up the sticks and string and went at it. Many of you might not even know that knitting is my first and foremost craft love. I taught myself when I was a teenager and even though I tuck the needles and yarn away for often months and sometimes years at a time, I still manage to find my way back to it eventually. Now it seems that I'm on a sock making bender. I can't get enough of socks, socks, socks. Beautiful yarns in tasty hand dyed colors are making my mouth water and this pair in chili pepper colors are my latest.

The socks are for car trips but the reading is for any moment I can find to tuck it in. Before the holidays I swept my local library for reading material. I came away with a pile of books, one of which was A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson. I must admit that this is not my typical book and that I was swayed to slip it into my stack by the pretty birds on the cover.

This novel is set in modern day Nairobi, Kenya with a short, bald, round, brown man, Mr. Malik, as it's protagonist. Mr. Malik is quite ordinary indeed, having been raised in the usual English boarding school style and now a semi-retired business man. Yet as the story unfolds we find the irresistable, heart of gold Mr. Malik thrown into quite extraordinary circumstances. Watching how he deals with them and, eventually, puts them into perspective is an understatedly delightful journey.

The central them of bird watching initially had me worried since I know next to nothing about birds. But I needn't have worried because it wasn't neccessary for me to enjoy every minute of this book. At it's heart its a love story but not, I'm delighted to say, in the typical way. Drayson is a true storyteller and this is a book definitely not to be missed.

Comments

[Natasha]

You know I always had you pegged as a stick and string kinda gal!

They book sounds great- it has been awhile since I have read anything that was set out of this country- weird huh?!

[sadira]

I've been nutty with knitting lately!

[Lena]

You make this book sound like one that shouldn't be missed! I'll add it to my reserve list.

I can't knit a stitch. I'm so impressed that you taught yourself.

[Alison Perry]

Thanks for the recommendation Felicia, I love hearing about interesting new books to try ;)
Ali x

[Jennifer Louie Reinwald]

That sounds like a very interesting read!

Yay for knitting! It's not my first craft, but I do love it so.

[Elizabeth]

I'm not a knitter but I am a reader. I at first thought this was an actual guidebook to birds! LOL.