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126th out of 655 books
—
492 voters
A Guide to the Birds of East Africa
A beguiling novel that does for contemporary Kenya and its 1,000 species of birds what Alexander McCall Smith’s Ladies Detective series does for Botswana
For the past three years, the widower Mr. Malik has been secretly in love with Rose Mbikwa, a woman who leads the weekly bird walks sponsored by the East African Ornithological Society. Reserved and honorable, Malik wouldn...more
For the past three years, the widower Mr. Malik has been secretly in love with Rose Mbikwa, a woman who leads the weekly bird walks sponsored by the East African Ornithological Society. Reserved and honorable, Malik wouldn...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
September 18th 2008
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
(first published January 1st 2008)
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WOWEE! I had never expected I would love his book -- I half expected I wouldn't even like it very much. But instead it was a tour de force, with all the elements of a great story: unrequited love, a protagonist who's brave and sweet-hearted and true behind his shyness, an appropriately dastardly villain whom you just want to smack in the face, a race to the finish line, and a good subplot to move things along. Seriously, I was floored. FLOORED. And no bloodshed or sexual activity for conservativ...more
NO SPOILERS!!!
In conclusion: The ending is cute, but with this final note I haven't given anything away. It is how you get from A to Z that is important. A perfect comfort read, if that is what you are looking for. Please see below for more detailed information.
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AFTER 80%: What I like about GR is that we help each other find books that will fit our own interests. No matter how much effort I put into studying a book before I choose it, each book is always...more
In conclusion: The ending is cute, but with this final note I haven't given anything away. It is how you get from A to Z that is important. A perfect comfort read, if that is what you are looking for. Please see below for more detailed information.
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AFTER 80%: What I like about GR is that we help each other find books that will fit our own interests. No matter how much effort I put into studying a book before I choose it, each book is always...more
An absolutely delightful about a man in love, the honorable, sweet, stubborn Mr. Malik of Nairobi. It will appeal to Alexander McCall Smith fans, but definitely stands on its own and will beguile any reader who appreciates sharp wit and gentle charm.
This was such a sweet story set in...where else...Africa! My latest obsession. Anyway, this is a story of Mr Malik, a middle-aged man living in Nairobi Kenya who is in love with his bird-watching guide Rose Mbikawa, but just can't work up the nerve to ask her out. Along comes his old school rival, Harry Khan, and the competition begins. This was a sort of tortoise and hare story and you just can't help but adore Mr Malik by the end.
A review on the back of the book jacket states "a sort of P.G. Wodehouse meets Alexander McCall Smith." I've got to agree with that. The voice of the narrator threw me at first, because Smith's books are told from the points of view of the characters only. By page 50, I made the switch and couldn't put down the book until the end of the story. I found a certain depth missing, but I think it's because the author touched on so many interesting facets of that world without providing much elaboratio...more
Favorite quote: "There is a distressing but not uncommon condition of presidents and other world leaders known as Worrying about Africa. It is usually picked up overseas as at summit meeting on world poverty or disease, and symptoms include painful twinges of guilt over the discrepancy between First and Third World wealth, uncomfortable feelings somewhere below the stomach that perhaps unfettered capitalism is not the benevolent force for good we are constantly assured it is, and frequent attack...more
Sweet and charming story set in Kenya. Malik and Harry, two very different men, find themselves pitted in a birdwatching contest whose winner will have the chance to ask Rose to the Nairobi Hunt Club Ball. The story moves slowly but surely to a somewhat predictable ending but that's okay. I'd love to see all those great birds with the wonderful names. Now who was that strange but funny narrator?
A pleasant read if you like birds and have been to East Africa. Not riveting otherwise. A sweet tale of a birdwatching contest, some politics, some love amongst the older birdwatchers. Similar to an Alexander McCall Smith novel but takes place in Kenya and most of main characters are Africans of East Indian heritage.
This is a book that is humorous, breezy, light, romantic and balm for a weary soul.
Rose Mibikwa is a lovely, charming, gracious woman who happens to know a lot about the birds of East Africa. Leading weekly tours, her eclectic group of followers scan the skies and the ground for a glimpse of colorful creatures.
Quiet Mr. Malik is captured by the spirit of the birds and the soul of Rose Mibikwa. He longs to invite her to the coveted Hunt Club ball, but three things stand in his way -- his shyness,...more
Rose Mibikwa is a lovely, charming, gracious woman who happens to know a lot about the birds of East Africa. Leading weekly tours, her eclectic group of followers scan the skies and the ground for a glimpse of colorful creatures.
Quiet Mr. Malik is captured by the spirit of the birds and the soul of Rose Mibikwa. He longs to invite her to the coveted Hunt Club ball, but three things stand in his way -- his shyness,...more
Actuarially, I am past middle age. In fact, more than 90% of the world's population is younger than I am. And that shows in the things I care about, read, and buy. Advertisers, take note: Old folks in America are *not lying down to die*! Pay attention to us!
Like the author of this book did. Mr. Malik, a widower and Mrs. Mbikwa, a widow, both of a certain vintage, are the focus of the love story in this book. Each has lost a well-loved spouse, each is living a full, interesting life and each is a...more
Like the author of this book did. Mr. Malik, a widower and Mrs. Mbikwa, a widow, both of a certain vintage, are the focus of the love story in this book. Each has lost a well-loved spouse, each is living a full, interesting life and each is a...more
A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson is a thoroughly charming read. It is about a widower named Mr. Malik and his unannounced love of another widower, Rose Mbikwa. They live in Nairobi and met during a weekly educational bird walk of which Rose was the leader.
The story gets interesting when Mr. Malik finally decides to do something about his secret crush; he plans to ask Rose to a ball. Trouble arises when his childhood nemesis makes an appearance and announces his intent to a...more
The story gets interesting when Mr. Malik finally decides to do something about his secret crush; he plans to ask Rose to a ball. Trouble arises when his childhood nemesis makes an appearance and announces his intent to a...more
I'd give this a PG rating due to a couple curse words and mild innuendoes.
I thought this book was delightful. I love the story of a couple of old men waging a bet at a club of old men over a woman. The narrator lets the story unfold in a charming and quaint way. To show that the club is a place where men enjoy betting on anything and everything we are first introduced to a bet between two patrons over a study on how often a man farts in a day. I love the idea of a couple of old farts discussing...more
I thought this book was delightful. I love the story of a couple of old men waging a bet at a club of old men over a woman. The narrator lets the story unfold in a charming and quaint way. To show that the club is a place where men enjoy betting on anything and everything we are first introduced to a bet between two patrons over a study on how often a man farts in a day. I love the idea of a couple of old farts discussing...more
It is indeed a very sweet novel for romantics. You may not like it as much if you are cynical and are proud of it. I randomly picked up the book on library shelf and was rewarded with some pleasant reading. This is definitely a feel good book much like Alexander McCall-Smith’s novels. In fact the book’s jacket says ‘P.G. Wodehouse meets Alexander McCall-Smith’.
Mr.Malik is one of the most endearing characters you will come across. He is a middle-aged semi-retired widower of Indian descent living...more
Mr.Malik is one of the most endearing characters you will come across. He is a middle-aged semi-retired widower of Indian descent living...more
This a charming and delightful story, set in Nairobi, Kenya, about a retired man who has admired the woman who leads his bird-watching group for many years, but has been too shy to do anything about it. He then learns that another man, whom he has known from his younger school days, is also interested in the woman. A competition develops to determine which of the men can be the one to invite the woman to an upcoming ball. Although the story starts off a little slow, it soon becomes very entertai...more
This is a warm and charming little book that made me laugh out loud a few times. Set in Kenya, it would probably appeal to most readers of McCall Smith’s Ladies’ Number One Detective Agency. There is interesting information about the birds of Kenya as well as some general political commentary and glimpses into Kenyan life.
Mr. Malik is a “short, round, balding brown man”, a widower, sixty-one years old and sporting a comb-over. For the past three years he has regularly taken part in the Tuesday...more
Mr. Malik is a “short, round, balding brown man”, a widower, sixty-one years old and sporting a comb-over. For the past three years he has regularly taken part in the Tuesday...more
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 boardi...more
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 boardi...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I unexpectedly loved this book. While I knew I wanted to read it for the College Students Spring/Summer Challenge this year, when I actually picked it up from the library I actually hesitated before bringing it home. For whatever reason, the font really bugs me in this book, but I got used to it. I also find it can be difficult for me to read books with British spellings, punctuation, and dialogue (because of the punctuation), so I was a bit hesitant.
I am so thrilled to have read a book about Af...more
I am so thrilled to have read a book about Af...more
This charming story set in Nairobi, Kenya before the recent troubles is set in a world I’m afraid no longer exists. Mr. Malik, a timid subdued gentleman of Indian decent, is a member of the Asadi Club, a vestige of colonial days founded in 1903. A bet is made between gentlemen over beers at the club that whichever one counts the most birds before the Hunt Club Ball will have the honor of taking Rose Mbikwa, a widow of genteel breeding. Each bird hunting trek takes us into another aspect of life...more
Mr. Malik is a semi-retired widower who likes two things-- the birds of Kenya, his homeland, and Rose Mbikwa, the woman who leads the weekly bird-walks he attends. He's mustered up the courage to ask Rose to a dance when Harry Khan, a playboy who Malik has known since their school days, returns to town, intent on wooing Rose, and asking her to the dance. The men, bolstered by their social club, agree to have a contest to decide who can ask Rose, whoever sees more birds in the span of a week wins...more
A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF EAST AFRICA by Nicholas Drayson
2008, Viking/Penguin, 202 pgs, fiction, 4.5/B+
Read 07/08/09
1st Line: 'Ah yes' said Rose Mbikwa, looking up @ the large dark bird w/ elegant tail soaring high above the car park of the Nairobi Museum, 'a black kite. Which is, of course, not black but brown.'
Present; Nairobi/Kenya
Mr. Malik: retired widower, keeps a low profile, avid birder, harbors a deep passion for Kenya and Rose Mbikwa
Rose Mbikwa: widow of former politican, guide for the Ea...more
2008, Viking/Penguin, 202 pgs, fiction, 4.5/B+
Read 07/08/09
1st Line: 'Ah yes' said Rose Mbikwa, looking up @ the large dark bird w/ elegant tail soaring high above the car park of the Nairobi Museum, 'a black kite. Which is, of course, not black but brown.'
Present; Nairobi/Kenya
Mr. Malik: retired widower, keeps a low profile, avid birder, harbors a deep passion for Kenya and Rose Mbikwa
Rose Mbikwa: widow of former politican, guide for the Ea...more
Setting is the strong part of this book - characters and plot ... notsomuch.
The protagonist, Malik, and his servant, Benjamin, are done well; the villain, Khan, and the secondaries around him, also worked for me. The club members, and most importantly, the quested-maiden (I suppose "matron" would be more accurate, but looks awful) Rose, fell two-dimensionally flat for me.
Plot-wise, the adventures of Malik proved a bit too woebegone for me, and Khan's a tad shallow. The novella format is a trick...more
The protagonist, Malik, and his servant, Benjamin, are done well; the villain, Khan, and the secondaries around him, also worked for me. The club members, and most importantly, the quested-maiden (I suppose "matron" would be more accurate, but looks awful) Rose, fell two-dimensionally flat for me.
Plot-wise, the adventures of Malik proved a bit too woebegone for me, and Khan's a tad shallow. The novella format is a trick...more
This is the review for the same author's A Guide to the Beasts of East Africa - something seems to have gone wrong with the links:
Mr Malik is arranging the Asadi Club’s annual safari trip and his daughter Petula is about to get married when the club’s mascot the studded lion called the Kima Killer disappears. Mr Malik fears things are about to go drastically wrong. He and his group of friends are absorbed by their ongoing debate about the identity of Lord Erroll’s murder – an old Kenyan cause ce...more
Mr Malik is arranging the Asadi Club’s annual safari trip and his daughter Petula is about to get married when the club’s mascot the studded lion called the Kima Killer disappears. Mr Malik fears things are about to go drastically wrong. He and his group of friends are absorbed by their ongoing debate about the identity of Lord Erroll’s murder – an old Kenyan cause ce...more
Nov 20, 2011
Rachel
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people looking for a quick read filled with lovely characters and gentle charm.
Oh yes! I found this book to be positively delightful. On several occasions I chuckled out loud, and in many other occasions my eyes welled up with tears, sometimes sweet and sentimental, sometimes sad. Old friendships, grade school pranks and bullying, parental expectations, happy marriages, bad marriages, infidelity, honor, honesty, remorse and regret, government corruption, family duties, racism, class-ism, "traditional" views on homosexuality, government censorship, kidnappings (for child so...more
Aug 19, 2011
Carol
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of #1 Ladies Detective series, casual birders
Inevitably, this story invites comparison to Alexander MacCall Smith's "Ladies Detective" series. Set in East Africa (in this case, Kenya), it is a gentle tale of a shy man's pursuit of east African avian species, but more importantly, of the woman who leads the local weekly bird walks. The cast of endearing characters reflects the racial diversity of the country (our hero is of Indian descent, and the object of his adoration is a Scotswoman who has lived in the area for most of her life). While...more
Lo que me atrajo de este libro, a primer vistazo, fue su portada. Y como el precio era asequible y el resumen que había en la contraportada me gustó, lo compré con bastante ilusión.
El título en español es "Un Baile en Nairobi". Ésta es una de esas rarísimas veces en las que estoy de acuerdo con la libre traducción del título, porque le viene más al caso.
No me arrepiento de haberlo hecho. No conocía al autor ni nada de su obra, pero fue como uno de esos flechazos que dan de vez en cuando con lo...more
El título en español es "Un Baile en Nairobi". Ésta es una de esas rarísimas veces en las que estoy de acuerdo con la libre traducción del título, porque le viene más al caso.
No me arrepiento de haberlo hecho. No conocía al autor ni nada de su obra, pero fue como uno de esos flechazos que dan de vez en cuando con lo...more
A light read which only takes a few hours to finish. A blurb on the cover compares the book to P.G. Wodehouse meets Alexander McCall Smith...I found myself totally agreeing with this description. As somebody who is not into watching birds at all, I was dreading feeling overwhelmed with bird info. But despite the title, there is not much technical info about various birds of Kenya (where the book takes place). The central plot is about two men--one rather shy and reserved, the other flamboyant an...more
The only way to describe this book is "lovely." "A Guide to the Birds of East Africa" is similar in flavor to McCall-Smith's "No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series and "Baking Cakes in Kigali" by Gaile Parkin - books that I adore. "A Guide to the Birds of East Africa" is set in Nairobi, Kenya. The first person narrator is cunning and charming. He (the author we assume) speaks directly to the reader at times and sets a tone in which one can picture him with a wry grin on his face as he tells us t...more
A quirky, romantic novel (featuring an unlikely, lovelorn, middle aged, widower) about a men’s club, a contest and birds – lots and lots of birds!
Mr. Malik has his heart set on taking Rose Mbikwa (his bird watching tour guide) to the Hunt club ball. Unfortunately, Harry Khan, Mr. Malik’s long time school adversary, has his own plans to court Mrs. Mbikwa.
In order to solve their love triangle, the men agree to a contest of sorts – within a week, find and list as many bird species known in and aro...more
Mr. Malik has his heart set on taking Rose Mbikwa (his bird watching tour guide) to the Hunt club ball. Unfortunately, Harry Khan, Mr. Malik’s long time school adversary, has his own plans to court Mrs. Mbikwa.
In order to solve their love triangle, the men agree to a contest of sorts – within a week, find and list as many bird species known in and aro...more
Cito la recensione riportata in quarta di copertina: "Un romanzo che mette di buonumore", attribuita alle Kirkus Reviews.
Libretto facile, che si lascia leggere volentieri: la vicenda è forse un po' scontata, ma ben raccontata. Ogni tanto l'autore si perde in descrizioni che sembrano portare da nessuna parte: a volte è così, in effetti, ma spesso invece contribuiscono a gettar luce sull'ambiente nel quale si svolge l'intrigante e galante duello naturalistico.
In conclusione, questo romanzo è senza...more
Libretto facile, che si lascia leggere volentieri: la vicenda è forse un po' scontata, ma ben raccontata. Ogni tanto l'autore si perde in descrizioni che sembrano portare da nessuna parte: a volte è così, in effetti, ma spesso invece contribuiscono a gettar luce sull'ambiente nel quale si svolge l'intrigante e galante duello naturalistico.
In conclusione, questo romanzo è senza...more
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Nicholas Drayson has written extensively about wildlife and natural history and is the author of Confessing a Murder, which was hailed by Booklist for its "view of darwin never before seen." An Englishman by birth, Drayson lived in Nairobi for two years. He now (2008) lives in Australia, where he received a Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales.
More about Nicholas Drayson...
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“There is something about African time that even the Swiss find a challenge.”
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1 person liked it
“Is it an endearing quirk among European explorers to imagine that every geographical feature they clap eyes on for the first time is in need of a new name, or is if just a plain silly one? As far as I understand, humans have been knocking around this part of Africa for - give or take a birthday candle- three million years. The existence of a large wet patch smack in the middle of them had not gone unnoticed. How large? Bigger than Lake Michigan, bigger than Tasmania, bigger than Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island all rolled into one. It is so big that people on one side gave it one name, people on the other side gave it another, and people in between gave it several more. But that didn't matter to Dr Livingstone. Along he came and he didn't ask the locals what they called this large lake at the top end of the Nile. He gave it yet another name, in honour of the elder of a tribe of white people on a small island five thousand miles away.”
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1 person liked it
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Sep 18, 2011 07:13am
Sep 18, 2011 10:46am