reviews
Oct 20, 2011
Samantha
rated it: 
While I don’t usually read memoirs, One Bird’s Choice by Iain Reid was recommended to me from a friend, so I decided to give it a try. Iain describes himself as “an overeducated, underemployed twenty-something, living in the big city in a bug-filled basement apartment and struggling to make ends meet.” He finds part-time employment at a radio station near his parent’s home, and decides to bite the bullet and move in with them to help save money. While Iain was hoping for a temporary move, his st
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Mar 04, 2011
Luanne
rated it:
As Thomas Wolfe said " You can't go home again." Or can you? Iain Reid is 27, highly educated and highly unemployed. He accepts a summer job with CBC radio. But it really doesn't pay a lot....and his parents live very close by.....so the decision is made to move in with them for the summer. The summer comes and goes ...and before you know it - a year has passed.
One Bird's Choice is the memoir of that year. What struck me first was Iain's descriptions of his parents, their More...
One Bird's Choice is the memoir of that year. What struck me first was Iain's descriptions of his parents, their More...
Feb 05, 2012
Alexis
rated it: 
Mixed feelings about this one, for a number of reasons. First, I sometimes felt that Iain was really whiny and he bothered me. This is the story of a 27-year-old who moves home to his parents' farm for a year. I sometimes related to how he felt about his parents and how he portrayed them, and sometimes I felt he was being a bit harsh. (However, the scene where his mom gets a computer was so true that I felt myself nodding)
The book also affected me because of how much I related to it. More...
The book also affected me because of how much I related to it. More...
Feb 04, 2011
Josephine
rated it:
The subtitle says it all in a nutshell: a year in the life of an overeducated, underemployed twenty-something who moves back home.
On the back cover describes Iain Reid's "One Bird's Choice" as "a hilarious and heartwarming memoir that bridges the divide between the boomer and boomerang generations."
You know what that made me think of?
This passage from the book, where Reid is reading out some of the "funny" material that he's been work More...
On the back cover describes Iain Reid's "One Bird's Choice" as "a hilarious and heartwarming memoir that bridges the divide between the boomer and boomerang generations."
You know what that made me think of?
This passage from the book, where Reid is reading out some of the "funny" material that he's been work More...
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Sep 21, 2010
Mark
rated it: 
I just finished reading One Bird's Choice on recommendation from a friend. It’s about a 27 year old University graduate moving back home to his parent’s hobby farm for the first time since high school. What starts as a few week plan, turns into a really funny full year. The book takes you through the 4 seasons and the eccentric routines that come from living on a farm - from fighting off hens in the chicken coop, to helping sheep give birth, to making sure the 2 dogs and 3 cats are happy and hea
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Sep 12, 2011
Cross James Herriot’s tales of bucolic British life with Mike Myers’ comedic portrayal of his
Scottish Canadian family in the film So I Married an Axe Murderer and you end up with Iain Reid’s hilarious memoir One Bird’s Life. After graduating from college and finding himself unable to earn a living in Toronto as a freelance writer, Reid decides to move home to his parent’s farm when he lands a part-time job writing and reading book reviews for a local radio station. He makes enemies with chi More...
Scottish Canadian family in the film So I Married an Axe Murderer and you end up with Iain Reid’s hilarious memoir One Bird’s Life. After graduating from college and finding himself unable to earn a living in Toronto as a freelance writer, Reid decides to move home to his parent’s farm when he lands a part-time job writing and reading book reviews for a local radio station. He makes enemies with chi More...
Mar 18, 2011
Danielle
rated it:
Iain Reid would never in a million years consider being “one of those guys.” You know the ones, they’re out of school with no real job or ambition and back living with their parents. Suddenly, and almost without warning, he’s back with his parents at their farm tending the animals and working at a local radio station a couple days a week. With nearly no plans for the future and dwindling prospects at his current job will Iain’s summer stay at Mom & Dad’s turn into something more permanent? Is he
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Jan 25, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
The subtitle, for this work of non-fiction is: A Year in the Life of an Overeducated, Underemployed Twenty-Something Who Moves Back Home. From this, I think, people are going to jump one of two ways in assessing a book by its cover. People might think "Oh great! Another indulged kid, under thirty, likely with an arts degree can't get it together in the real world so runs home to mommy and daddy!" Some of this is true. He does have an arts degree (Queen's University) and he is indulged
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Dec 30, 2011
Vera
rated it: 
Follow all my reviews at LuxuryReading.com
Twenty-something Iain Reid was underemployed, broke and going nowhere fast, despite a college education under his belt. With few prospects, Iain decided to take a summer position as a weekly book reviewer on CBC Radio in Ottawa, Canada. The job also meant moving back in with his parents on their rural farm.
Summer quickly turned into fall, and before he knew it, Iain was welcoming spring - still on his parents’ farm. While his summer g More...
Twenty-something Iain Reid was underemployed, broke and going nowhere fast, despite a college education under his belt. With few prospects, Iain decided to take a summer position as a weekly book reviewer on CBC Radio in Ottawa, Canada. The job also meant moving back in with his parents on their rural farm.
Summer quickly turned into fall, and before he knew it, Iain was welcoming spring - still on his parents’ farm. While his summer g More...
Mar 07, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
3.5/5
From my book review blog Rundpinne...."One Bird’s Choice is a relaxed memoir, filled with quaint moments, some funny anecdotes, and not a lot more. Based on what I had read I expected the book to be hilarious, and it quite possibly is to another demographic."...My full review may be read here.
From my book review blog Rundpinne...."One Bird’s Choice is a relaxed memoir, filled with quaint moments, some funny anecdotes, and not a lot more. Based on what I had read I expected the book to be hilarious, and it quite possibly is to another demographic."...My full review may be read here.
Oct 15, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
I read with Iain Reid here in Ottawa a few months ago and really loved the excerpts he read from this book. It took a while for it to come up on my library holds list, and I ended up reading it just as I happened to be moving back in with my own parents for a few months while my husband and I have a house built for us. I found this book gentle, funny, and evocative. Such great stories about the realities of being an adult at "home" with your parents. I made my mom read it, too.
Jul 02, 2011
Jeannette
rated it:
I read this before I went away on vacation and I remember really quite liking this book, however, now when trying to recall all the little bits that helped to make this such a sweet read, I'm having a difficult time. But it was sweet and likable and I loved Iain's doting parents and would imagine that moving back home and trying to figure out what to do with your life and how to grow up would be a similar experience. Probably pre-vacation this would have gotten a 4, now I'm dropping it to a 3.
Dec 10, 2010
Violet
rated it:
This book made me happy. The author returns to live with his parents for a while and.. well, that's the gist of it. It's well-written, friendly, happy, and light. Nothing too deep or heavy. Totally worth picking up.
Oct 17, 2011
Joëlle
rated it:
This is comfort reading - like a nice cup of tea in front of the fire. I didn't find it particularly inspiring, or overly comical (although I chuckled), but it was a really lovely read.
Apr 03, 2011
Julie (Klickitat)
rated it:
A lovely memoir. Reflective but never self absorbed. A pleasure to read. Reid is an engaging, appealing narrator. I read this book while my car was repaired and the several hour wait passed in a snap. Especially recommended for twentysomethings who worry they're not living up to their potential. Reid's memoir is evidence you're not alone.
Oct 25, 2010
Colleen
rated it:
:0) I really liked this book, and I'm not normally a fan of memoirs, so that's saying something.
Apr 14, 2011
Michelle
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Mar 14, 2011
Rosanne
rated it:
Charming, warm and funny. I found One Bird's Choice a truly enjoyable reading experience; a great book to curl up with on a rainy day and lose oneself.
Feb 17, 2012
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Jan 06, 2012
