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Providence of A Sparrow: Lessons from a Life Gone to the Birds
In the years since Chris Chester and his wife Rebecca rescued a featherless baby bird—a creature with all the initial appeal of "a testicle with a beak" —they’ve had plenty of time to consider and reconsider their eccentric lifestyle. The upstairs floor of their home in Portland has become an indoor aviary. There is B’s room, which he shares with a varying number of finches; the canary room; and the room housing the three subsequent foundling sparrows they’ve Baby, Pee Wee, and Seven. There are screen doors mounted in the doorways, congruent with "the Appalachian-themed decor." They’ve learned sparrow games like "War Bird," "Love Bird," and "Hit the Cap." Since the birds’ bedtime rituals alone take an hour or more each night, the couple’s social life has suffered a decline. But along the way the Chesters have also learned a great deal about the natural history of birds, and even more about that maligned avian species, the House Sparrow. And with this knowledge has come gratitude. For it is through B and the rest of this unorthodox family that Chester has discovered a renewed capacity for joy and wonder and an expanded realization of the consciousness and intelligence in living things. A book filled with acerb wit, frequent references to literature both high and low, and genuine reverence for the life around him, Providence of a Sparrow is Chris Chester’s beautiful meditation on life with B.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2002
15 people are currently reading
515 people want to read
About the author
Chris Chester
1 book4 followersChris Chester was an American writer, poet, and electronics technician, best known for his memoir Providence of a Sparrow: Lessons from a Life Gone to the Birds. The book, which won the 2003 Oregon Book Award for nonfiction, recounts his profound and unexpected bond with a rescued house sparrow named B, offering a moving reflection on companionship, nature, and the small wonders of life.
A passionate lover of language and literature, Chester spent years exploring poetry and the nuances of tone and meaning. He engaged deeply in discussions on philosophy and writing, often sharing ideas in coffee shops and open-mic nights, where he encouraged others to express their voices.
A passionate lover of language and literature, Chester spent years exploring poetry and the nuances of tone and meaning. He engaged deeply in discussions on philosophy and writing, often sharing ideas in coffee shops and open-mic nights, where he encouraged others to express their voices.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 16, 2015
Enchanting! Enduring! Funny! Fascinating! This is a charming-heartwarming story between a man and his love for a sparrow.
Chris Chester enters a world beyond his own imagination when a sparrow falls twenty-five feet from his nest.
Chris had recently just gotten engaged to Rebecca when *B* came into their lives. Chris & Rebecca nursed *B* back to health. (seeking advice from a friend)
Their entire lives turned upside down. Chris turned an entire room into an aviary.
*B's* large room had high ceilings, and had access to the entire upstairs of their house. A cage for *B* which sits near a window -with a door held open by a safety pin-with a cloth draped over one side to form a canopy under which *B* sleeps at night.
All priorities in Rebecca & Chris's lives have been altered since *B* has arrived. --They are extra mindful of their schedules & their social life to meet *B's* demands.
*B* is playful, observant, intelligent, loves sugar cookies, likes to sit on Chris's shoulder when he types, and developed a fetish for nostrils. *B* grows anxious if Chester comes home late from work.
...... Chris says:
"*B* has stolen my bookmark again, flying it to the screen door, darling me to give chase so he can play keep-away from the clumsy primate". NOTE: I think *B* wants Chris to read to him! lol
"When he brings me a toy, drops it in my hand, and nudges around asking for a game, I think of Thoreau's words on being affected by a mosquito's faint hum, 'There was something cosmical about it; a standing advertisement, till forbidden of the everlasting vigor and fertility of the world."
This little book is a wonderful memoir --a story of a touching relationship!
Learn about BIRD BEHAVIOR ....Learn about *B*! ...The science of birds - of Sparrows in particular!
This book is not only about Sparrows, but also about what it means to be human!
I wrote this review with my pet 'Bird-friends': *Phil-Lil,& Jill*, (our 3 house parakeets)
Chris Chester enters a world beyond his own imagination when a sparrow falls twenty-five feet from his nest.
Chris had recently just gotten engaged to Rebecca when *B* came into their lives. Chris & Rebecca nursed *B* back to health. (seeking advice from a friend)
Their entire lives turned upside down. Chris turned an entire room into an aviary.
*B's* large room had high ceilings, and had access to the entire upstairs of their house. A cage for *B* which sits near a window -with a door held open by a safety pin-with a cloth draped over one side to form a canopy under which *B* sleeps at night.
All priorities in Rebecca & Chris's lives have been altered since *B* has arrived. --They are extra mindful of their schedules & their social life to meet *B's* demands.
*B* is playful, observant, intelligent, loves sugar cookies, likes to sit on Chris's shoulder when he types, and developed a fetish for nostrils. *B* grows anxious if Chester comes home late from work.
...... Chris says:
"*B* has stolen my bookmark again, flying it to the screen door, darling me to give chase so he can play keep-away from the clumsy primate". NOTE: I think *B* wants Chris to read to him! lol
"When he brings me a toy, drops it in my hand, and nudges around asking for a game, I think of Thoreau's words on being affected by a mosquito's faint hum, 'There was something cosmical about it; a standing advertisement, till forbidden of the everlasting vigor and fertility of the world."
This little book is a wonderful memoir --a story of a touching relationship!
Learn about BIRD BEHAVIOR ....Learn about *B*! ...The science of birds - of Sparrows in particular!
This book is not only about Sparrows, but also about what it means to be human!
I wrote this review with my pet 'Bird-friends': *Phil-Lil,& Jill*, (our 3 house parakeets)
February 7, 2015
A sweet and compelling memoir I recommend to anyone. I believe all who read this will cherish the experience for expanding their sense of wonder about the intelligence and emotional life of even this small, "lowly" bird.
Chris Chester saves a baby sparrow that falls out of its nest and ends up raising it. In the process he develops a loving relationship with it that changes his life and spiritual outlook on what life is really about. So often in the first phases I found myself thinking this guy is a kook and that the pleasures he gets from playing and the mutual expressions of affection with the bird (named "B") couldn't possible make up for the hours of tending to its raising, putting up with its demands and jealousies over his attention to visiting friends and his girlfriend. However, the humor and compassion that helps him past these hurdles also convinces his girlfriend to join his mission, and soon a section of his house becomes dedicated to an aviary for progressively more sparrows and other songbirds. By the time Chester was done I rooting for his success and a believer that caring for other creatures can make us more human.
Chris Chester saves a baby sparrow that falls out of its nest and ends up raising it. In the process he develops a loving relationship with it that changes his life and spiritual outlook on what life is really about. So often in the first phases I found myself thinking this guy is a kook and that the pleasures he gets from playing and the mutual expressions of affection with the bird (named "B") couldn't possible make up for the hours of tending to its raising, putting up with its demands and jealousies over his attention to visiting friends and his girlfriend. However, the humor and compassion that helps him past these hurdles also convinces his girlfriend to join his mission, and soon a section of his house becomes dedicated to an aviary for progressively more sparrows and other songbirds. By the time Chester was done I rooting for his success and a believer that caring for other creatures can make us more human.
January 2, 2014
This is one of my all-time favorite books. In addition to being about rescuing a baby sparrow who had fallen from its nest, the book is about the human condition, dealing with death, ethics. I treasure it.
December 4, 2021
I'm mystified by all of the glowing reviews for Providence of a Sparrow. I guess it just wasn't the book for me. I was ready to pack it in after the first couple of chapters. It seemed as though the author was trying to prove how intelligent he was by writing in the utmost high-brow manner. As I continued reading I felt as though the book was more about the author's life and less about the sparrows he had saved. At that point, I began skimming. I'm happy to say I found a few parts of Providence of a Sparrow I enjoyed reading.
I love birds (Just ask my Facebook friends, haha.) but I couldn't relate to this book. I'm glad so many people loved it. It must be a case of "It's not you, it's me."
I love birds (Just ask my Facebook friends, haha.) but I couldn't relate to this book. I'm glad so many people loved it. It must be a case of "It's not you, it's me."
June 9, 2020
rating: 4.5 stars
Five abbreviated quotes appear on the first page of the book. I didn't notice them until I was reading one of the last chapters, so maybe Ron Carlson's comment meant more to me than if I'd read it first:
If Thoreau had not gone to the woods, but had instead invited a sparrow into his house, he might have written this book instead of Walden.
That pretty much sums up the story. This is an account of the behaviors and life of house sparrows, one in particular, and insights into a man who took the time to raise a nestling who had fallen from the nest.
Many years ago, my sister called me about three nestlings they had acquired along with a load of firewood. By the time I got to them, two had died, but the third one was still breathing. I put it in a small plastic tub, nestled in a cloth and ensconced in a gym bag with a hot water bottle. As soon as the little body had warmed up, I fed it some canned dog food. Thus began an odyssey that lasted a couple of months. For the first couple of weeks, this bag was at my side pretty much full time, whether I was at work or visiting a friend. The lumpy baby, which I named Emily, grew into a lovely male house sparrow. Unlike Chris Chester, I was a lousy observer and I focused from the beginning on raising the bird so it could be released (which it was, after a brief stay with a rehabilitator).
These quotes give insight into house sparrows, the story, and the author's view on life:
p 9: It's difficult for me to understand the vehemence with which these birds are detested. Since my association with B began, I find it increasingly difficult to hate much of anything.
p 66: House sparrows mate for life and are monogamous.
p 146: House sparrows are powerful flyers capable of speeds approaching 50 miles an hour.
My favorite passages describe interactions with the birds. (B and Baby are both rescued house sparrows.)
p 202: B, I've discovered is right-handed--winged, sided, or however you'd describe such a preference in birds. He's been exceptionally playful today because he'd like me to ignore Baby. Whenever I rise to answer his summons, B shows up with a bribe - caps, paper, sticks, a pushpin that held one corner of the wall calendar in place. I'm amazed that I've never noticed before that B arcs to the left when he pounces on a cap. If he's holding one in his beak and flicks it toward me, he does so right to left. I'm fascinated enough by this that I keep throwing caps all over the room to see if he'll make an exception. So far, out of twenty throws, he has not.
On page 281, Chris Chester states one of my own observations:
Firework season is hard on our birds; on most animals, I suspect ... [it] destroys the sleep, if not the health, of countless birds and other woodland creatures.
I understand that China has banned fireworks because they cause so much air pollution.
I'm a bird watcher and feeder, and can attest to the fact that the population of house sparrows in our neighborhood has dropped drastically. I never encouraged them to hang around (my bird boxes all have openings that are too small for them to use), since they are an introduced species. But on page 282, CC writes that 'house sparrow numbers are declining in England.' Now I wonder about the status of their numbers everywhere. Could house sparrows be an indicator of environmental health?
I need to add that there is profanity, more than I think was necessary, but this is one man's memoir, and he needs to write in his own style, so I just cringed my way past the words I didn't like. And, I don't know about other readers, but it took me several chapters to get into the book. I think that's because I was expecting the story to focus entirely on the sparrows. I missed the fact that it was also a memoir.
CC has a dry sense of humor. It reminds of of Jon de Vos who used to write columns for The Middle Park Times in Grand county, Colorado.
Five abbreviated quotes appear on the first page of the book. I didn't notice them until I was reading one of the last chapters, so maybe Ron Carlson's comment meant more to me than if I'd read it first:
If Thoreau had not gone to the woods, but had instead invited a sparrow into his house, he might have written this book instead of Walden.
That pretty much sums up the story. This is an account of the behaviors and life of house sparrows, one in particular, and insights into a man who took the time to raise a nestling who had fallen from the nest.
Many years ago, my sister called me about three nestlings they had acquired along with a load of firewood. By the time I got to them, two had died, but the third one was still breathing. I put it in a small plastic tub, nestled in a cloth and ensconced in a gym bag with a hot water bottle. As soon as the little body had warmed up, I fed it some canned dog food. Thus began an odyssey that lasted a couple of months. For the first couple of weeks, this bag was at my side pretty much full time, whether I was at work or visiting a friend. The lumpy baby, which I named Emily, grew into a lovely male house sparrow. Unlike Chris Chester, I was a lousy observer and I focused from the beginning on raising the bird so it could be released (which it was, after a brief stay with a rehabilitator).
These quotes give insight into house sparrows, the story, and the author's view on life:
p 9: It's difficult for me to understand the vehemence with which these birds are detested. Since my association with B began, I find it increasingly difficult to hate much of anything.
p 66: House sparrows mate for life and are monogamous.
p 146: House sparrows are powerful flyers capable of speeds approaching 50 miles an hour.
My favorite passages describe interactions with the birds. (B and Baby are both rescued house sparrows.)
p 202: B, I've discovered is right-handed--winged, sided, or however you'd describe such a preference in birds. He's been exceptionally playful today because he'd like me to ignore Baby. Whenever I rise to answer his summons, B shows up with a bribe - caps, paper, sticks, a pushpin that held one corner of the wall calendar in place. I'm amazed that I've never noticed before that B arcs to the left when he pounces on a cap. If he's holding one in his beak and flicks it toward me, he does so right to left. I'm fascinated enough by this that I keep throwing caps all over the room to see if he'll make an exception. So far, out of twenty throws, he has not.
On page 281, Chris Chester states one of my own observations:
Firework season is hard on our birds; on most animals, I suspect ... [it] destroys the sleep, if not the health, of countless birds and other woodland creatures.
I understand that China has banned fireworks because they cause so much air pollution.
I'm a bird watcher and feeder, and can attest to the fact that the population of house sparrows in our neighborhood has dropped drastically. I never encouraged them to hang around (my bird boxes all have openings that are too small for them to use), since they are an introduced species. But on page 282, CC writes that 'house sparrow numbers are declining in England.' Now I wonder about the status of their numbers everywhere. Could house sparrows be an indicator of environmental health?
I need to add that there is profanity, more than I think was necessary, but this is one man's memoir, and he needs to write in his own style, so I just cringed my way past the words I didn't like. And, I don't know about other readers, but it took me several chapters to get into the book. I think that's because I was expecting the story to focus entirely on the sparrows. I missed the fact that it was also a memoir.
CC has a dry sense of humor. It reminds of of Jon de Vos who used to write columns for The Middle Park Times in Grand county, Colorado.
December 14, 2020
I would like to recommend this book to humanity as a whole.
It took me over two months to read because I was actually annotating it. With post-its and everything. It's the first time I've felt compelled to do that with a physical copy of a book, and it's because this book is not just absolutely hilarious, but also devastating, several times. There are a lot of complex feelings about grief explored, as well as what constitutes consciousness in animals that you may not have stopped to think have personalities and desires of their own (namely, house sparrows). There are philosophical and theological discussions thrown in for good measure. This little book packs a punch.
Even if you've never had a bird as a pet, you'll be able to relate to the kind of social gymnastics it takes to adapt your life to your non-human companion, lest you make them sad by not spending enough time with them.
Above all, this book feels like having a deep conversation after dinner with a group of good friends.
It took me over two months to read because I was actually annotating it. With post-its and everything. It's the first time I've felt compelled to do that with a physical copy of a book, and it's because this book is not just absolutely hilarious, but also devastating, several times. There are a lot of complex feelings about grief explored, as well as what constitutes consciousness in animals that you may not have stopped to think have personalities and desires of their own (namely, house sparrows). There are philosophical and theological discussions thrown in for good measure. This little book packs a punch.
Even if you've never had a bird as a pet, you'll be able to relate to the kind of social gymnastics it takes to adapt your life to your non-human companion, lest you make them sad by not spending enough time with them.
Above all, this book feels like having a deep conversation after dinner with a group of good friends.
October 22, 2009
A great narrative that weaves personal reflection, literary and philosophical references, nature, and urbanity together. Chris Chester manages to created prose that flows like a river. While there are glimpses of personal journal in the organization, the book reads as a unified whole. It is a rare author who can pull that off.
September 2, 2007
This is an amazing book that I never would have chosen to read on my own. I don't read "animal" books as a general rule, but this book is about so much more than sparrows. It is about a man finding wonder and delight in something that could have just as easily have been brushed aside and forgotten. It was good for all of us that Chris Chester found B (the sparrow), so we could have this book to read and enjoy. Chester's voice seems tangible as you read. You can feel his enthusiasm for B and his other birds as he gives you not only the story of their time together, but actual facts and information about birds as well as quotes from other authors that enhance this story.
March 31, 2013
This book is not just for fans of memoirs or birds. I wouldn't describe myself as either, and it's one of the best books I've read in ages.
Chris Chester has a way with prose that is almost indescribable. You will laugh, you will cry, you will find yourself relating to this weird tale of a man and his sparrow.
Even if you don't think you'd like to read this book, I highly recommend reading this article about its author: [http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregoniane...].
Chris Chester has a way with prose that is almost indescribable. You will laugh, you will cry, you will find yourself relating to this weird tale of a man and his sparrow.
Even if you don't think you'd like to read this book, I highly recommend reading this article about its author: [http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregoniane...].
August 16, 2019
This book was magical to read for me. It is a wonderful mix of natural history, biology, philosophy, memoir, and rich literary touches. The author is truly gifted as a writer. SPOILER ALERT!!
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It is a crying shame that Chester never was able to produce another work and that he died at such a young age. I know it was cancer that took him, but I feel it could almost have just as easily been from a broken heart. What a wonderful gift he gave to the world. I found his story magical!
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It is a crying shame that Chester never was able to produce another work and that he died at such a young age. I know it was cancer that took him, but I feel it could almost have just as easily been from a broken heart. What a wonderful gift he gave to the world. I found his story magical!
May 12, 2011
If you have only an imagined sensitive bone in your body, you will be moved by this book. If you were raised to despise, and, yes, destroy all House Sparrow as pests, as I was, then you can count on being transformed. You will never see another House Sparrow as anything but a creature potent with potential providence. Thank you, Chris Chester
May 5, 2012
i love this book. amazing story of an ongoing relationship between a man and an ordinary sparrow that he rescues and learns to admire and love. what i like about this memoir is that his experience is tied to larger issues. the book is as much philosophical musing as it is memoir. not to be missed.
March 29, 2010
This was a wonderful, quirky set of musings about life, small birds, philosophy, nature, and literature. Told with humor and wit, the story of raising and loving a fallen house sparrow, captures the heart.
September 21, 2015
This book was hard to get into, but it touched my heart at the end. The last chapter really hit home, especially after just losing Sedona, a Northern Goshawk I worked with and had an amazing bond with. I think it can be hard for people to realize just how special a bird can be.
April 27, 2020
I expected to love this book, because I love birds. But after forty pages, I felt like I was stuck with a parent who just couldn't stop cooing about his new baby, how many glorious times it woke up at night, how variable and wondrous its poop, how small its clothes and loud its cries. I felt the same way about my babies, but I don't need to read a book about it. Truth be told, I love birds, but not House Sparrows. Sorry.
May 27, 2020
There aren’t enough stars to properly rate this book. You wouldn’t think a book about living with a rescue sparrow would be so deep, so richly amusing, so revealing of how far some humans are willing to go for love of a creature. I’m a sucker for animal memoirs and this is as good as they get.
Read
February 16, 2021As I live in Portland Oregon, I found this local author and truly enjoyed his book. In fact, I chose it for my book club as a selection to read and it was well liked.
I highly recommend reading this book.
I highly recommend reading this book.
January 4, 2018
"Keep Portland Weird" pretty much says it all. I enjoyed the general info about birds, learning within the context of the author's memoir. Probably could have been 50-75 pages shorter.
January 6, 2020
One of my favorite books. Loved reading the descriptions of B, and the insight Chester had into B's behaviors. I also enjoyed the slight dark mood of the book.
February 18, 2020
Weird, funny, touching, and very Portland.
March 27, 2024
A profoundly moving story of an extraordinary family composed of the author, Chris, his wife Rebecca and their house sparrow B. The Chester’s turned the top story of their house into an aviary and were content to open their lives to the wonder of birds. Erudite and quirky Chester invites his readers to contemplate what it’s like when your best friend is a sparrow.
December 3, 2016
I completely enjoyed reading Providence of A Sparrow: Lessons from a Life Gone to the Birds by Chris Chester, both for the memoir and the education about sparrows. As a pet owner, I recognize that taking responsibility for another being often requires unforeseen sacrifices, so I found it amusing to see the extent that Chris Chester allowed a little foundling sparrow he named "B" took over his life and his home.
Here he tells the story of finding B:
My compassion having been hobbled by childhood memories of failed bird rescues, I almost decided to let B meet his fate without assistance from me. I remembered shoe boxes with plucked-up grass as padding, inappropriate offerings of bread and worms. The tiny, inevitable corpse come morning. Most of them we buried by our mulberry tree.
Because I'm averse to lice and all manner of pathogens and parasites with which wild birds are rumored to teem, I was really quite hesitant about picking B up. I belied for about a week at the age of six that I had parrot fever, a disease my father had mentioned in some forgotten context shortly before an encounter I had with a baby robin. My parents cleared up my misapprehension by pointing out that robins aren't parrots and that by my own admission I felt perfectly fine.
I remember my indecision clearly, am troubled by it. I could have chosen wrongly, and my life would have tacked in a different direction. I'd be unaware that a remarkable mind had died in my yard.
Chester, who deals with anxiety and was having a rough stretch in his life with personal losses, little "B" was a necessary tonic. Animal lovers everywhere recognize these healing qualities and it is heartening to see it in an increasingly wide variety of species.
I also loved the education about the intelligence of the sparrow. Bird brained is not really true as I learned when I read Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene Pepperberg.
All in all I found Providence of a Sparrow a remarkable book and enjoyed it greatly.
Here he tells the story of finding B:
My compassion having been hobbled by childhood memories of failed bird rescues, I almost decided to let B meet his fate without assistance from me. I remembered shoe boxes with plucked-up grass as padding, inappropriate offerings of bread and worms. The tiny, inevitable corpse come morning. Most of them we buried by our mulberry tree.
Because I'm averse to lice and all manner of pathogens and parasites with which wild birds are rumored to teem, I was really quite hesitant about picking B up. I belied for about a week at the age of six that I had parrot fever, a disease my father had mentioned in some forgotten context shortly before an encounter I had with a baby robin. My parents cleared up my misapprehension by pointing out that robins aren't parrots and that by my own admission I felt perfectly fine.
I remember my indecision clearly, am troubled by it. I could have chosen wrongly, and my life would have tacked in a different direction. I'd be unaware that a remarkable mind had died in my yard.
Chester, who deals with anxiety and was having a rough stretch in his life with personal losses, little "B" was a necessary tonic. Animal lovers everywhere recognize these healing qualities and it is heartening to see it in an increasingly wide variety of species.
I also loved the education about the intelligence of the sparrow. Bird brained is not really true as I learned when I read Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene Pepperberg.
All in all I found Providence of a Sparrow a remarkable book and enjoyed it greatly.
July 24, 2012
This is one of my favorite memoirs for its unusual subject matter. The author is incredibly insightful and leads his reader through a series of revelatory moments experienced in the process of raising this bird, named B, with his wife Rebecca. He balanced anecdotes with reflection in a way that makes the book very readable.
At first glance, this seems like a ridiculous premise for a book that is actually quite long---but its actually a topic that offers lots of food for thought on serious life issues. Some ideas the author explores: becoming attached to a creature that can so easily be crushed by the most insignificant human movements (ex: shifting your butt around the couch can be fatal to B), that has such a short life span, that cannot exactly be hugged or cuddled with, and that must be given a certain level of freedom to fly, to be independent, in order to be content--and the author's own internal struggle about having deprived B of his life in the wild. It also helps that Chestler is pretty much an average person working for a tech company in Portland--this is not someone who has loved animals all his life. Finding B (and ultimately keeping him) was a random twist of fate that impacted his life hugely. The result is a memoir with a lot of fresh insight on the nature of loss, depression, love, and attachment----but none of it feels too constructed or falsely emotional. The reader experiences these mini revelations as the author himself discovered them.
Overall, this probably seems like a bizarre and unappealing read to lots of people, but I highly recommend it. Especially if you're someone who enjoys memoirs as a genre.
At first glance, this seems like a ridiculous premise for a book that is actually quite long---but its actually a topic that offers lots of food for thought on serious life issues. Some ideas the author explores: becoming attached to a creature that can so easily be crushed by the most insignificant human movements (ex: shifting your butt around the couch can be fatal to B), that has such a short life span, that cannot exactly be hugged or cuddled with, and that must be given a certain level of freedom to fly, to be independent, in order to be content--and the author's own internal struggle about having deprived B of his life in the wild. It also helps that Chestler is pretty much an average person working for a tech company in Portland--this is not someone who has loved animals all his life. Finding B (and ultimately keeping him) was a random twist of fate that impacted his life hugely. The result is a memoir with a lot of fresh insight on the nature of loss, depression, love, and attachment----but none of it feels too constructed or falsely emotional. The reader experiences these mini revelations as the author himself discovered them.
Overall, this probably seems like a bizarre and unappealing read to lots of people, but I highly recommend it. Especially if you're someone who enjoys memoirs as a genre.
January 11, 2012
This book was chosen by The Springfield Book Club - my local group. Truthfully I doubt it would haven ever caught my interest/eye. Just like the non descript house sparrow Chester writes about, the book is non descript. Our choice was made on availability and the fact this was an Oregon based writer.
I have been lucky enought to have loved some very special dogs and cats in my life. But a bird? forget about it! Never caught my interest. I've always wondered why folks would put up with something you can't cuddle, seems to either be mute or incessantly noisy and poop all over the place.
After reading the book, my feelings about having a bird as a pet have not changed. Keep the bird. The book is interesting on several aspects nevertheless. Chester only wrote one book in his fairly short life, a life from what I read plagues by constant depression and then cut offjust a few years after the book was published. His attention to detail is fascinating, but can be excessive.
His humor is dry but rather fun. Monty Python in writing without quite the hilarity.
I have been lucky enought to have loved some very special dogs and cats in my life. But a bird? forget about it! Never caught my interest. I've always wondered why folks would put up with something you can't cuddle, seems to either be mute or incessantly noisy and poop all over the place.
After reading the book, my feelings about having a bird as a pet have not changed. Keep the bird. The book is interesting on several aspects nevertheless. Chester only wrote one book in his fairly short life, a life from what I read plagues by constant depression and then cut offjust a few years after the book was published. His attention to detail is fascinating, but can be excessive.
His humor is dry but rather fun. Monty Python in writing without quite the hilarity.
July 21, 2008
This is a charming book. It is not only an account of the author's life with an English sparrow that he rescues and tames. He digresses into musings about his own character, that of his wife, that of his bird, as well as humankind's correct relationship with the animal kingdom. He's very funny at times and pretty informative about what is known about bird anatomy, physiology, and behavior. He's also way over the top in the compromises he's willing to make in order to live with his birds. His saving grace is that he realizes that he and his wife appear pretty whacky to others. Some of the details of his housekeeping are pretty hard to believe, and very distasteful (at least to me), but they come toward the end of the book and are overshadowed by the many virtues of the rest it.
December 4, 2018
This is the improbable true story of a man whose serious depression was relieved for over 8 years by a sparrow he rescued after it fell out of its nest in the eaves of his house in Portland. Contradicts so much of the popular thinking regarding small creatures, as "B" (the name he gave the sparrow) exhibits definite personality traits and unpredictable behaviors. Suggests that close observation and interaction can open one's eyes to the individual of virtually any species. This is also a love story, as Chris' relationship with his wife Rebecca deepens and grows through their mutual affection for B and the other birds they acquire: sparrows and finches. Bittersweet followup: Chris' return to depression after B's death, his eventual divorce, and suicide by cancer.
March 12, 2008
This book was an absolutely delightful memoir of a man in Portland Oregon who gave over his life and house to a house sparrow (and a subsequent menagerie of zebra finches and sparrows). Amazing the relationships he developed with his birds. Although I haven't uncaged my lone zebra finch (his mate died last year) I have let my parakeet roam after reading this book--and his life and mine are the better for it.
April 21, 2015
Sooooooooooo depressing. Couldn't finish it. And if sparrows are sentient, then I'm screwed (they very probably are). Scratch that, we are all screwed. But then I think about how as a whole, humanity has done good things... we have taken care of small sparrows, we have helped animals live who in the wilderness surely would have died. But we've also boiled chickens alive and kept pigs in terrible conditions before slaughtering them... I guess it's a toss up.
September 20, 2013
The story of a man who adopts an orphaned sparrow and promptly falls head over heels in love with it. Granted, I'm biased: myself the owner (actually, slave) of a bird, I know what it's like to fall under the spell of a tiny feathered creature. The author doesn't hide the fact that he's totally besotted, yet his writing is never sentimental. Some parts are hilarious, others are full of fascinating information about birds, their evolutionary history, habits and behaviors.
September 17, 2007
Chris Chester passed away this year and it's sad that he wrote only this book. A Portland, Oregon writer, he uses his adoption of a baby sparrow as a segue into observations into the larger events of life. His devotion to the birds he adopts is amazing and should provide interesting reading for these descriptions alone. Quite funny in spots.
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