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The Birds That Saved Me
An Introduction to Birding for Self-Improvement (with Color Artwork)
J. P. Steed (Author), Norah Steed (Illustrator)
Pub date August 1, 2023
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GHOW Press, 2023
ISBN 196055400X, 9781960554000
Price $16.95 (USD) Paperback
Steed offers a compelling mixture of memoir, basics of birds and birding, and thought-provoking insights on finding joy in simple things of everyday life in his excellent debut. The book is meticulously researched and written with both heart and soul: whether recounting his encounters with The Ruby-crowned Kinglet, The Great Horned Owl, The Orange-crowned Warbler, The Red-winged Blackbird, The Osprey, The Green Heron, or The White-winged Dove & the Red-shouldered Hawk, Steed’s voice is consistently engaging, and his reflections on life and hardships are poignant. Among countless other interesting facts, readers will soak up old myths and legends, local folklore, details about Steed’s childhood growing up on an acreage in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, how watching the mergansers motivated him to come out of his introverted shell and made an effort to interact with more people in social gatherings. But most of all, they will enjoy Steed’s thought-provoking insights about life and how the small joys can help us survive hard times. Beautifully Illustrated throughout with Norah Steed’s brilliant artwork, this charming book about the author’s accidental entry into the fascinating world of birding not only offers passionate reporting from the world of birds but also offers tantalizing insights into the restorative wonders of stillness. A poignantly inspiring delight.
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