Published 2003
308 pages, paperback
I'm so glad that someone loves pet birds, because it isn't me!
At least not of the indoor variety. Give me acres full of ducks, chickens, geese - yes! But those who cohabitate with feathered friends are not quite my circle. I think they have far more patience that I do and delight more in the sass that the average domesticated parrot or parakeet has to offer. And if the tales of Bob & Linda's many birds aren't enough, there are plenty of hare-raising (see what I did there?) tales of their parade of rabbit pets as well.
Bob's writing is firmly in a grumpy-secret-softie voice, which provides some laughs and fun turns of phrase, but overall, it left me feeling he was more irritated and put upon by his various animal tenets than he was amused. It's giving "dad who never wanted the cat and still won't admit he loves it even though they nap together daily". At some point, I was just left longing for a bigger turn, where Bob would let us all a little further into his heart to see how deep the waters ran for his crazy household.
I do appreciate his forthcoming discussions about his struggles with mental health and anxiety, and ultimately the stability that their needed animal care routines provided him. If you don't both laugh and cringe as he describes his encounters with his psychiatrists (and vets, for that matter), you don't find the medical professional baffling enough.
From mistakenly catch-and-releasing 13 raccoons into what was unknowingly a neighboars backyard and not wilderness, to describing the endless charm of the many clever ways his wife Linda manages to bring every needy bird in the county into their lives, Bob does provide an lovable collection of rural characters, exasperating stories, and self-deprecating humor which makes this a good pick-up book.
What's a "pick-up" book, you ask??
In my life, a pick-up book is one that doesn't really demand finishing, but you seem to arrive there one day nonetheless. It sits on a side table or in a car door pocket, always waiting for you to pick it up for another tale while you wait out your oil change or tune out a dull TV episode. It isn't isolated enough from chapter to chapter to be a collection of independent essays, but you also don't have to backtrack to past details to enjoy the story at hand. I honestly love a good "pick-up" book!
Bob's Kitty Cornered, focused on their felines, was on the same shelf at McKay's and may be even more my speed since I rarely fail to be amused by the unpredictabilty of a cat. Look for that one coming soon!
The Bookshelf Rating - BOTTOM SHELF
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