A Guide to the Birds of East Africa (2008)

recommended by: Lee Aiken

I love the little pen & ink drawings of birds, with their names shown, that are at the start of every chapter. The chapters are extremely short, and this should have been an incredibly quick read, but for some reason it took me some time to slog through, even though I enjoyed it, and as the story went on, it grew on me more and more, though I wasn’t perturbed when I had to put it down.

It’s a gentle and slow little story, and I could have done without the fact that the ball in question is at the hunt club; it starts off quiet and simple and innocent but quietly yet surely gets slightly more complicated, though it never loses its gentleness. There definitely ended up being some layers, some darkness in what seemed to be at first a simple lighthearted story, but overall it remained sweet.

I’m not sure about this narrator. Those who have read the book: Who is the narrator? Whoever narrates the book, the voice is personable and easy to read.

I loved the locales and got a kick out of where and why and how some of the birds were found. I really enjoyed how the storyline and characters evolved.

I reveled in the wickedly funny little asides, and the witticisms are not at all limited to observations about birds and birdwatchers, not at all! I wanted to add some quotes but there are just too many and I couldn’t decide which ones to include.

Great ending!

In a way, I could rate this 5 stars or 3, so I’ll settle for 4, 4 ½ actually. ( )

A sweet little novel, refreshing in its lack of slaughter and mayhem. The premise, that who may ask the lady on a date will be decided by bird sightings, is especially fun for birders, as is the triumphal moment of the contest. Each chapter is headed with a charming sketch of a bird. ( )

"A Guide to the Birds of East Africa" by Nicholas Drayson may not sound like a novel. And with its many drawings of those birds, done by Alicia McCaldin, it may not even look like a novel. But a novel it is, and a very enjoyable one at that. You don't even need to be interested in birds to like this book.

Mr. Malik, a middle-aged man of Indian descent, goes on a weekly bird walk sponsored by the East African Ornithological Society both because he loves birds and because he is secretly in love with a widow named Rose Mbikwa, who leads the walk. He plans to invite her to an annual ball -- if he can get the tickets and if he can work up the nerve to ask her.

But then Harry Kahn, who as a boy had bullied Mr. Malik in school, returns to Kenya and joins the weekly bird walk. And he, too, has his eyes on the attractive Ms. Mbikwa.

The two men end up in a contest to see who can identify the most species of birds in seven days, with the prize being the chance to invite Rose Mbikwa to the Asadi Club ball.

Both men run into great difficulties during the week -- Mr. Malik has his car stolen, Mr. Kahn gets arrested -- and the winner remains in doubt until the very end. ( )

I was looking for something light to read and couldn't have landed upon a happier choice. For those enamored with [Major Pettigrew], similar delights await you upon meeting Mr. Malik.

Mr. Malik is a charming man of Indian descent born and raised in Nairobi. He was educated in England, but dutifully abandoned his dreams of being a journalist in order to return to Kenya and take his father's place at the head of the family business. He married a wonderful women and raised two children, joined the prestigious Asadi Club, and became known as an honorable man. As time passes first his wife and then his son pass away, leaving Mr. Malik alone with his beloved daughter who now runs the factory. After suffering a mild heart attack, his doctor advises he take up birdwatching, and ever since Mr. Malik has been a faithful attendee of the local Tuesday morning bird walk sponsored by the East Africa Ornithological Society. Over the years Mr. Malik has become a true bird lover and aficionado.

Although Mr. Malik's life appears ordered and serene, it has hidden depths. For Mr. Malik is a passionate man: he is secretly in love with the beautiful Rose Mbikwa, who leads the bird walks; writes a daring political column under a pseudonym exposing corruption in Kenya; and staunchly does charity work of which his peers would be unlikely to approve. When a rival suitor arrives in town and moves in on Rose, Mr. Malik does the only possible thing and protects the lady from having to make a choice by challenging the flashy American to a contest. Whichever of them identifies the most bird species in one week will have the privilege of asking Rose to the social affair of the season, the annual Hunt Club Ball. What follows is a humorous account of the trials the two men undergo in their pursuit of birds and a gradual revealing of the innate goodness and human failings of Mr. Malik.

The author, Nicholas Drayson, is a naturalist and has a wonderful way of describing the look and habits of birds. Drayson lived in Kenya for two years, where he studied the local wildlife and accumulated experiences that would later become this book. When asked how he would like readers to feel upon completing the book, Drayson said Happy. Although the novel may not be high literature, it is a delightful read, and it succeeded in making me unexpectedly and enjoyably happy. ( )

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. And no bloodshed or sexual activity for conservative types to object to (though one of the characters has a homosexual son). Seriously, I was floored. FLOORED. The use of capitals in this interview should be enough of an indication. I feel like I've just drunk a gallon of chocolate milk. ( )