The Mincing Mockingbird: Guide to Troubled Birds

Adrian is the Anne Taintor of the avian world; but only darker. Mostly a morbid fascination with the wet work of raptors and jays is here with occasional forays into window collision deaths, feeder-induced obseity and, yes, owl-initiaded necrophilia. The Taintor-styled captioned painting nicely decorate the slim volume of shockingly direct and graphic paragraphs. Colorful, adult language runs the gamut with the F-word inexplicably obscured.

This is truly a strange book. I like it and I don't like it. It's a small book, hardcover, featuring a painting of a bird on one side and a short description on the other side of each two-page spread, including a statement by the bird. Some stories about the birds are one page long, others much shorter. The paintings show what seems to be demented birds.

An example: dark picture a bird head, looking angry. Opposite page:

BIRD NOT PROUD OF IT, BUT IT DOES
WHAT IT DOES - WHO AM I KIDDING,
OF COURSE IT IS PROUD OF IT
-------------
"When I tell my prey I want them to open up
to me, I usually mean with their feelings.

"But sometimes it all goes red for a moment.

"Eh, what are you going to do. It's instinct."

When I first opened the book I thought I show more had bought a used library book. I didn't remember it being advertised as used, but I didn't care particularly. Then I realized that the book is printed that way (see illustration above, showing torn cover). It was so convincing that I even thought, for a moment, that the author had simply copied a copy of a used library book, cover to cover. Then, of course, I saw the above illustration. To me this does add to the weirdness and made me laugh. show less

This is a delightful, hilarious, "profusely illustrated" guide to birds...Troubled Birds. There are plenty of amusing details to savor in this short guide. It's one of those books that as I read it I keep thinking of some of my odd friends (who are the BEST) that would enjoy a copy of their own. Probably why they call it a 'gift book'. Figured that out on my own!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.

This is a delightful, hilarious, "profusely illustrated" guide to birds...Troubled Birds. There are plenty of amusing details to savor in this short guide. It's one of those books that as I read it I keep thinking of some of my odd friends (who are the BEST) that would enjoy a copy of their own. Probably why they call it a 'gift book'. Figured that out on my own!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.

Fun little book. Especially funny for birders I think.