Chris Chester (1952–2007)

The author finds a baby sparrow that has fallen from the nest and manages to keep it alive. The book traces the effect this event has on his life. There is much information about sparrows; I had never guessed they were so interesting. He describes in detail his getting to know this bird he calls B and how their relationship flourishes. He ends up with seven wild birds, uncaged, living in his second story rooms. A large part of the books is a collection of memories, thoughts, quotes on life as his view of the world changes or is clarified, told with great wit and humor. A wonderful book.… (meer)

Chris Chester, a writer struggling with chronic depression and writer's block, found an abandoned baby House Sparrow on the ground and brought it into his home. Nothing would ever be the same again.

"B", as the sparrow was named, grew up to rule the household--a feathered tyrant who imprisoned his subjects' hearts and minds. This book documents the transforming power of caring for and loving another living creature.

Chester's writing often meanders along an obscure course--there are many detours--the literary equivalent of taking the scenic back-road route. I enjoyed the trip and looked forward to reading future work by this funny, quirky writer.

Chris Chester wrote of finding peace while resting with "B" nestled under his chin: a state of not-quite-napping but not-quite-meditating. There is a lovely photograph of them together on the book's frontispiece.

I can never thank the author for his remarkable book: Chris Chester died in April 2007. The best than I can do is to press copies of "Providence of a Sparrow" into as many hands as possible.

I also try to be kinder to House Sparrows.… (meer)

Heart-warming and thoughtful book. I am an avid birder and I try to read as many books that involve birds as I can. This is one of my two favorites of all time. In addition to the bird topic, the author also suffers from depression - a condition that I identify with.

Some beautiful excerpts:
"As a child, I'd lie in bed and sense in the filigree of lapsing consciousness that comes with approaching sleep an unsettling enormousness stationed forever beyond reach or comprehension, a barrier, I now realize, of metaphysical imponderables welded together to form an overwhelming composite of everything I will never know." - not bad for a bird book, eh?

"Next, we tried canned cat food. We buy an expensive brand composed, if my analysis is accurate, of fish rectums packed in some sort of urine. It appalls the eye and bludgeons the nose. A pinkish dollop of reeking putrefaction, it's the jewel of the food processing industry's blackest art. Our cats wish to be buried in it. B, however, more or less gagged. Certainly what I'd have done in his place." - :-)

Beautiful book. Sadly, Chris passed away in April of 2005. I'm saddened by the fact that I won't read any more from this very gifted writer.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonianextra/2007/05/sparrow_man.html… (meer)