I really expected to like this more. I hate when my expectations, and then enjoyment falter, and disappoint. ( )

It’s funny when you stumble across a book that is just right for your frame of mind. This book, in all its pastoral ramble-y ways, was that quiet I did not know I needed, in a world that is strangely quiet in ways (less traffic) but crazily loud in so many other ways (ALL THE NEWS).

This is a book about a woman and her birds, and I was startled to learn at the end of the book that Len was a real person, a woman who did live in Sussex, and who observed and wrote about the birds who lived in her garden, although her work wasn’t deemed scientific enough and are now out of print.


It’s strangely charming and yet profoundly sad, this woman’s life among her birds, especially in contrast to her younger self as a musician in London. An explanation for her reclusiveness isn’t exactly stated (at least not that I recall) but maybe the reader is meant to reflect on that and wonder ( )

Gwendolen Howard is born into a bohemian family at the turn of the century. As a child she is obsessed by two things - her violin and the birds she sees in the welsh countryside. Moving to London to become a professional violinist Len is still drawn to the country and the birds. After her father dies Len buys an isolated cottage in Ditchling and devotes the rest of her life to the study of her garden birds.
Reading this book I did not realise it was based on the true life story of an eccentric but passionate woman. Len is such an engaging character, following her passions to the exclusion of everything else. Even the more shocking aspects of the story are dealt with in a gentle and whimsical way. The writing fits the tone beautifully, Len is a pure soul and her passion shines through. Interspersing the narrative with extracts from her books just makes the story come alive. ( )

Set in the early years of the twentieth century, the story is a semi-fictional narrative based on the life of Gwendolen Howard, who studied the behaviour of birds long before it became fashionable - or indeed vital - and certainly at a time when the term 'naturalist' and 'woman' were not considered compatible. I felt that the fictional character I was reading about brought me no closer to an understanding of who Gwen might have been. ( )

I was looking for something that was a bit brighter but still hold my interest. Looking at this lovely yellow cover with the wonderful birds cheered me up, so this was the winner for this week.

I was surprised that it was written about an actual person, a talented violinist and self educated birder. Her name in Len Howard and she can be found on the almighty wiki. In the early 1900s, women were expected to marry, but circumstances and her own hutzpah, caused Len to look for another way.

Her interest in birds was fostered by her father, who brought home injured birds. They had a friendly crow named Charlie who often followed her around. She never lost her interest in birds, but she also when 21, played as a violinist for a symphony orchestra. Eventually, in her fifties, she would buy a cottage in Cornwall, spending the balance of her life, making friends with and studying birds.

A delightful book, we get to know some of these birds by name and description. One of those quitter books in which I love to become absorbed. So much if it was just lovely.

If I have to shelter in place, why can't I have a cute little cottage in the county like Len?

ARC from Edelweiss. ( )