NICHOLAS DRAYSON has written extensively about wildlife and natural history; he is also the author of Confessing a Murder, which was hailed by Booklist for its "view of Darwin never before seen." An Englishman by birth, Drayson lived in Nairobi for two years.
"[a] quietly beguiling new novel, A Guide to the Birds of East Africa...reads like transplanted Wodehouse." Christian Science Monitor "enchanting...Readers will find themselves buying copies for all their birding friends." -Birding Business "Nicholas Drayson's engaging new novel...[a] quiet, gently humorous tale." -National Geographic Traveler "This book is a sheer delight for birders and nonbirders alike." Minneapolis Star-Tribune "A lighthearted novel about birding and a wager to win the right to call a woman for a date." Kirkus Reviews "While the reader is pulled along by the suspense of the contest, the glorious sights, sounds, and smells of Nairobi provide lovely rest stops along the way." Library Journal Starred "A Guide to the Birds of East Africa will appeal to Alexander McCall Smith fans, but definitely stands on its own and will beguile any reader who appreciates sharp wit and gentle charm." -Shelf Awareness --
In this delightful love story, author and naturalist Drayson (Confessing a Murder) introduces readers to the ornithological wonders of Kenya. Mr. Malik, a short, round, aging Indian man with a horrendous comb-over, is in love with Mrs. Rose Mbikwa, who is attractive, Scottish, and the leader of the Tuesday morning bird walks. Both have lost their spouses and both are devoted to Kenya, birds, and politics, but beyond that, they couldn't be more different. Nevertheless, Mr. Malik intends to invite Mrs. Mbikwa to the Hunt Club Ball. Alas, Harry Khan, a flashy playboy on holiday in Nairobi, also has his sights set on Mrs. Mbikwa. A contest is staged that grants the man who can sight the most bird species in one week the right to invite the lady to the ball. The course of the contest reveals the shallowness of Harry Khan and Mr. Malik's true worth. While the reader is pulled along by the suspense of the contest, the glorious sights, sounds, and smells of Nairobi provide lovely rest stops along the way. Recommended for all fiction collections.--Joy Humphrey, Pepperdine Law Lib., Malibu, CA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
"[a] quietly beguiling new novel, A Guide to the Birds of East Africa...reads like transplanted Wodehouse." Christian Science Monitor "enchanting...Readers will find themselves buying copies for all their birding friends." -Birding Business "Nicholas Drayson's engaging new novel...[a] quiet, gently humorous tale." -National Geographic Traveler "This book is a sheer delight for birders and nonbirders alike." Minneapolis Star-Tribune "A lighthearted novel about birding and a wager to win the right to call a woman for a date." Kirkus Reviews "While the reader is pulled along by the suspense of the contest, the glorious sights, sounds, and smells of Nairobi provide lovely rest stops along the way." Library Journal Starred "A Guide to the Birds of East Africa will appeal to Alexander McCall Smith fans, but definitely stands on its own and will beguile any reader who appreciates sharp wit and gentle charm." -Shelf Awareness --
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