’12 Birds to Save Your Life: Nature’s Lessons in Happiness’ is the memorable title of Charlie Corbett’s memorable book of birds. Part family memoir, part self-help book, part bird compendium, it’s difficult to know what to file it under, other than a read you will never forget. I loved it!
Each chapter takes the name of a different bird and each details the author’s mental turmoil in the run up to and aftermath of his mother’s death.
More than once, it made me cry. It also regularly made me laugh out loud. Corbett has a natural comic gift. Winter is described as hanging around, reluctant to leave, ‘like a drunk in a pub at closing time.’ His mother’s dog is so faithful he ‘makes Lassie look heartless.’
Full of English humour it’s a very English book – of our birds, our countryside, our behaviour, manners and language.
You must read it! To co-opt the words of the author, it will add ‘another layer of jam to the roly-poly of life!’
On the theme of birds, I have chosen one of my favourite poems by Emily Dickinson, “Hope” is the thing with feathers’:
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
