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Review
I do not pretend to finish every book I review... some are turgid or over wordy; this is well crafted and edited. It is about the man and the quest and in the end stood up aside from its subject matter and I enjoyed being allowed to peep through the curtain into this world. ... It is a good-natured book that reflects well on the writer... try spending an hour or two in Adrian s company. --Fatbirder, 2008
While the romance of Adrian's quest is highly readable, it is the Rivals part that makes it so addictive (review of 1st edition). --Sunday Express, 2005
... Never dull and very affordable, it is sure to be a book that many will be keen to read (review of 1st edition). --Birdwatch, 2005
While the romance of Adrian's quest is highly readable, it is the Rivals part that makes it so addictive (review of 1st edition). --Sunday Express, 2005
... Never dull and very affordable, it is sure to be a book that many will be keen to read (review of 1st edition). --Birdwatch, 2005
Product Description
Birding is becoming one of the fastest growing outdoor activities, especially in the UK. In this book, Adrian Riley provides entertaining and highly illuminating insights into the obsessions - and passions - when he set out to become the nationally recognised 'Birder of the Year'. Here is a classic tale, set amidst the beautiful British countryside, involving a rivalry so strong that all else is forgotten - save the birds and the desire to see them, despite the many costs both mentally and physically. This is the 2nd edition of the bestseller Arrivals and Rivals - A Birding Oddity with a stunning new 'Firebird' cover, more colour photos and an extra chapter on how to prepare for such fantastic, madcap adventures.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
*This review is based on the 1st edition of this title*. I feel very much that the other review ('birds and egos') is somewhat harsh and unfair, and with a seeming preoccupation with the author's so-called 'odd' beahaviour (which I didn't find odd at all). This book is a highly engaging and very well-written account of what turns out to be a rollercoaster birding ride, complete with all the thrill of the chase, intense competition and personal drama you'd expect - not to mention vivid, even beautiful descriptions. I've read it 2 or 3 times now, and I'm sure it's a book I will keep going back to. Highly recommended.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I very rarely- if ever, write reviews of books I have read, but something about this one made me want to say something.
I found this book quite entertaining, and vaguely irritating at the same time.
The number of birds seen, and the distances travelled are quite impressive, yet the behaviour of the author I found to be odd- particularly as he calls himself a scientist, (although I suppose this odd behavior is part of the point of writing the book).
An example of the "odd" behaviour occurs on page 101, where he describes "shutting down":
"I re-learned the long forgotten ability to simply "shut down". It is not exactly sleep and it is not exactly consciousness, but a state wherein the outside world seems far away and time no longer exists."
Another thing I found odd and slightly irritating about the book as a whole is the supposed rivalry with Lee Evans. It seemed like the only one really taking this "rivalry" seriously was the author. This Lee Evans character is almost certainly another oddball, but seemed be just going about his yearly business of seeing more birds than anyone else.
I own a book by Lee Evans, which is useful and informative in a way that this book could never be.
On the whole, the book, and the year list competition that the author took part in, seem to be about one man's ego, rather than a rivalry between two.
I found this book quite entertaining, and vaguely irritating at the same time.
The number of birds seen, and the distances travelled are quite impressive, yet the behaviour of the author I found to be odd- particularly as he calls himself a scientist, (although I suppose this odd behavior is part of the point of writing the book).
An example of the "odd" behaviour occurs on page 101, where he describes "shutting down":
"I re-learned the long forgotten ability to simply "shut down". It is not exactly sleep and it is not exactly consciousness, but a state wherein the outside world seems far away and time no longer exists."
Another thing I found odd and slightly irritating about the book as a whole is the supposed rivalry with Lee Evans. It seemed like the only one really taking this "rivalry" seriously was the author. This Lee Evans character is almost certainly another oddball, but seemed be just going about his yearly business of seeing more birds than anyone else.
I own a book by Lee Evans, which is useful and informative in a way that this book could never be.
On the whole, the book, and the year list competition that the author took part in, seem to be about one man's ego, rather than a rivalry between two.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
Interesting
11 July 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had some high expectations for this book. I had recently finished reading "The Big Twitch" and was expecting to be as equally entertained. This book is not as humorous & a bit dry. It did grow on me and as I continued reading, I found myself amazed, not at the quest or birds tallied, but as the human dynamics that played out in the book. The jealousy, the underhandedness, out & out lies told - I was really surprised to find that a fellow birder would deliberately undermine another birder. This particular book has an additional chapter, a follow up and it reflects the toll that such a quest can take on one's life. Worth reading!
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