Reviews

Schemervluchten by Helen Macdonald

bluejay21's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

nspitalnic's review against another edition

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4.0

Not as good as the first but you knowww I love a sad bird book

chailady's review against another edition

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slow-paced

2.5

I admit, I didn’t read the whole book. I read several of the essays, probably about a third. I liked some, while others were just too long or boring. I read this for my local  library’s book club. Not my choice. 

silvareader's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

katiegilley's review against another edition

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5.0

File this one under Books That I Wouldn’t Have Been Able to Finish in Print Yet Adored On Audio. This is a collection of nature essays that show how much we can learn about our fellow humans by studying the wildlife around us. Macdonald seems to have a particular interest in immigration and she beautifully wove in stories about the immigration patterns of many species, including homo sapiens. Some essays were tear jerkers and others had me laughing out loud. My favorite was the one about animal blinds and how some observers have been known to leave the blind after hearing a fellow observer misidentify animals (the one in which she scared the cows is a very close second place). It makes me hopeful to know that there are still so many naturalists out in the world!

sojorom's review against another edition

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inspiring lighthearted reflective

3.0

valmackpete's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective relaxing slow-paced

shakespearen_sisar's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

jamie_von_hagen's review against another edition

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adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

jess_mango's review against another edition

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4.0

Vesper Flights is a collection of beautifully written long essays about nature and animals. Macdonald has a way with words and does a wonderful job sharing her love of the animal kingdom. The whole vibe of the book overall is very meditative and relaxing, even when she is discussing animals in trouble. She uses her observations of animals to highlight things she's learned about herself and humanity. This is a great book to read in several doses during quiet moments.

If you haven't read her previous book, the memoir H is for Hawk, I highly recommend that one as well!

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced review copy of this book!