The Backyard Bird Chronicles

By Amy Tan,

Book cover of The Backyard Bird Chronicles

Book description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A gorgeous, witty account of birding, nature, and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight, written and illustrated by the best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club • With a foreword by David Allen Sibley

“Unexpected and spectacular” —Ann Patchett, best-selling author…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Backyard Bird Chronicles as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

It features Amy's actual notebook entries and drawings of birds. We can really see her bravery as well as her progress as an artist. Such a great reminder to all of us of the power of the beginner mindset...and the magic of having a daily practice (whether birds or art or writing or whatever!). We don't necessarily need new and different; sometimes the most powerful way of looking is deeper and deeper into the same.

This book paints a picture of a world-renown author in her cozy Marin County home designed to attract feathered friends. In it, we see a relaxed and curious Amy when she can observe and wonder without constraints, expectations, and stress. The book chronicles her life between 2017 – 2022 from COVID through California wildfires, and the death of dear friend. Within the pages, she reprimands free ranging cat owners – something she’s held back from doing on Facebook, - describes window fatalities, and death forensics. Her sketch pages are filled with behavioral notes and thought bubbles showing the voice and…

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