Cover Image: The Wise Hours

The Wise Hours

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Member Reviews

I kept stalling out on this because I felt I should be enjoying it more -- should be enthralled -- and I wasn't. The natural history and mythological lore of owls are awkwardly stitched together with the passages about the mysterious illness of Darlington's son. His illness came on during the period when Darlington had begun to study owls, but the fact that two things happen at the same time doesn't mean they belong in the same book.

Darlington also falls into platitude, and sometimes into toxic positivity, when she's trying to be insightful: "As I learned from one of my wise-beyond-her-years undergraduate students at the University of Plymouth, adversity leaves you both a stronger and a softer human, and it is underwritten with a strange kind of joy, even at its worst moments." Come on. My war-refugee parents would have had something to say about that.

At its best, The Wise Hours is as enthralling as I might have hoped -- had I known before reading it that Barn Owls can't fly in wet weather, because they don't have a convenient oily coating on their feathers to shed rain? I had not!

And this, of an owlet: "I expected it to smell like a kitten but its alien stink of rotting mouse, vole blood and acrid ammonia hurt my nose. There was something part-reptile there: I looked into its wincing face, felt its scaly feet, and at their tips, whetstone-grey talons, already gripping fiercely."

And this art-historical tidbit: "In [Bosch's] The Garden of Earthly Delights and many of the other paintings, owls appear embroidered in some item of clothing, hidden in a pocket, sitting in a basket, peering from a windowsill, in a tree, fountain or vase, everywhere and anywhere, ubiquitous watching eyes."

If only Darlington had stuck with the owls, I could easily have given The Wise Hours 5 stars.

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*I was given an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*

An insightful memoir/doc on the species of owl common (and a few uncommon) in the UK. There's some overlap with our North American birds, so it's worth the read even if you aren't local to the author. I know some disliked the memoir aspect, but I enjoyed it even if I disagreed with some of Darlington's sentiments. I have a different perspective on conservation and wild animals from my work with raptor rehabilitation and falconry. I still appreciated her passion!

I learned a few things I didn't know. I'd recommend this if you love owls, birds, or nature in general.

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I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. There was such a long reserve list on this book that I haven't had a chance to do more than skim this. However, it is well written, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

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Cover is gorgeous and really loved the writing. Enjoyed the “memoir” side of the book, helped the overall content feel less dry and more relatable!

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I may have misunderstood the premise of this book. I found it distracting when the author veered from the owls to her personal life. It was also more scientific about the owls than I expected. I thank NetGalley and Tin House for this advance read.

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As soon as I saw this cover available on Netgalley I knew it would be love. The author explores the different species of owls throughout Europe. She also opens up about some of her personal life while she travels around meeting various owl experts throughout Europe as she searches for different owls. Each chapter is broken into the owl types and has beautiful drawings. Her writing is absolutely beautiful and also reads easily. I loved all of the historical stories surrounding owls and my book is tabbed thoroughly with all of my favorite passages. If you also feel drawn to owls, I think you will love this one.
My only wish is that she would create another one that documents the life of owls in North America, but that’s only because I live in USA.
Thank you SO much for netgalley, as well as Tin House for this ARC.

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Set in England, this is both memoir and owl book. It's flush with facts about said bird that are seamlessly interwoven with Darlington's son's sudden, mysterious illness. She is such a lovely writer, and by including personal bits into the research and travel documentation, the birding and science-ing, it honestly ties everything together nicely, what with the whole theme of owls being harbingers, omens, etc. I have the bonus pleasure of once living in England, and as such, recognizing some of the slang and terminology. It's a beautiful read.

"We needed to remain calm and focused, to listen to the medics, and to him, but while none of us fully understood what was going on, I was living with a ball of barbed wire in my stomach." - Ugh, this pretty, perfect line is so utterly relatable.

Bonus; We're the same height! Lol

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A beautiful mix of memoir and nature writing that further drives home our needed connection to the world outside our homes. Darlington's prose is beautiful and evocative, a great match for language-oriented readers. Her mix of the personal with the natural can be off-putting if you're not expecting it, but it blends fairly well within the natural memoir genre. Recommended for fans of "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating" by Elisabeth Tova Bailey.

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Owl Moon was always one of my favorite read aloud books in the winter when I taught younger grades. The combination of both the owls and the snow making everything especially magical.
Miriam Darlington builds a similar kind of magic as she takes us on a quest around the world to see some of the most interesting owls. But what began as a journey into their lives, became both an escape and a connection to her son Benji, as the family navigates dealing with a mysterious illness that has befallen him. While the family adapts, and dreams reshape themselves, the lore of the owl becomes more and more of a lure. From her home turf in the British Isles, to France, Spain, and Finland to name a few, this journey takes her farther than she ever anticipated.

I really enjoyed this sort of dual storyline, while the owls take center stage, her family provides the backbone. I’m more convinced than ever that owls are magic, and hope that efforts to save them are successful.

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In The Wise Hours author Miriam Darlington incorporates the mysterious, elusive, oft misunderstood lives of owls into a memoir of sorts detailing her own life experiences.

Miriam's son Benji began exhibiting alarming symptoms of an illness which remained a mystery for a considerable time. Owls are an intrinsic part of Miriam and Benji's world so exploring them further while realizing the preciousness of life drew them together and to owls. Starting in Britain the two sought these marvellous creatures and Miriam explored further afield in countries including Serbia and France. This book is a philosophical blending of the two linked worlds.

Miriam explains the roles, symbolism and myths surrounding owls since ancient times. They were seen as guardians to the underworld and as pets even now. She describes various owls including the Snowy Owl, Little Owl and Pygmy Owl as well as their habitats and nomenclature. The author discusses ecosystems, conservation and the role of humans.

My favourite aspects of the book were learning more about birds I observe and adore, especially the Snowy Owl, Barn Owl and Long-eared Owl. I learned more about "earsight", eyesight, "small-owl syndrome", nest requirements, roosting, the "Shortie's" flight patterns, the far-reaching hoot of the Eagle Owl and the various calls of the Long-eared Owl.

The story about expert Milan in Serbia was the most intriguing to me as I live part time near there and would love to go to the Kikinda Owl Festival. Reading the blurb the memoir aspect surprised me; my hope was encyclopedic detail and photos of these treasured birds. But I do understand and appreciate the author's reasoning behind her reflections and introspection.

My sincere thank you to Tin Hat and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this captivating book.

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My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Tin House for an advanced copy of this book on owls, family, and the state of the world and what we are leaving behind.

Growing up there was always one constant in my family. My mom was always going to get an owl-themed gift for special occasions. Birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, her anniversary I think my Dad would go a little higher end on. She loved owls, we loved her and so that was the gift of choice. Until she discovered carousel horses, but that's another story. What I knew about owls I knew from clocks, magnets, statues, music boxes, and paintings. Maybe an article in Ranger Rick magazine. Turns out there is a lot about owls I never knew, and they are far more intriguing than I would have guessed. And that owls were a way another family bonded with each other. In The Wise Hours: A Journey into the Wild and Secret World of Owls poet and writer Miriam Darlington shares tales of her observation of owls all over the world, what she has learned, and how she and her son used owls to support each other during a time of illness and fear.

Owls have been around for over 60 million years, filling the nights with noise being considered both creatures or knowledge and superstition. There faces are rounded in such a way that it increases their ability to hear and process sound. And they are quite majestic looking. The author's interest in owls started small, seeing one in market, finding signs of owls in her woods, which lead her to investigate and begin to learn about owls and their place in the world, and how the world is making it hard for owls to find a place. As I shared there are numerous facts, about owls, how they can be used to get rid of creatures that destroy crops for less than the price of poison. As Darlington learns more she shares both her observations of owls, and people who have the same interests and fields of study. As she travels afield learning more, she faces problems with one of her children become sick with a mysterious illness, one that almost derails her work.

A book about owls, buy also about family, people, and the legacy that we are leaving behind. This is a much a memoir as it is a nature book, dealing with Darlington's son's illness, as well as people who seem as intrigued by owls as the author is. There are plenty of facts, and stories, and few poems about owls. Chapters are broken down by breeds, with descriptions, histories, and difficulties that each breed of owl is facing for its existence. The writing is very good, being both informative an descriptive and very personal. Darlington is a poet and that is noticeable in the writing, and the way chapters are set up. I enjoyed both the science and the biology about the owls, but I enjoyed the personal tales even more. Darlington has a real gift for presenting her story, investing it with emotions, and leaving the reader wanting to know more. A book that was quite different than what I expected, but I think I enjoyed it more for that reason.

Not just about owls, but also about, love, family, and the entirety of the natural world. Recommended for people who want to know more about owls, or like books of this sort. For poets to show how clearly and wonderfully nonfiction can be written, remaining interesting as well as descriptive. Also for fans of the book Beaverland by Leila Philip, also a poet who writes about the life of beavers in the New England area.

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Informative and so descriptive. This book, the tale of an odyssey to study of several kinds of owls in Europe, gave me some great insights into the barred owl that frequent our area and captured the excitement and awe I feel when I spot one. Very enjoyable read.

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In this love letter to owls, Miriam Darlington combines scientific information, personal observations, and even poetry to describe these multifaceted birds. While originally intending to focus on birds in Britain, the author broadens her scope with voyages around the world to get up close and personal with the birds she studies.

The book is organized into chapters that focus on a single type of owl. While the author's research is thorough and detailed, there are lighter moments when she lets readers in on her thoughts ("Just one glance at this owl dashes any thoughts of cuteness into the flames of Hades") and more somber ones when she shares information on her son's illness.

Recommended for birders and fans of books like "H is for Hawk" that blend nature studies with memoirs.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book.

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The gorgeous picture on the cover makes it look like this is a book about owls. In a sense, it is, but it’s mostly a memoir. The author discusses her fascination with owls, her travels around the world looking for them, the people she met and her thoughts and feelings. A big part is devoted to her family life, as well as the challenges caused by her son’s illness. Readers who enjoy these type of books will find it poignant but I was expecting more about owls. There is information about them, their breeds and biology, but it’s mostly what the author learned herself, no more, no less. I’m a big fan of Sy Montgomery’s books, which are part memoir but have so much information about animal behavior. The Wise Hours is not like that, so I am not the kind of reader for it. I was looking for more information about owls and less philosophical content. At the risk of sounding heartless, I wasn’t interested in the details of the author’s life or even her son’s illness. Many readers will appreciate it, unfortunately it was not for me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Tin House!

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An informative look at a wide range of European owls and the issues at stake in their lives and survival. Organized by owl type, the sections take the reader through a thorough description of each bird and the various dedicated people committed to learning about and protecting their mysterious lives. Unfortunately, the book seems to pull away from a great deal of personal reflection and intimacy. Ultimately though, the book is filled with enough detail and emphasis on these remarkable creatures that it’s well worth a read.

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The Wise Hours; A Journey into the Wild and Secret World of Owls by Miriam Darlington was an absolutely enchanting book! There are so many incredible lessons that can be learned from owls! Wisdom aplenty.

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I love reading nature nonfiction books and Owls may be my favorite type of bird. So when I saw this I was so excited. Miriam Darlington has a great writing style and I felt like I was on the journey with her. Overall this kept me invested and what I was expecting for the book.

"Little Owls, I had read, appear to have something named “small-owl syndrome” and regularly punch above their weight. Even here where they are very rare, this one was trying to singe us with its stare. Not much bigger than a song thrush, they can’t hurt people, but often take on birds that are larger than themselves, and frequently get mobbed because of this aggressive tendency."

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Darlington’s fieldwork studying owls began in Britain, but as her fascination with these majestic creatures grew, she began to travel the globe, in search of more owls and more information. Sharing her love for these exquisite birds, her son Benji, was her unofficial research assistant and when he falls ill, it seems natural for mother and son to turn to the birds that have survived sixty million years on this planet for a potential cure. A beautiful, thought provoking memoir about the natural world and the importance of preserving it

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