The Backyard Bird Chronicles
by Amy Tan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Seeking solace from a troubling world growing ever more divisive, Amy Tan turns to the natural wonders fluttering in her backyard. In The Backyard Bird Chronicles, Tan shares her musings, observations and drawings of her avian visitors. It is a thoughtful and charming collection created from excerpts of her personal journals dating back to 2016. Tan states that what began as an amusing distraction from her writing became an obsession of sorts. The stories range from humorous to heartbreaking, personal to scientific. In her writing, we witness the shift in her perceptions through exploration, the recapturing of her childlike wonder and curiosity of the natural world, and her growth as an artist.

Tan’s personal reflections are very readable, relatable and complemented by her collection of artistic renderings. I feel a twinship with the author as she marvels at a bird who playfully swings seemingly for no other purpose than pleasure, or another who pauses when it is eating, looks and acknowledges that she is there. Through The Backyard Bird Chronicles, I also appreciated a closer and more personal look at an otherwise unknown aspect of an author whose literary works I have long admired. Don’t pass up the appendix containing Tan’s backyard bird catalogue, recommended readings including how-to-guides for bird illustrations and other resources provided for further exploration.

I’d like to thank the author @AmyTanWriter, @AAKnop and @NetGalley Audio for the pleasure of reading this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it! Pub Date: 23 Apr 2024

Renowned bestselling author of “The Joy Luck Club” (among numerous other novels), Amy Tan, is also an exceptional artist and amateur ornithologist who demonstrates her prowess for both in her nonfiction book, “Backyard Bird Chronicles,” that is awe-inspiring in its beautifully illustrated and sensitively rendered full-color avian artwork; poetically crafted educational text; and humorously annotated and depicted quick sketches of daily habits of birds around her home.

The daughter of an ornithologist, Tan notes that her father encouraged her and her brother to observe, study, classify and draw birds from the time they were toddlers capable of drawing and writing. Drawing is an activity that Tan states that she has always enjoyed, but never took lessons for until she was in her early sixties.

From the exquisitely detailed artworks presented in “Chronicles,” Tan demonstrates her rare gift as a nature artist with bird portraits to rival those of great American Naturalist John J. Audubon. Tan’s details of bird feathering, ruffling crests, eye contact, and color patterns is stunning.

She also shares how she and her husband, Lou, created a nature habitat in their backyard specifically to attract a large variety of bird visitors. Tan provides instructions on feeding and watering birds; offers ideas for making homemade bird baths and hummingbird feeders; suggests bird box ideas and much, much more.

This is a treasure for every BIRDER friend and family member! Amy Tan is one of my all-time favorite authors. Now, she is one of my favorite artists and naturalists.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author and Artist Amy Tan, and Publisher Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House LLC for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

This beautiful book was written and illustrated by Amy Tan who wrote The Joy Luck Club. I absolutely love birdwatching so I found this book fascinating and relatable. Very well written.

This is a difficult book to rate as it’s a collection of personal observations and sketches of birds by Amy Tan, one of my favorite authors. I enjoy her books, but this one was just not for me. If you are a bird lover, and enjoy reading detailed and sometimes entertaining stories about birds, you may enjoy this one!

Thank you very much to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor
for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Backyard Bird Chronicles is a beautiful masterpiece of art. Amy Tan uses her excellence in writing and her newly found talent in drawing. The birds she illustrates mimic the reality of the shapes, colors, postures, and presentation as if they were before you. Her words bring the sketches to life. Throughout the journal entries, she introduces new members of her community. She builds a community by using birds as the contributors. With similar entries for each day, she is able to maintain consistency of language without falling into the trap of repeating what happens each day. The subtle differences in her observations are as apparent as the differences between the birds' appearance. I have a lot of respect for her determination to learn how to sketch and observe birds. With this text, she is able to accomplish a lot.

Thank you to Net Galley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf for this Advance Reader's Copy.

This book is exactly what the title says--a chronicle/diary of Amy Tan's backyard birdwatching, complete with gorgeous illustrations by Tan herself. There is a bit of memoir here, but readers should be prepared for the birds to be the main focus. And Tan, as might be expected from a master of fiction, really makes them fly off the page. As someone who is just becoming interested in birdwatching, I thoroughly enjoyed Tan's witty and self-deprecating account of how she became a birder and the humorous stories of the lengths she will go to (filling her fridge with live mealworms, for example) to keep her backyard bird obsession going strong.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Knopf for providing me with the ARC of this title in return for my honest review. A pleasure!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Okay, I admit I am not a bird person. Having seen Alfred Hitchcock’s movie The Birds, I decided my travels will never include Bodega Bay. In high school, my best friend’s younger brother had an enormous cockatoo that he let fly around the house. It would skim your head, which I found just frightening, and while you were flinching and covering your head, it would circle around and dive-bomb you again. And sorry (NOT sorry), but bird feet are the stuff of nightmares. But Amy Tan is the author, so I gave it a go. While she didn’t quite change my mind about birds, I loved this book!

Over the years, she has turned her backyard into a bird spa and her journal reflects her passion for these creatures. Her writing is at times calming, at times sorrowful, but always heartfelt. Her sense of humor shines through, and the sketches she has included are gorgeous. So, even if you’re not a bird person, I think you will enjoy spending a few pleasant hours with Amy in her “very birdy” backyard, searching for the ways beauty hides in plain sight.

https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan is a wholly charming tome. Amy Tan is know for her remarkable fiction, and this book is quite a departure from her normal work. Here, you’ll find her personal accounts of various birds and their habits. Her ability to tell a story, even a real story as in this book, is unparalleled. Ms Tan’s normal readers may not find the normal fiction she writes but I think if they looked deeper, they’d find her classic storytelling is clearly evident. She brings nature to life in such a beautiful way. I think this book would be lovely as an audiobook. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This is a delightful look into the journals of author Amy Tan. Ms. Tan wanted to learn more about the birds in her backyard and so began drawing them and noting her observations. She writes beautifully (and draws well, too — who knew?) about what she sees, sometimes giving the birds made-up backstories. It was unexpected, engaging and educational. Five stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

This is really different from Amy Tan's other books, and I really enjoyed it! She wanted to learn more about the birds in her backyard, so she writes down what they do and pays close attention to their activities in order to record those actions. But it is more than just a "journal" - she manages to capture an emotional element to the birds' actions and interactions. The hand drawn pictures of the birds were beautiful - so much talent that I did not know she had!

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf/Pantheon/Vintage/Anchor for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! Amy Tan is one of my favorite authors, and although this one is remarkably different from her novels, I was completely captivated. Tan records the activities of the birds in her backyard and her efforts to learn about their behaviors. Her musings are at times humorous, at times touching and heartbreaking. To add to the interest, Tan has included her sketches of the birds, and she draws as well as she writes. Great fun!

One note -- on my Kindle Paperwhite, the drawings are in monochromatic black & white. I hope the print book is in color!

"The Backyard Bird Chronicles" by Amy Tan is a delightful and charming account of the author's venture into the world of birding, nature, and the beauty that often goes unnoticed in our everyday surroundings. Illustrated by the bestselling author of "The Joy Luck Club," this book provides a unique blend of personal reflection, observations, and original sketches.

Amy Tan's exploration of birding serves as a retreat from the overwhelming aspects of the world, particularly the divisive and challenging state of society. In 2016, amidst the backdrop of social media saturated with negativity, Tan turned her attention to the natural world just outside her window. The decision to focus on the birds visiting her backyard becomes a transformative journey, offering solace, connection to nature, and a lens through which to appreciate the intricate lives of these feathered creatures.

The book takes the form of daily entries, thoughtful questions, and Tan's own illustrations, creating a rich tapestry of her experiences and insights. The narrative not only captures the joy of birdwatching but also reflects on the passage of time and the profound impact of nature on one's well-being.

What sets this book apart is the author's ability to infuse the narrative with wit and charm. The prose is accompanied by Tan's original sketches, adding a visual dimension to the observations and reflections. The inclusion of these illustrations enhances the reader's connection to the natural world and provides a more immersive experience.

David Allen Sibley, in the foreword, aptly notes that the drawings and essays in the book go beyond mere descriptions of birds. They convey a sense of discovery through observation and drawing, highlighting the intricate patterns in the natural world. There is a palpable personal connection between the observer and the observed, mirroring the deep connection between the characters in Tan's novels.

"The Backyard Bird Chronicles" is not just a book about birds; it is a celebration of the small wonders that surround us, often hidden in plain sight. It is an invitation to pause, appreciate, and find solace in the beauty of the natural world. Ann Patchett's description of the book as "unexpected and spectacular" captures the essence of this delightful exploration of nature by Amy Tan.

I have enjoyed Ms. Tan's works over the years, so when I saw this it sounded like another I'd enjoy. I wasn't disappointed- I'm a backyard birder, too. I never considered keeping journal or doing drawings, so this book has inspired me to maybe create my own. I love her insights into her backyard birds! I could relate to some of her observatins and they made me laugh. I loved her drawings I am looking forward to the hardcopy of this book to add to my own library. I wonder, too if the drawings might be in color! Fun read for over the winter, to give as a gift to a bird lover, or just to enjoy anytime over a cup of tea! Fans of Amy Tan won't be disappointed,

I was a bit disappointed in this book, it was a light hearted read, but I just expected more. The author chronicles the birds she sees in her backyard, at times comically. And draws their pictures. I just didn't receive a full depth of
feeling. I thank NetGalley and Knopf, Patheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the advance read.

As a backyard bird watcher myself I so enjoyed Ann Tan's r observations and drawings of the birds see saw in her yard. Lots of useful information and stories about bird behavior. Very enjoyable read.

I had zero expectations when I got this ARC. I had no idea this was literally a journal of Amy Tan's birding journals, but I really enjoyed her insight. Only a novelist could think of all of the things she thinks of while journaling. I also understand how this was an enjoyable activity during COVID. I don't think I will become a birder but did appreciate this bit of nature. I also will look forward to her next novel. Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When Amy Tan took up bird watching, it seemed natural to take up drawing as well, so she could better observe the birds by drawing them. This book is a selection of her bird diary entries from 2016, when she took up birding and drawing, through 2022. She limited her entries here to birds in her own backyard in San Francisco, even though she sometimes went birding elsewhere and saw different birds.

I loved reading this book a little bit at a time, taking a break from the news and the other stresses of daily life. Learning the various bird types, puzzling over their behaviors, studying the detailed drawings, smiling at the bird cartoons, I found it all pleasantly distracting and a welcome break.

I’ve always enjoyed birds and fed them when I lived in the north. In Florida I enjoy birds that I see but I don’t attempt any backyard feeders. Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles relates her absolute obsession with backyard birding. She has become a credible bird artist and has a magnificent journal in which she records every detail of the birds that visit her backyard. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan is a relaxing and enjoyable birding journal from one of the beloved authors of our time.

As a bird enthusiast, I really enjoy a good observational journal, and that paired with talented sketches, is exactly what this book fulfills. Ms. Tan has a way of presenting these home experiences in a relaxing, smooth, and engaging way. It made for a great experience.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/23/24.

This wa a lovely delightful read .Amy Tan sharing her home her birdwatching with us I loved her charming bird sketches a wonderful fun read.#netgalley #knopf