Rating: 
Summary: TERRIFIC, LEGENDARY, SOUL-SEARCHING TALE, from a LEGEND!!
Review: TERRIFIC!! I'm a MANIC-DEPRESSIVE, Agoraphic, who's read, Three Times over, Matthiesson's DEEP AND POIGNANT BOOK, The SNOW LEOPARD!! LOVED THAT ONE, as well, have not "Read" read this Book AS OF YET, but I DID "REMOTE VIEW" IT, strictly according to the rules so laid down beforeth us, ... and this book has even taken ME, to PLACES that I never thought that I could ever venture to!! Peter Mathiesson, is the FINEST, most EVOLVED kind of Writer, and THINKER, that this Nation-State-America, and MOTHER EARTH Needs, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW! Thanks Pete!! Good Job, Good Show!!
Rating:
Summary: "Expect nothing."
Review: That's probably my favorite PM quote, from his travels in the Himalayas, and it applies to this masterpiece. You will not be disapppointed by the contents (and the look and feel for that matter) of PM's richly presented take on the great bird. A great bird that appeared suddenly and stayed around until a few days before grandfather died. Out back of his trailer park, a vacant lot. Live Matthiessen's eyes and find your own. He is like reading the best that you have read on every page.
Rating: 
Summary: Gorgeous illustrations; interesting text
Review: The most striking feature of this book is the color plates, which might make the book a nice gift for a birdlover. This ornithological study works on at least 2 levels:1)it is a detailed study of the current knowledge of 15 species of cranes, most of which are endangered (The Sandhill crane of the US is an exception), efforts for preservation of the species, and ornithological details. To give the briefest example, some of the cranes are migratory,while others are not. Some migrate long distances, as does the crane that nests in Northern Asia and winters in India. The Sandhill crane, of North America, has the longest migration. Most produce only one egg per season, take more than one year to mature (unlike geese), and are subject to predation;the book enumerates the numerous efforts at preservation worldwide, which include using an airplane as an imprinted mother-figure, just like in the film "Fly Away Home." Also there are preservation societies in many countries, including Cornell U. and in Wisconsin in America. 2) It also works as an historical and geographical travel guide to many remote areas of the world, including China, Mongolia, Siberia, Southern and Southeast Asia,Japan, Korea (where cranes inhabit the demilitarized zone) , Australia, England, Africa, and America-- all continents except South America. These cultures are alien in terms of religion, culture,politics and geography at least to me so reading about them presents a formidable challenge. The book is lavishly illustrated with pictures of these beautiful and diverse birds.
Rating:
Summary: Be in awe of what we have, weep for what we are losing.
Review: The readers of "The Birds of Heaven" should be prepared for joy, awe, geographic and naturalist education, but also sadness,fear and disgust. Matthiessen travels the world in search of the wild cranes. He is not just an observor, he is part of the effort to study and save these amazing birds. Robert Bateman's drawings are beautiful and serve as references as you read. Peter Matthiessen travels with George Archibald, from the International Crane Foundation, through Asia revisiting places where cranes were previously abundant. They share the wonder of the many sightings of cranes. Yet Dr. Archibald is quoted as saying,"What a species we are!" after "being astonished anew by the destructive and murderous proclivities of man". I learned so much from this book and recommend it to those who are not afraid to see the world as it is.
|
