genre: non-fiction, true crime
Victorian Salmon Fly Tying. A backwoods British Natural History Museum. A virtuoso flutist. A contemporary of Darwin who traveled the word in search of birds. What the heck do these things have in common?
A crime, the effects of which we may never be able to fully comprehend.
This non-fiction book about a true theft of rare and exotic bird skins to be used in fly tying is absolutely fascinating. It reads like a crime novel and I really liked the background, chronology and science that really helps you understand the significance and value of what was stolen. But I also liked delving into that strange and mysterious world of fly tying and the psyche of those who are obsessed with this little bits of feather and fluff tied to a hook. Don't get me wrong - while listening I had to go online to look at the different feathers and ties that are discussed and some of them are so so beautiful. But really, it is STILL just a thing that's designed to catch a fish, right? But to the aficionados of the art, having the right feathers is worth any cost. I wasn't thrilled with the ending - I think I just wanted something different, although in non-fiction, that's certainly not the author's fault. I just felt a little less interested right at the end but overall, for the natural history I learned and the mystery itself, I really enjoyed this read.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson (audiobook)
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