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Jan
14
Book Review: A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson
2009 at 2pm Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
Recently published September 2008
Every Tuesday morning, Mr Malik attends the East African Ornithological Society’s weekly bird walk, and every Tuesday morning, he looks forward to seeing its charming leader, Mrs Rose Mbikwa. Mr Malik never expected to become a bird watcher, but when his doctor recommended it to help him relax, he concluded that “ornithology would be much easier—so much less stressful—than women.” And it was, until Harry Khan, his boyhood nemesis, arrived on the scene.
You see,
For the last three years Mr Malik—brown, short, round and balding though he may be—has been passionately in love with Rose Mbikwa.
Mr Malik has never expressed his feelings to Rose, but he is planning to shortly, when he mails her a handwritten invitation to the annual Hunt Club Ball. Malik is lost in his thoughts one Tuesday morning when Harry Khan, “a tease, a card, a joker” for whom Malik was once the “jokee” and whom Malik has not seen since they were in school together many years ago, shows up at a Tuesday morning bird walk. Khan is in town on business, and he heard the bird walk was a good way to see Nairobi.
Mr Malik is sorely disappointed when he sees Rose Mbikwa take a quick liking to Khan, but he is truly upset when, at the club a few days later, Khan announces his intentions to ask Rose to the Hunt Club Ball. After sputtering a barely coherent protest, insisting that Khan cannot ask Mrs Mbikwa because he intends to, Mr Malik finds himself feeling vulnerable and intimidated, having revealed an intimate secret to his once-and-again rival.
For nine days the invitation to Rose had been his secret alone, and for nine days a small flame of hope had burned in his heart. It was unlikely, but it was possible—just possible—that she would accept.
Upon hearing of both men’s intentions to ask Mrs Mbikwa to the ball, Malik’s friends at the Asadi Club contend that it would be rude for both of them to ask and therefore put such a nice lady in such an awkward position. So, they agree to a gentlemen’s wager. Mr Malik and Harry Khan will have a competition to see who can identify the most birds in one week. They draw up and agree upon a set of rules, and it begins.
A Guide to the Birds of East Africa follows Malik and Khan through their week-long contest, as members of the Asada Club eagerly await their daily progress reports and gradually choose sides. Mr Malik encounters an interesting series of setbacks and frustrations along the way, and his response to these endears him to the reader and makes it clear that he really does hope to have the honor of accompanying Rose to the ball, while playboy Harry may just want to win the contest—to beat his old rival one more time—for the sake of winning.
As we pull for Mr Malik, we come to understand him on a deeper level, as the narrative reveals details about his life apart from the East African Ornithological Society. He is a widow. He had a son who died of AIDS. He is doing his best to get by. And we want him to be happy.
In A Guide to the Birds of East Africa, Nicholas Drayson has created a very pleasant light read with well-drawn characters and a charming story. His work has been compared to that of Alexander McCall Smith, though I can neither confirm nor deny any similarities, as I haven’t read any of Mr. Smith’s books. This is a fun one-sitting read in lilting prose that I would recommend to just about anyone. 4 out of 5.
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This book does look delightful!
This sounds wonderful, just my cup of tea
*makes a note in readiness to add to basket*
I reviewed this book too and I agree, a very enjoyable read. I enjoyed your review.
Your review makes me want to run out to the library and grab it!! But I must pace myself so I’m going to put in my request for May!! sounds like a good time to read in the sunshine, outside enjoying the warm breeze with a good book!!
Thanks for the review!
I’m going to Kenya in May, so this would be a nice one to read beforehand!
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So I am following up with you…just finished this book yesterday and I totally LOVED it!! I’m posting my review later this week and added your review to my post. Thanks for posting about this book or I would’ve missed out for sure!!
I originally commented on your post on Jan 14th!!
A delightful, innocent book. One to take to bed with you. You will be amused, and have no nightmares. A warm, cosy read – restores faith in humanity. One you can recommend to relatives and friends.
I am so glad that you enjoyed my book A Guide to the Birds of East Africa. The sequel will be published in July. It is called A Guide to the Beasts of East Africa.
Best wishes from India, Nick Drayson.