One of the noteworthy failings in my literary life up to this point is my not having read Laurie Lee’s classic work Cider with Rosie. However I suspect that Mark Avery has, as clearly has the author of the first of the two books he took up for review this past week: Stephen Moss, given that the title of his new book – Skylarks with Rosie; a Somerset Spring – is an unmistakable allusion to it in both structure and geography (Somerset being just to the south of Mr. Lee’s natal Gloucestershire). A chronicle of Mr. Moss’ lockdown observations of his local patch on the Somerset Levels, Mark describes it as “well-written and enjoyable,” and intends to give it a second reading this coming year; one of the best testimonies to a quality work of which I know.
Mark’s second published review for the week, guest written by Roderick Leslie, is the new European Breeding Bird Atlas 2; Distribution, Abundance and Change from Lynx Edicions. Judged by Mr. Leslie to be “a must-have for any continental birder,” a complete reading of his review is highly recommended to all those interested in either adding this important but unusually large and costly book to their respective libraries, particularly those who already possess the first volume to help them determine if upgrading to it is merited.
Links to Mark Avery’s Sunday book reviews appear in The Well-read Naturalist by special arrangement. You can find all of Mark’s past reviews as well as a wide-ranging collection of his other writings on his Standing Up for Nature website. Mark’s opinions regarding the books he reviews are his own.
