A Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Summary and book reviews of A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson, plus links to an excerpt from A Guide to the Birds of East Africa and a biography of Nicholas Drayson.

A beguiling novel that does for contemporary Kenya and its 1,000 species of birds what Alexander McCall Smith’s Ladies Detective series does for Botswana For the past three years, the widower Mr. Malik has been secretly in love with Rose Mbikwa, a woman who leads the weekly bird walks sponsored by the East African Ornithological Society. Reserved and honorable, Malik wouldn't be noticed by a bystander in a Nairobi street—except perhaps to comment on his carefully sculpted combover. But beneath that unprepossessing exterior lies a warm heart and a secret passion. But just as Malik is getting up the nerve to invite Rose to the Nairobi Hunt Club Ball (the premier social occasion of the Kenyan calendar), who should pop up but his nemesis from his school days. The jokester Harry Khan, good-looking in a flashy way and quick of foot, has also become enraptured with the object of Malik’s affection. So begins the competition cooked up by fellow members of the Asadi club: whoever can identify the most species of birds in one week’s time gets the privilege of asking Ms. Mbikwa to the ball. Set against the lush Kenyan landscape rich with wildlife and political intrigue, this irresistible novel has been sold in eight countries and is winning fans worldwide. A Field Guide to the Characters Mr Malik Identification. Small, dumpy, brown-skinned, nondescript. SBJ.* Habitat. Inner suburban Nairobi, especially Garden Lane, though occasionally may be spotted further afield in Kenya. Often seen after dark at the Asadi Club. Status. Introduced, resident. Distinguishing characteristics. Close inspection may reveal that hairstyle owes more to artifice than nature. Harry Khan Identification. Brown skin, white hair, white teeth, and a tendency to dress in white clothes. Habitat. Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, and similar establishments worldwide. Cosmopolitan. Status. Occasional vagrant from North America, though close relatives are introduced resident. Distinguishing characteristics. Highly ornamented. Noted for flamboyant mating display. Benjamin Identification. Small, very dark, with tuneful whistle. Habitat. Almost entirely restricted to suburban gardens, especially at Number 12 Garden Lane. Also anywhere that sells Coca-Cola. Status. Native, though local migrant in Nairobi. Distinguishing characteristics. A tendency to happiness. Rose Mbikwa Identification. Pale, slender, red-haired, though tending to white hair in mature adult. Habitat. May be seen in daylight hours in the company of various other species, in and around the National Museum. Roosts at Hatton Rise. Status. Introduced, resident. Has been known to hybridise with native resident. Distinguishing characteristics. A very active species. * SBJ: Birdwatcher’s shorthand for "Small Brown Job" — which includes very many hard-to-identify species all over the world.

BookBrowse

Comparisons to Alexander McCall Smith's novels are inevitable. Fans of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series will not be disappointed in A Guide to the Birds of East Africa. If anything, Birds is better written, with more depth and humor.  This book is sure to be a hit with book clubs, as well as readers looking for a light romance with a bit of a bite.  (Reviewed by Kim Kovacs).

Full Review (1269 words).

Media Reviews

National Geographic Traveler This quiet, gently humorous tale weaves the destinies of four principal characters: Mr. Malik is a reserved, brown-skinned bird-lover whose undeclared passion propels the narrative. The object of his affection is red-haired and pale-skinned Rose Mbikwa, longtime leader of the weekly East African Ornithological Society's bird walks. The third character is Mr. Malik's observant, empathetic shamba boy helper, Benjamin. Ruffling this flock's feathers is the flamboyant and carefree Harry Khan, who flies in from North America and incites a romantic rivalry for Rose's attentions.   10000birds.com I hate to bring this up because hand-on-heart I recommend A Guide to the Birds of East Africa to anyone looking for a slightly quirky and (yes) immensely charming summer read, but there are too many ornithological discrepancies for a self-professed avid - some may say 'anoraky' - birder like me to ignore .... However, I’ve a feeling that the vast majority of the people who’ll read this book either won’t notice or couldn’t care less anyway. They’ll be picked up and carried along oblivious and happy, and they’ll be all the better for it really. A Guide to the Birds of East Africa is enjoyable and entertaining so who really cares whether Mr Drayson's hero spots a coastal speciality, Fischer’s Greenbul, in his Nairobi garden? Not many of us I suspect.   Publishers Weekly A charming love triangle in Nairobi, Kenya, forms the center of a novel that manages to be both sweet and gripping.   Kirkus Reviews A sweet novel in which the reader gets surprisingly caught up in fairly frivolous events.   Library Journal While the reader is pulled along by the suspense...the glorious sights, sounds, and smells of Nairobi provide lovely rest stops along the way.   Financial Times - Abigail Cheung In sum, a refreshing, engaging and conversational read.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by JWR
Birder's Delight
Nicholas Drayson's delightful style of storytelling charms his readers as it lures those who love birds to add his characters to their life lists.

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