Birds of a Lesser Paradise (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781451643367)

An "astonishing debut collection, by a writer reminiscent of such greats as Alice Munro, Elizabeth Strout, and even Chekhov" (Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants), focusing on women navigating relationships with humans, animals, and the natural world. Exploring the way our choices and relationships are shaped by the menace and beauty of the natural world, Megan Mayhew Bergman's powerful and heartwarming collection captures the surprising moments when the pull of our biology becomes evident, when love or fear collides with good sense, or when our attachment to an animal or wild place can't be denied. In "Housewifely Arts," a single mother and her son drive hours to track down an African gray parrot that can mimic her deceased mother's voice. A population-control activist faces the conflict between her loyalty to the environment and her maternal desire in "Yesterday's Whales." And in the title story, a lonely naturalist allows an attractive stranger to lead her and her aging father on a hunt for an elusive woodpecker. As intelligent as they are moving, the stories in Birds of a Lesser Paradise are alive with emotion, wit, and insight into the impressive power that nature has over all of us. This extraordinary collection introduces a young writer of remarkable talent.

Author: Megan Mayhew Bergman
ISBN-10: 1451643365
ISBN-13: 9781451643367
Publisher: Scribner Book Company
Language: English
Published: 11/06/2012
Pages: 272
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.45lbs
Size: 7.90h x 5.20w x 0.70d

Review Citation(s):
People Weekly 12/03/2012 pg. 53
New York Times Book Review 12/09/2012 pg. 32