Lincoln (who, I found out after finishing The Swifts, uses she/they pronouns) is very respectful of Erf’s identity and desires. And then there’s Fauna, one of the kindest Family members, whose identical twin is one of Shenanigan’s top suspects. The swifts come screeching down our new street and we saw one investigating a crevice in our back roof for a nest! The Stubborn Light of Things by Melissa Harrison: A collection of five and a half years’ worth of Harrison’s monthly Nature Notebook columns for The Times. Though I never felt compelled to pick it up, when I did I easily got through several chapters at a time.

I was sucked very quickly into the novel even before the main story/murder because the characters are so fiercely realized from the first page. The book employs a circadian structure, recording what he sees from his garden from one midsummer evening to the next as he looks up at the sky. A beautiful concoction of reassuring details of human kindness and commitment yet facing up to the huge environmental problems that threaten us all. All of us can do something within the compass of our lives to help tilt the balance back in their favour. For once, he felt that he had truly appreciated the spring, noting its every milestone and “rediscovering the joys of wildlife-watching close to home.

When she moved into a town and discovered swifts, she was swept off her feet by the story of their extraordinary, aerial existence. Try Friday I’m in Loveby Camryn Garrett, Right Where I Left Youby Julian Winters, A Dark and Hollow Starby Ashley Shuttleworth, or When You Get the Chanceby Tom Ryan and Robin Stevenson. After millions of years of evolution, swifts’ arrival and departure in the UK has become noticeably earlier recently. Reading two books about an English author who died young of TB at the same time: Tenderness by Alison MacLeod (about D. Despite the treacherous journey ahead, Swift decides to take a leap of faith and join the other birds on their adventure.

There’s a minor subplot about Erf’s grandmother insisting on using their Dictionary name, but it’s handled really well. Thanks to this book and efforts of other like-minded swifting people, a few more hearts and minds may be opened to the wonder of these birds, a few more swift boxes put up and more voices may well speak up for nature. DNF 80% - 2 stars because the book is VERY DEPRESSING, focusing on the difficult lives of this marvelous BIRDS that are the Swifts! His list of birds in the area is impressive, including some you’d be lucky to come across in the UK – turtledove, nightingale, stone curlew.I was already delighted by everything about The Swifts, but this loving inclusion just put it over the edge. We hope you will be delighted with every purchase, but if not, we will offer you a replacement or a full refund - whatever the reason.

When she isn't writing, Beth is woodcarving, or making a mess of her flat, or talking the nearest ear off about unexplained occurrences. This storyline combines well with Shenanigan’s desire to know if she’s predestined to be a risk-taker and mischief-maker.A jewel of a book -- Caroline Lucas MP Not just a glorious celebration of swifts but of their place amid the panoply of life on Earth.