The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship by Joanna Burger

The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship by Joanna Burger is a hardback nonfiction book I've had in my 'to be read' pile prior to May 2014. I've always been interested in parrots. I had a cockatiel as a youngster and other family members have had larger parrots like African greys or Amazon parrots. So with this in mind, I became interested in reading more about parrots.

I'm so happy that I finally read The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship by Joanna Burger!! This nonfiction book was really well written and very captivating from start to finish. The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship not only recounts Tiko's life, Joanna Burger's Red-Lored Amazon parrot, and their unique relationship/bond, but it also discusses Joanna's life as a distinguished professor at Rutgers University and her studies. More specifically, Joanna Burger is a behavior ecologist and she shares her insight about wildlife biology and birds. All in all, this is a fascinating read, not only for parrot lovers, but also wildlife lovers and ecologists.

Below is the summary for The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship by Joanna Burger from Amazon:

“Birds are my passion,” says Joanna Burger, “but parrots are my weakness.” Fifteen years ago, when se adopted a neglected, orphaned thirty-six year old parrot named Tiko, she entered on of the most complex relationships of her life.

Sullen and hostile when he entered Dr. Burger’s home, Tiko gradually warmed as she carefully persuaded him of her good intentions. Eventually he courted her, building nests inside household furniture during mating season and trying to coax her into them. He nursed her vigilantly through a bout with Lyme disease, regularly preening each strand of hair on the pillow as she slept. For a while he even fought her husband for her attentions, but eventually theirs became a relationship of deep mutual trust.

The Parrot Who Owns Me is also the story of the science of birds, and of parrots in particular (America’s third most commonly owned pet, after cats and dogs). Woven into the narrative are insights and fascinating revelations from Joanna Burger’s work — not only about parrots, but about what it means to be human.

By turns delightful, hilarious, touching, and enlightening, The Parrot Who Owns Me introduces us to an unforgettable bird and his human companion, whose friendships tells us much about ourselves.

I am giving The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship by Joanna Burger a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Four New to Me Little Free Library Finds in Livermore, California

Earlier this month, I started off the new year with a bang by finding four new to me Little Free Libraries in Livermore, California with my husband. 

I love finding Little Free Libraries. Especially new to me LFLs. I feel so blessed to live in the Bay Area as there are so many Little Free Libraries to discover where I can trade books.

Below are photographs of the four Little Free Libraries we found earlier this month. Plus, a photo of the books I took home with me.

5534 Jacquiline Way, Livermore CA 94550

1718 Almond Avenue, Livermore CA 94550

4156 Pomona Way, Livermore CA 94550-34447

692 Jefferson Way, Livermore CA 94550

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness by Julie Klam

I am a dog lover! I especially love small dog breeds as our family has had Pomeranians for over 15 years. 

So, as a dog lover, I purchased a discounted hardcover copy of You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness by Julie Klam prior to May of 2014. This year in an effort to FINALLY read more of the older books in my 'to be read' pile, I made You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness by Julie Klam my 3rd read of 2020.

I enjoyed reading You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness overall. The author, Julie Klam, is a good writer and shares many pearls of wisdom on how dogs have enhanced her life. 

Favorite quote from this book:

A very wise dog woman once told me that dogs find owners, not the other way around. They pick you and they choose to stay with you. In that way, they are also giving you the end of their life. The deeper the bond, the harder it is to say goodbye. I know I'd rather have any amount of time with a dog I love and suffer the mourning than not have the time at all. (page 130 hardcover edition)

The following is the publisher's summary for You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness by Julie Klam, which I found on Goodreads:

The hilarious and heartfelt chronicle of a woman learning the secrets of love, health, and happiness from some very surprising teachers: her dogs.

Julie Klam was thirty, single, and working as a part-time clerk in an insurance company, wondering if she would ever meet the man she could spend the rest of her life with. And then it happened. She met the irresistible Otto, her first in a long line of Boston terriers, and fell instantly in love.

You Had Me at Woof is the often hilarious and always sincere story of how one woman discovered life's most important lessons from her relationships with her canine companions. From Otto, Julie realized what it might feel like to find "the one." She learned to share her home, her heart, and her limited resources with another, and she found an authentic friend in the process. But that was just the beginning. Over the years her brood has grown to one husband, one daughter, and several Boston terriers. And although she had much to learn about how to care for them-walks at 2 a.m., vet visits, behavior problems-she was surprised and delighted to find that her dogs had more wisdom to convey to her than she had ever dreamed. And caring for them has made her a better person-and completely and utterly opened her heart.

Riotously funny and unexpectedly poignant, You Had Me at Woof recounts the hidden surprises, pleasures, and revelations of letting any mutt, beagle, terrier, or bulldog go charging through your world.

I am giving You Had Me at Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness by Julie Klam a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Skillshare - Write Your Personal Story with Roxane Gay

Wow, learning to write a personal essay from Roxane Gay is a dream come true for those that want to learn from the best!

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple and narrated by Kathleen Wilhoite, which I downloaded from Audible. Listening time for Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is 9 hours, 35 minutes.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is the second book I've finished reading in 2020. It had been a novel I'd had on my reading wishlist for quite a while, so I'm so happy that I finally read Where'd You Go, Bernadette as I really enjoyed it a lot... I actually enjoyed this novel more than I thought I would. I now want to see the movie version of Where'd You Go, Bernadette... Even if the movie ends up not being as good as the novel.

I loved both the writing and the characters for Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. Have you read Where'd You Go, Bernadette? If so, what did you think of it?

Below is the plot summary for Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple from Goodreads:

Bernadette Fox has vanished.

When her daughter Bee claims a family trip to Antarctica as a reward for perfect grades, Bernadette, a fiercely intelligent shut-in, throws herself into preparations for the trip. But worn down by years of trying to live the Seattle life she never wanted, Ms. Fox is on the brink of a meltdown. And after a school fundraiser goes disastrously awry at her hands, she disappears, leaving her family to pick up the pieces--which is exactly what Bee does, weaving together an elaborate web of emails, invoices, and school memos that reveals a secret past Bernadette has been hiding for decades. Where'd You Go Bernadette is an ingenious and unabashedly entertaining novel about a family coming to terms with who they are and the power of a daughter's love for her mother

I am giving Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Little Free Library in San Miguel, California

1997 L Street, San Miguel CA 93451

In December 2019, I spent time in Southern California visiting family for the holidays.

On our drive homeward, my husband and I made a pit stop in the city of San Miguel, California to visit Mission San Miguel, which is 1 of the historic 21 missions built in California. Afterwards, we found this new to me Little Free Library filled with a plethora of books inside of it! I left two books, but found nothing I wanted to take home with me.

Have you discovered any Little Free Libraries recently?

Little Free Library in Atascadero, California

5265 Palma Avenue, Atascadero CA 93422

In December 2019, I spent time in Southern California visiting family for the holidays.

On our drive homeward, my husband and I made a quick pit stop in the city of Atascadero, California just to find this new to me Little Free Library. While at this cute Little Free Library, I found a gently used hardback edition of The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See inside of it. Yippee, to finding a wishlist book at a Little Free Library!!

Have you discovered any Little Free Libraries recently?

Little Free Library in Carpinteria, California

4745 Dorrance Way, Carpinteria CA 93013

In December 2019, I spent time in Southern California visiting family for the holidays.

On our drive homeward, my husband and I briefly visited the charming, coastal town of Carpinteria, California. Carpinteria is conveniently located between both Ventura and Santa Barbara. 

As a side note, my husband and I lived in Carpinteria, California for roughly 16 years before moving to Northern California in May of 2014. I miss living in Carpinteria, California and would like to move back there some day.

While we were in Carpinteria, we found a Little Free Library near the salt marsh. The Carpinteria Little Free Library was a new to me LFL and I think it's adorable!!

Have you discovered any Little Free Libraries lately?

Little Free Library in Encinitas, California

In December 2019, I spent time in SoCal visiting family for the holidays.

While I was in the SoCal area I found a Little Free Library in the coastal town of Encinitas, California. This Encinitas Little Free Library was a new to me LFL and a very basic one.

Have you discovered any Little Free Libraries lately?