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In 1774, an unusual bird was spotted on Captain Cook's second expedition to the South Seas. This single specimen was captured, preserved, and brought back to England—and no other bird of its kind was ever seen again. The bird was given to naturalist Joseph Banks, who displayed it proudly in his collection until it too disappeared. Were it not for a colored drawing created by the ship's artist, it would seem that the Mysterious Bird of Ulieta had never existed.
Two hundred years later, naturalist John Fitzgerald gets a call from an old friend asking him to join the search for the bird's remains. He traces the bird's history, uncovering surprising details about the role of a woman known only as Miss B in Joseph Banks's life and career. Could she be the key to solving the mystery—to finally finding the lost Bird of Ulieta?
Seamlessly leaping between two time periods, The Conjurer's Bird is at once the story of Joseph Banks's secret life and of Fitz's thrilling and near-impossible race to find the elusive bird.
A Book Sense Notable Book
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| Price | Condition | Delivery | Seller | Action |
| $99.99 | Digital |
| WonderClub |
Ken Brink
reviewed The Conjurer's Bird on March 27, 2017
The Conjurer's Bird
So I've been on an "academic mystery!!" kick of late, and friends: it comes to an end today.
Here's the thing about calling something 'formulaic' -- you can't really do it until you know the formula. Now, I can suspect a formula, but I don't actually read that many mysteries (or genre fiction, period), so like...it's more me saying "this is kinda predictable" or "this is dumb" than "this is formulaic."
But FRIENDS, I have read enough. I know the tropes. The quirky, down-on-his-luck male academic with a mildly sad past. The completely random, mildly harsh female academic who begrudgingly but inevitably helps him. Their completely unrealistic romantic relationship. Other weird academics searching for the same thing. No one needing to take time off while they chase random leads around the English countryside. And the ultimate prize, the ultimate treasure, being something that no one in the real world gives literally a single fuck about.
So friends, I can now say: "THIS SHIT BE FORMULAIC."
Some fun terrible moments from The Conjurer's Bird, specifically:
- The main descriptor of women being 'slim.' Like, he saw her slim form or her slim figure stirred him or whatever. To the point where on page 301 I barked out a laugh in public:
"He barely had time to note the slimness of her figure before she turned and the light fell golden on her face."
hahaahah I just
BARELY had time
but this guy is a winner don't worry he's got this
noted!!!!!!!
phew!!!
hahahaha
- Hi my name is Fitz, I have a mildly sad past. I will keep referring to "the photo by my bed." You'll think it's of this ex of mine BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE. Also I will end every chapter by referencing my grandfather whose quest exactly parallels mine, just in case you didn't notice the parallel. Also I'm profoundly unlikeable so you won't root for me and if I succeed you might even be like "aw shit I wanted the other way more interesting mildly antagonistic character to get it." Oh well.
- Okay spoilers ahead but no one reading this review should read this book so I don't care: KATYA. Listen. Listen. Fitz has an upstairs he lets to students. Fine. Katya, his tenant, is a Master's history student whose dad is a famous historian. Fine. They exchange zero words until ~the game is afoot!~ Fine. But SUDDENLY, Katya is MASSIVELY interested in literally EVERYTHING to do with this dumb fucking bird, and Fitz, and keeps referring to her father and what a sellout he is.
I mean 2+2=Katya's gonna get the bird for her dad, right? Predictable.
BUT NO, WRONG, because LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENS WITH HER. She displays zero qualities, and just falls in love with this weird older guy who taxidermies animals in her basement and they drive around looking for drawings of plants and hold hands. I just like ----- what the fuck?! It's so clearly wish fulfillment on Davies' part that I....I don't know. The women in these books are so one-dimensional it's ridiculous, and I'd be pissed, except everyone is one-dimensional so enh.
- Who cares about birds. Why did I ever buy this book.
- The historical narrative was also really dumb. Honestly, I think Martin Davies read Possession and was like "K IMA DO IT BUT WITH BIRDS????" and y'all know how I feel about Possession so
I should really give this one star, but I tend to reserve my one-star ratings for like Really Infuriating books, and this was more laughable than irritating, so...y'know. Plus I didn't HATE reading it. Most of it. But god --- this is the last one for awhile.
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Add The Conjurer's Bird, In 1774, an unusual bird was spotted on Captain Cook's second expedition to the South Seas. This single specimen was captured, preserved, and brought back to England—and no other bird of its kind was ever seen again. The bird was given to naturalist Josep, The Conjurer's Bird to the inventory that you are selling on WonderClubX
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Add The Conjurer's Bird, In 1774, an unusual bird was spotted on Captain Cook's second expedition to the South Seas. This single specimen was captured, preserved, and brought back to England—and no other bird of its kind was ever seen again. The bird was given to naturalist Josep, The Conjurer's Bird to your collection on WonderClub |