Throwback to Kenya

For my high-school years I had the opportunity to live in Nairobi, Kenya. So, reading this novel, A Guide to the Birds of East Africa, was quite the experience. It was great to have such a concrete visual in my mind of all the places mentioned in the book. They would go to Naivasha, and in my head, 'Oh! I've been there,' and the Muthaiga Club, 'Oh, that's where we had our senior prom.' To say the least, I really enjoyed reading this book.

Set in Nairobi, Kenya, is this unexpected love story told through the eyes of a birdwatcher. Drayson tells the tale of two rivals, Mr. Malik and Harry Khan, who in competing for the opportunity to ask the leader of the Tuesday-morning bird walk, Rose Mbikwa, to the annual Hunt Ball commence in this week long bird watch. Following each man's successes and downfalls, Drayson creates a story emphasising politics, love and friendship.

Nicholas Drayson's A Guide to the Birds of East Africa is an essential for anyone who has ever been to Kenya. The prose is excellent and the description of Nairobi's pros and cons is expertly translated into the written word. I would recommend this novel to anyone but at the same time, having lived in Kenya, you would get so much more out of it if you had already been to Nairobi.

Thumbs up.

Nicholas Drayson
A Guide to the Birds of East Africa: A Novel
Penguin Viking, 2008
202pp. £11.99
ISBN 9780670917587