Candida Meyrick's avian self-help book 'Be More Bird' reads more like an awkward parroting of tired clichés rather than a soaring exploration of the inner life of its titular character, Sophia Houdini White Wing – or Bird, as she's affectionately known. Meyrick attempts to pass off her 20 "life lessons" derived from Bird's supposed musings as profound wisdom, but beneath the surface lies a book that feels contrived and plodding.
By anthropomorphizing Bird, Meyrick strips away the complexity of its bodily existence, reducing it to trite sayings like "stay true to your higher self" and "hold your ground." The book's author, however, seems more invested in doling out advice than genuinely grappling with Bird's life. Take, for instance, the hawk's impressive physicality – its meticulously calibrated hunting weight, its seasonal molts, and its remarkable adaptability.
Instead of delving deeper into these fascinating aspects of Bird's life, Meyrick resorts to hyperbole, proclaiming "memory, the gift of memory, is celestial, airborne, just like Bird." Such bombastic declarations only serve to highlight the author's shallow understanding of her subject. One can almost sense Meyrick's desperation to distance herself from Helen Macdonald's bestselling 'H Is for Hawk,' which arguably offers a more nuanced exploration of the human-nature interface.
In an effort to sidestep criticism, Meyrick has opted for a contrived approach, layering on metaphysical jargon and platitudes that ultimately feel like they're being spouted from a self-help manual rather than emerging organically from Bird's experiences. This lack of subtlety renders 'Be More Bird' a less-than-inspiring read, one that fails to soar on the wings of its avian muse.
By anthropomorphizing Bird, Meyrick strips away the complexity of its bodily existence, reducing it to trite sayings like "stay true to your higher self" and "hold your ground." The book's author, however, seems more invested in doling out advice than genuinely grappling with Bird's life. Take, for instance, the hawk's impressive physicality – its meticulously calibrated hunting weight, its seasonal molts, and its remarkable adaptability.
Instead of delving deeper into these fascinating aspects of Bird's life, Meyrick resorts to hyperbole, proclaiming "memory, the gift of memory, is celestial, airborne, just like Bird." Such bombastic declarations only serve to highlight the author's shallow understanding of her subject. One can almost sense Meyrick's desperation to distance herself from Helen Macdonald's bestselling 'H Is for Hawk,' which arguably offers a more nuanced exploration of the human-nature interface.
In an effort to sidestep criticism, Meyrick has opted for a contrived approach, layering on metaphysical jargon and platitudes that ultimately feel like they're being spouted from a self-help manual rather than emerging organically from Bird's experiences. This lack of subtlety renders 'Be More Bird' a less-than-inspiring read, one that fails to soar on the wings of its avian muse.
it feels like she's just copy/pasting everything from self-help books instead of actually understanding what makes Bird special 
I mean, can't we get a more nuanced and thoughtful exploration of Sophia Houdini White Wing's life?! 
the part about memory being "celestial" is so cheesy 
and don't even get me started on how she uses metaphysical jargon to mask her lack of insight 
it just feels like Meyrick is trying too hard to be deep and profound but ends up coming across as shallow and pretentious 
I gotta say, this 'Be More Bird' book just feels like it's trying way too hard to be inspirational 
. It's like, I get the whole 'stay true to yourself' vibe, but where's the depth? The nuance? 
... it can be super frustrating when we put ourselves out there and expect something more meaningful from someone else's words 
. but hey, at least you're acknowledging the author's effort, right? 
even if it didn't quite fly (haha, get it?) in terms of quality or depth. and omg, i can totally see why you'd compare this to that other book 'H Is for Hawk' – both seem to be exploring some pretty heavy themes 
. guess we'll just have to wing it (again, haha) and find something else that resonates with us 
. I've read Helen Macdonald's book and loved it, so I was hoping for something similar, but this one just doesn't fly 
. And what's with all the metaphysical jargon? It feels like someone's trying too hard to be profound 
. I mean, can't we just get real about nature and birds for once?