"The Heart of the Valley" by Nigel Hinton is a book about a little song bird - the hedge sparrow. What does she experience in the course of the four seasons? Which dangers is she exposed to? And how does she cope with these dangers? This book is not a dry biology book. Quite the contrary. The reader learns more about hedge sparrows, however, it is also a wonderfully told and written story of a bird that, I am sure, will enchant many more people...
Title: The Heart of the Valley
Author: Nigel Hinton
Imprint: CB Creative Books
Length: 222 pages
Published: 2002
Language: English
Blurb
Set in the English landscape of the Kent countryside, this beautiful and extraordinary novel follows the life of a hedge sparrow - from winter to summer - as its nest and its young are ravaged by the intrusion of a young cuckoo as well as by the thoughtlessness of humankind. It is a story of catastrophe and survival. From the rapture of mating, the patient nest-building, the laying of tiny sky-blue eggs, the book shows the world through birds’ eyes. It will forever change the way you look at trees and hedges and the creatures who live in them.
Thoughts about the book
I cannot remember having read such a sad and at the same time beautiful, empathetic and touching story before. After "The Heart of the Valley" I could not remember any similar book I had ever read.
In the book "The Heart of the Valley" by Nigel Hinton I have found a small - no a great! - treasure.
The book is about a small hedge sparrow which was taken by surprise by a heavy sudden start of winter. She had to cope with the cold and the snow like all the other animals around her.
The story took place in a small valley in Great Britain where only a few people lived. Life was not always easy there, but still beautiful.
The reader gets to know a little bit the people of the valley. However, the protagonist of the story is the hedge sparrow. Does she survive the winter? If yes, how? Who will she meet and how does she find food? Which threats will she encounter?
From the beginning I was captivated by the story of the hedge sparrow. Close to reality - the life of a small bird like the hedge sparrow is not easy - but still written in a very empathetic way. The author is a very good observer and knows how to put its observations into words.
It is not a book about great events. It is down in the detail where the big stories are found. Observing attentively the environment. Experiencing intensely. Having a good eye for the challenges animals around us are exposed to. This book is all about this.
I have read a German translation by Hilde Linnert. Although I have not read the original version, I was touched by the story of the hedge sparrow.
The story is pure and simple, but still exceptional! Just wonderful and enchantingly beautiful.
Conclusion
Take your time for the book. Enjoy reading. And immerse yourself in the life of a hedge sparrow. Enchanting. Touching. And just beautiful! A warm and deeply moving book. Thus, I just can recommend reading this book!
Do you know the book? Or do you know another book that tells the story of a bird? If yes, please let mit know in the comments.
