BOOK REVIEW: A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All

It is unusual for me not to finish a book. It is even more unusual for me to want to tell you about the book. As a result, this will be a short article this week.

A SUPREMELY BAD IDEA:  THREE MAD BIRDERS AND THEIR REQUEST TO SEE IT ALL by Luke Dempsey was recommended by a book group member. This is a fellow reader whom I respect and because the comparison to Bill Bryson’s writing had been made, I sat down with great expectations. Maybe that was the problem; I expected too much.

The theme of the book is aptly described by the title; Luke and his two friends, Don and Donna, travel the United States to watch birds. For me this would have been a terrific idea to write about and to give Dempsey his due, the book is a testimony to the joys of birding and the beauty of the various parts of our country. I even appreciated his plea for better conservation of the land and the wildlife that depends on it.

What I did not appreciate was his forced sense of humor. He made his traveling companions sound like very annoying people.For example, Don’s obsession with Luke’s dislike of tomatoes became tiresome. Neither Don nor Donna seemed to have been able to make their way in real life without Luke’s help. He was the only one who could drive.

To me there was no comparison between this author and Bill Bryson and maybe that was my first problem with the book. I find Bryson subtly funny; he never seems to have to work at it. Also the difference in attitude toward the “locals” by the two authors is striking. Bill Bryson shows respect for the people he meets. There was a feeling of snobbery on the part of Luke, Don and Donna.

Maybe for the dedicated Birder, the flaws that bothered me could be overlooked for the thrill of making that rare sighting. I wanted more.

The rest of the book group loved the book.  The afternoon discussion included many tips on local birding spots.  (I still didn't like it.)