Flights Against the Sunset: Stories That Reunited a Mother and Son

First, this isn't a book about birding. Well, of course it is--but it really isn't. This is one of those rare books that belong among the dozen or so works of literature that define our lives. It's a book for your children, a gift of remembrance. Easy and enjoyable, the book weaves an account of Kenn's youthful obsession with birding, his coming of age, and a profound and insightful description of his relationships with his family, and especially the remarkable woman who is his mother. It helps to actually know Kenn and Kim; any time spent birding with this brilliant naturalist couple will become a cherished memory. I'd also recommend his autobiographical Kingbird Highway as a first read for orientation into Kenn's world. Capable of changing your whole point of view as only great books can, Flights against the Sunset is a true classic, destined to be read centuries from now.

I finished reading Kenn Kaufman's much-anticipated Flights Against the Sunset last night. Overall, it was an enjoyable book chock full of insightful and many times humorous stories set against the backdrop of him visiting his ill mother in the hospital. The book plays out in snippets of interactions with his mother, the history of Kenn and his family, and the birding-related stories. It's kind of a "Mitch Albom meets birding" right down to the small physical size of the book. As Kenn has shown us in Kingbird Highway, he's an outstanding storyteller. He makes you wish you were there with him experiencing what he's experiencing. He also makes you think with his insights on common birding discussions like listing and chasing rarities. If you've followed Kenn's Birdwatcher's Digest columns over the years, you may see some re-hashed stories because I think many of them came from there. Since I haven't kept up with those, they were mostly new to me. I do have two minor complaints about the book. First, the parts where Kenn is interacting with his mother seemed a bit forced into the story. I had trouble making an emotional connection. But I'm sure this book is a tribute to the author's mother, and who am I to stand against that? My second complaint is not really about the story itself, but the price tag on the book - $24 retail for a small hardcover 240 page book! Yikes! All in all, if you're a fan of Kenn's writing or just good birding stories, you'll definitely enjoy Flights Against the Sunset.