The Chicken Chronicles
Sitting with the Angels Who Have Returned with My Memories: Glorious, Rufus, Gertrude Stein, Splendor, Hortensia, Agnes of God, The Gladyses, & Babe
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A “life-affirmative and eccentrically inspirational” collection from the National Book Award– and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Color Purple (Kirkus Reviews).
In these glorious, offbeat, and compassionate tales, one of America’s preeminent authors shares her experiences raising and caring for a flock of affectionately named chickens. Walker addresses her “girls” directly, sometimes from the intimate proximity of her yard, other times at a great distance, during her travels to Bali and Dharamsala as an activist for peace and justice. On the way, she invites readers along on a surprising journey of spiritual discovery.
Both heartbreaking and uplifting, The Chicken Chronicles lets us see a new and deeply personal side of one of the most captivating writers of our time. In turn, Walker has created a powerful touchstone for anyone seeking a deeper connection with the natural world.
“Heartfelt, thought-provoking ruminations on sustenance from perspectives of both giver and receiver.” —Library Journal
“Walker’s sage, compassionate memoir is meant to be savored and contemplated.” —Kirkus Reviews
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Writers must imagine their audience. This seems a fundamental enough concept, particularly for a Pulitzer Prize winner like Walker (The Color Purple). The intended reader of these 37 chronicles, however, feels rather murky. At least that is, until it becomes clear that Walker is addressing her chickens. Beyond referring to herself in the third person as "mommy" that would be the chickens' mommy Walker describes a trip to India, confesses her "impatience" with and "withdrawal" from the original hens after new chickens arrive, and writes a poem in honor of Michael Jackson for her chickens, all with the tone and depth with which we typically address our pets or infants, which is to say the insipid baby-talk that no other human should have to hear, nor read. The title promises something intriguing Walker's memories perhaps. Instead, the banal day-to-day is made even more simplistic for the sake of the "girls." Most readers would have been interested in Walker's thoughts on Gandhi or the Dalai Lama, but unfortunately these passages, like the others, remain insufferable. This time Walker's talking to her chickens and her chickens alone.