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There are currently 26 member reviews
for Alfie and Me
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Mary W. (Altadena, CA)
For the Love of Nature
I chose this title hoping to enjoy a story about connecting to animal life an all it's interesting facets. I enjoy stories that help us see the makeup of animals and how they can become our friends by means of patience and understanding. However, this was not a title to make that connection. I kept getting distraction to all the details and facts about animal behavior that did not add to the reading. I tried several times to pick up and join the author's enthusiasm in connecting to wildlife but could not.
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Gabi
Not What I Expected - 2.5 Stars
Natural science and ecology are among some of my favorite non-fiction genres so I wanted to love this book. While following Alfie's growth into an adult Eastern Screech Owl was interesting, the owl (and related nature) facts enlightening, and the two-way relationship with her humans inspiring, I found "Alfie & Me" exceedingly difficult to read. The book read like two separate books meshed together, the transitions choppy and threads unclear. There was the story of Alfie which frequently took a secondary position to a far-reaching cultural anthropological and philosophical discussion of the beliefs of previous civilizations, current indigenous societies, and Western economies regarding the natural world's role in communities. While the author's point about the varying perspectives of nature across societies/civilizations is clear (for example, the connectedness of all versus the separation of physical and spiritual) the linkage to the author's journey with Alfie was too vague.
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Ann J. (Rochester, MN)
Raising Alfie
Since I am usually a reader of fiction, this review may be a bit unfair.
I have found with most non fiction books and this one as well that they are often 100 pages too long.
This book was interesting initially but then became more philosophical than the subject warranted.
It seemed that the author wanted to share his knowledge of native American culture as well as other philosophies on nature.
It would probably be more interesting to true bird watchers.
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Pau J. (Bath, ME)
Alfie & Me and the Rest of the Universe
I've never read Carl Safina before, so I didn't know to expect that he includes a massive amount of philosophy along with his observations of the animal world. I was very interested in his observations and care of the owl he rescued, along with his vast knowledge of the animal world as a whole. Of course we all relate to each other, human and animal, and the writings of philosophers can enlighten us and open our minds. But I think Safina goes a bit overboard in this book by about 100 pages of too much philosophy.
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Catherine H. (Asbury Park, NJ)
Alfie & Me
Part of this book is about the rescue of Alfie, a baby owl and the relationship with the author. Unfortunately, the main theme is about the ills of humanity caused by Western philosophy & religion. How our minds and values have been negatively influenced was discussed ad nauseam, leaving little room for the story of Alfie.
Although, I agree with the author on the fragility of human existence, I was not expecting a story on an orphaned owl to include everything from Schrödinger Cat to John Coltrane. I should have guessed 16 pages of references and a bibliography could not all be about owls.
This book was not for me. I only finished it because I agreed to write a review.
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