While I don’t usually read memoirs, One Bird’s Choice by Iain Reid was recommended to me from a friend, so I decided to give it a try. Iain describes himself as “an overeducated, underemployed twenty-something, living in the big city in a bug-filled basement apartment and struggling to make ends meet.” He finds part-time employment at a radio station near his parent’s home, and decides to bite the bullet and move in with them to help save money. While Iain was hoping for a temporary move, his stay ends up being a year long. As the year goes along, Iain settles a little too comfortably into his new lifestyle, which includes home cooked meals, farm chores, lots of beer drinking, and taking fashion advice from his parents.
I thought One Bird’s Choice was interesting and fun to read. Iain’s parents sound hilarious, and I laughed a lot at many of their scenes. When I started reading, I almost was wondering if Iain was just a lazy pile, and why he wasn’t trying harder to find a job and not have to live with his parents. But as I was getting his perspective on his life and his future, I realized that he simply was unsure what he wanted to be when he grew up. Sure, he had a few goals and interests, but he didn’t have a set career he was trying to achieve. I thought it would be difficult for me to relate to him, being the overly ambitious gal that I am, but through his comedic and truthful writing, I was able to develop a bond. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
[Rating: 4]
