Book Shorts. Reviews in a Nutshell.
The Company of Owls
By Polly Atkin
If you expect a book simply about birds, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. Polly Atkin's encounters
with the tawny owls near her Lake District cottage become the starting point for a warm, thoughtful
memoir about nature, solitude, and finding beauty close to home.
Living with chronic illness has made Atkin's world smaller in some ways, but watching the owls opens it
wide again. With patience, curiosity, and affection, she observes these memorable neighbors while
reflecting on literature, history, and what it means to belong.
The writing is lyrical without being stuffy, and the book is gentle, wise, and quietly uplifting. It's a lovely
reminder that extraordinary moments can arrive on silent wings - and may leave you listening more
carefully to the sounds outside your own window.
Review by Lynda Bernard
August 26, 2026
So many books, so little time. Right, right - we’ve all heard it many times. Hummingbird's BOOK SHORTS will present book reviews you can read in a minute and capture the essence of the story, thumbnail reviews that hopefully will entice you into your next read. I read constantly. My tastes vary, so I’ll review books that I love, not necessarily current books. Other HB contributors will review books that follow their interests, both newly published and past. All in all, we’ll review books we think are captivating, compelling, unputdownable. If you’re looking for a good book to take to the beach, make that long commute shorter, or curl up with, hopefully our reviews will help you find it. Lynda Bernard
Please feel free to comment in the “Comments” section below the byline. We have switched to this shortened format because we know everyone is so busy! We are only posting recommended reads. Let us know what you think. All reviews are by Hummingbird contributors.
