The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year

The Comfort of Crows is a collection of fifty-two short essays that follow the life in the author's backyard during the course of a single year. The author, Margaret Renkl, ties the happenings in her yard to the happenings in her family and larger community, and, in doing so, draws thoughtful observations about meaning and existence in the world.

Margaret Rankl is an environmental writer for the New York Times and I am biased as I have always enjoyed her essays. Here is an intimate view of the lives of birds that live in her neighborhood. The message is that she should take time to enjoy the natural world around us, it can broaden our world view and give one peace.