Customer Reviews

Pecked to Death by Ducks

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm a big fan of travel writer Bill Bryson, so expanding to reading Tim Cahill's books wasn't much of a stretch. Like Bryson, Cahill goes out travelling with that "I'm just an ordinary guy in the world" outlook, bringing the reader along with the hope that maybe he'll do something really dumb or goofy and end up having more of an adventure than planned. After reading Cahill's experiences in remote corners of the world from deep inside caves to the top of El Capitan, the next time you get on an airplane and sit near a tall, bearded, slightly worried-looking man you'll wonder if it's Cahill and where he's off to this time. And some adventurous part of you will want to go with him. Enjoy your travels with Tim Cahill!

Tim Cahill is witty, warm, compassionate, and wryly amusing. What more could you ask? If I'm taking a mental trip to wild, exotic, fearsome places; I don't want a cranky guide. Bill Bryson (Walk in the Woods)preaches too much--wants everyone to walk everywhere and eschew all drive-throughs. Tim is absolutely tolerant, apologizes for his wackiness and agrees fervently that taking a nap 250 yards from a grizzly bear takes a lot of explaining. His essay on llamas was worth the price of the book, informative (I didn't know llamas spit at you because you came too close to them. They just look like they'd love to be petted. Not so.) and funny. I found his descriptions lyrical. My curiousity was so aroused, I was looking in atlases and encyclopedias. I've passed over his other books probably because of the god-awful titles. I won't make that mistake again. P.S. The last book I thought deserved 5 stars was "Catcher in the Rye."

As an avid travel adventure reader and a some time travel adventurer, I've read many of the travel adventure writers. PECKED is Cahill's best. His essay on caving is one of the funniest he's ever written. While another collection JAGUARS RIPPED MY FLESH was intermittently funny, PECKED TO DEATH's essays are full of his wry humor in locales that many of us will never have the opportunity to visit.

Really, it makes one wonder where Tim finds time and equipment to do all this stuff. However, he certainly does it, and _Pecked_ does not disappoint. Always willing to embarrass himself and always seeing whatever humour can be found in a situation, he's effective when he's serious as well. The part on the British fellows and their stunts around the world nearly caused me abdominal injury due to laughter.

I only have one criticism to level at Tim: he has not written enough books, nor have they been long enough. Hopefully he will remedy that by being more prolific.

I was recommended to read Tim Cahill's books as a huge fan of Bill Bryson. While both writers discuss their adventures in traveling, their styles are very different. Bryson's books tend to be coherent pieces about one specific trip or expedition (Australia, the Appalachian trail), while Pecked to Death is a collection of short works written by Cahill, sometimes for other magazines. I find Bryson funnier; however Cahill's writing seems to be more evocative of the natural wonders he is writing about.

This distinction mentioned; Pecked to Death by Ducks is a very worthwhile read. Cahill has traveled to some of the most amazing places in the world, with some of the most interesting companions, and these adventures are marvelously rendered in this book. In addition, since each chapter stands alone, it's quite easy to stop and start again. Definately recommended for anyone with an interest in adventure or eco-travel!

I was first charmed by Tim Cahill's writing in "Jaguars Ripped my Flesh," and a "Wolverine is Eating My Leg." Reading Cahill introduced me to this whole genre of travel/"oops" writing and, although I have read others, I still enjoy Cahill the most. Check out "Outside" magazine (available online and in paper) for a periodic Cahill fix. In the meantime, if you haven't caught up on his earlier works, read them!

And, think of the places we can go if we take care of our world.

Cahill may not be a world-class mountaineer or climber - he's simply someone out there doing things, having fun, and writing hilarious accounts of his adventures and antics!

From caving and climbing to paddling and interesting encounters with bears - Cahill had me in stitches throughout most of the book!

A "definitely must read" for anyone vaguely interested in the outdoors!

Brilliant. CaHill's images and scenes move from touching and emotional to knee slapping goofy in the distance of just few words.

CaHill, Like Bryson, Delves deep into the subject matter and brings forward rich gobbs of history and fact all deliciously wrapped in wicked storytelling.

One of the funniest travel writers around. You may know him by his articles in Outside Magazine. Always funny, always entertaining, and always worth reading.

Cahill does what we all dream of doing. He goes to exotic places, meets exotic people ... and gets to write about them. Pecked to Death has one essay in particular, Bear In Mind, that's both chilling and a hoot. A writer to be studied, enjoyed, and, I guess, emulated