In August of 2008, Free Press released Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl, which quickly became both a New York Times and an L.A. Times bestseller. The book chronicles the relationship between Stacey O'Brien,a young biologist, and Wesley, a wild barn owl with limited flight ability. It is a testament to the ability of both humans and non-human creatures to think, feel, communicate, and connect.
The Story
Stacey O'Brien is studying barn owls at the California Institute of Technology when her supervisor asks her to take home a four-day-old baby barn owl. The owlet is unreleasable due to nerve damage in a wing. She dubs the blind, helpless ball of fuzz "Wesley," and begins the arduous task of being the only mother and mate the owl will ever know. Life with Wesley is full of challenges, and takes up a great deal of O'Brien's time and energy. Her love life suffers. Rooming with a giant winged predator can be rough on her home and possessions. Then, when O'Brien must survive a long-term illness, Wesley's steadfast loyalty gives her a reason to live. Bird and girl live together for nineteen years, until Wesley passes away from old age. In the difficult months following Wesley's death, O'Brien penned this memoir of their life together.
The Owl
As a scientist, O'Brien is thrilled to be able to observe Wesley up close, from his first steps and his first attempt at flight to his first mating call. But Wesley is more than a subject to O'Brien. Her anecdotes clearly paint Wesley as a fully-realized, sentient soul with a major impact on O'Brien's life. From the moment Wesley opens his eyes and emits his first hoarse "screeeech," O'Brien is smitten, as is the reader. Watching Wesley's interactions with the world around him allows fascinating insight into the rich inner lives of these amazing birds. Wesley's antics are often cute and humorous, but at other times he amazes with his wild strength, spirit, and tenacity--or, as O'Brien says: "the Way of the Owl."
The Girl
O'Brien's writing is entertaining as well as informative. She has a great sense of humor and never takes herself or Wesley too seriously. She explains bird psychology and biology in way that non-scientists can follow with ease. Most importantly, O'Brien never loses focus on her certainty that animals can think, feel, and communicate. Wesley is not "just a bird" to O'Brien. She opens herself up to loving Wesley, but also to understanding and learning from him. She doesn't try to "train" the owl or make him behave unnaturally. Her ability to make logical connections between his actions and what he is trying to accomplish or communicate allows her learn his "language" as much as he learns hers.
Overall, Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl leaves an impression beyond the novelty and entertainment value of most "pet" stories.
 |
