hello tweets,

last night, as soon as i had finished all of my daily commitments, i
went to the Ubookstore to find the new sibley book. as it turns out,
they had it but it was not on the shelf because the book has an "iron-
clad publisher's hold date" until 3 october. basically, translated,
this means that this book cannot be sold to the public before 3
october. all of my questions regarding this hold date and WHY this
silly "hold date" exists went unanswered. i did learn that the
booksellers who sold early copies of the latest harry potter are now
being sued by the publisher, so the Ubookstore was concerned that
they would be sued, too (harry potter apparently also had the same
sort of hold date).

well, i did manage, using my powers of persuasion, to purchase a
copy of the book anyway. i had to talk to four clerks and at least
one manager. the managers were huddled in the back room, no doubt
jealously guarding their supply of sibley books! i could hear
them talking and debating, making a few phone calls and gawd only
knows what else back there before one of the clerks re-appeared
holding the new sibley book in hand.

by this time, several people in the bookstore were listening to our
conversation because i had sensed that triumph was in the air and
could not help but giggle maniacally while i waited for this book
to appear. i am sure that everyone thought i was crazy, although i
don't fit the typical stereotype of what a crazy person looks like.

"it's yours," said the clerk as he handed the book to me.

i am still looking through this book, admiring the wonderful paintings
and enjoying the thrill of rediscovering and remembering specific
birds that i have seen that "look *exactly* like this painting" or
exactly like that other painting next to it.

i cannot add anything to the review that ian forwarded to this list
because i have not yet been able to look at the book in the detail
that the author of that review provides. however, i have looked at the
gull plates all morning and i will say that they are stunning and
beautifully rendered; both artistic and ornithologically accurate.

i think this is THE BOOK for anyone interested in birds, whether
they are serious birders or they casually feed birds with backyard
feeders, or even connoiseurs of fine books containing lovely artwork.
this is a book that would even make a fine "coffee table book" for
those people who own everything. needless to say, this is a wonderful
book. get it and you will not be disappointed.

regards,

Deborah Wisti-Peterson, PhD Candidate nyneve at u.washington.edu
Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash, USA
Visit me on the web: http://students.washington.edu/~nyneve/
Life is better when you are reading a good book -- Author Tim Green