Cecil is a bird who needs no introduction. He prefers to speak for himself. As a world-traveler of high-status, he has a hard time dealing with others' incompetence.
We'll see if his fast talking beak doesn't land him in hot water, or worse; in love.
If experience really were the tell-tale sign of wisdom, Cecil would be a sage. But, as luck would have it, he was merely a Twit, and you know what they say about Twits.
Don't judge him by his glasses, those are for his near-sightedness.
A Twit is a bird who has stronger jaw muscles than his wings. They are nearly flightless. But if they could do the flying with their beaks, those birds could be carried on strings of adjectives and oxymorons to the ends of the Earth and beyond. Though, they wouldn't have much company, as no one prefers the companionship of those who don't know how to listen.
Just ask Cecil himself. He will be glad to tell you that he is not in a pot of stew, but rather in a warm bath, prepared by his loyal Duskins. There only happens to be root veggies and mouth-watering spices mixed into the broth...
... though it IS strangely hot!
Good thing birds of a feather flock together! Follow Cecil on his journey from Egypt to Terra Austris. Through chapped desert to deep sea, over the skies, and through disappointing encounters with familiar characters.
This Twit thinks love is for the birds- He may be right!
Excerpt
Yep. If not for Moby, I wouldn’t be riding
on Garuk’s shoulder here recounting.
Eventually the sloping trail brought
Garuk and I down to sea-level and the
Sandusky clearing. I describe it as a clearing,
but nothing on the Aussie side of the world is
ever actually clear. There is always a slight
red tint to the air. That is when it’s not
simply swarming with gnats.
I’m not complaining. Easy meal gnats. I
mean really all you have to do is open your
beak. But they can be troublesome for those
of us without eyelashes, like Matilda.
She was pecking a bit too close to the bonfire
last week after I had told her that the
Duskins had no real respect for cattle egret.
It’s common knowledge you know. Not
that I’m complaining.
I just don’t like that they tricked me into
believing that, as a Twit, my best comrade
here would be the native horses.
I knew they had to be wrong because the
Brumby were not much for conversation.
When the horses of Terra Austris talk to
the cattle egret that ride along their backs, it
is always with the intention of being rid of
them!
The two egrets, Carl and Jeff, that used
to hitch with me on Harry, soon became one.
That kinda reminded me of riding on that
camel just before a mad dash.
You’d think they would have seen it
coming!
Harry, our brumby, had Carl convinced that
if he ate a little bit of horse dung along with
every meal then the egret would soon be
strong enough to battle even the toughest
falcons of the sky.
Jeff and I watched Carl’s progress with
only slight disgust.
Strangely, Carl did seem to be getting
stronger even if his breath was getting worse.
Every day he would dare to fly a little higher
among the treetops.
Personally, I think it was just his confidence
that was getting a boost.
Eventually he thought he was strong
enough to venture totally out above the safety
of the trees.
He never returned.
Egret legend has it that he flew off to a
tougher crowd. But, Jeff and I both saw him
snatched away by talons that I once got way
too familiar with.
That’s what you get when you let
someone feed you a load of horse crap.
No.
I’d much prefer humans like my first
comrade, Dick.
A light-hearted, comical tale where each bird type represents a unique personality trait of human nature. The main bird (character) is a Twit (Twite - a small brown passerine bird in the finch family) named Cecil who recounts his story of his travels from Egypt to Terra Austris, a hypothetical continent first announced in ancient past that appeared on maps between the 15th and 18th centuries. Cecil is an opinionated, out-spoken, fast-talking Twit that thinks love is for the "birds," not him. He's into books, loves to read and learn, but why he wears glasses is for his nearsightedness, not reading.
There are humorous bits about Cecil's ride on a camel through Egypt and being at sea, but something happens when he meets Matilda. He learns that he is really a kind of Ibis - art of the Egret family. Then comes the cutest scene of the book when Matilda catches a snake and offers to share it with Cecil leading us into a Lady and the Tramp with the romantic dish of pasta memory. Cecil decides to change his ways after falling in love with Matilda and stops talking so much except when he's telling stories to their five chicks!
A charming, fun easy-read done in one sitting. Very enjoyable and entertaining. Definitely worth the time.
The Wholly Book of Genesis is a humorous satire on the first book of the Old Testament where the Story of Creation, the building of Noah's Ark, Sodom and Gomorrah and the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are thoroughly spoofed and broadsided.
The Wholly Book of Genesis is a humorous satire on the first book of the Old Testament where the Story of Creation, the building of Noah's Ark, Sodom and Gomorrah and the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are thoroughly spoofed and broadsided.
