cover image Odd Birds

Odd Birds

Ian Harding. St. Martin’s, $25.99 (272p) ISBN 978-1-250-11707-6

Actor Harding’s breezy memoir uses his hobby of birdwatching as a lens to muse about his career, craft, and values. He earned celebrity status as Ezra Fitts on the TV series Pretty Little Liars, but he doesn’t lean on his fame as a crutch. His passion and curiosity for birds is evident, and he does a commendable job of keeping the focus on his encounters with them. As he goes on hiking quests to find a red cockaded woodpecker and a California condor, releases a red-tailed hawk back into the wild, and mourns a lost arctic loon, Harding looks for meaning and metaphors in his excursions. When he hits the mark, readers learn about the fickle world of auditions and unusual acting classes. When he falls short, they get strained analogies and exaggerated similes. The chapters are uneven, but Harding’s authenticity and knowledge of his subject manage to redeem even the more pedestrian sections. The book may frustrate fans looking for traditional Hollywood-insider scoops, and birder geeks who seek more depth from their sympathetic screen star comrade, but both audiences will take away refreshing insights from a likable nature lover. Photos. (May)