Steve Salfield

Not to be confused with the controversial novel “Brick Lane” by Monica Ali. This is a very well written account of life in the east end of London and particularly Brick Lane written in an autobiographical way.
It’s excellent - a pleasure to read.
Hall discusses with warmth the situations of various people he meets there who are predominantly immigrants and refugees from various countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Eastern Europe and the Jewish community.
He also describes the waves of immigration which have taken place there for centuries starting with the Huguenots who were protestant refugees from Catholic persecutors in France in the fifteenth century (I think), Jews in the nineteenth century, Bangladeshis in the 20th century and smaller numbers of other groups.
His search together with an Indian anthropologist for the real cockneys is frustrated. They have all long ago moved away into suburbia.
The only unconvincing aspect of the book is the dispassionate way he discusses his relationship with his fiancee who becomes his wife. No hint of emotion or passion but warmth and perhaps love comes across.

Well the answer is that only the birds know if anyone, but this is an extensive review of just about everything humans know about it and have written about it in science, poetry, music, history and literature. Rothenberg is clearly in love with the music of birds and finally admits that he prefers to play music with birds than with humans.
Rothenberg is a jazz clarinetist who discovers joy improvising with birds. His website whybirdssing.com contains fascinating examples of him playing music with birds and also of the intricacy of birdsong. Listen to slowed down Veerie song - it’s modern jazz!
I enjoyed the book even though I think the message could have been conveyed with half the number of words.