Book Review: Odd Birds
Odd Birds is by Ian Harding who you may know as Ezra from Pretty Little Liars. What you may not know is that he is into bird watching. Since his character on the show wrote a book, Ian decided that he should be able to write a book as well. The book talks a lot about his adventures in bird watching and relates some of the lessons he has learned while doing it to his life as well. He also talks about how he auditioned for Pretty Little Liars, call backs and how he feels now that it is ending after seven seasons.
I have no interest in birds at all, but that didn’t take away from the fact that I really enjoyed this book. Although I would have preferred it talked more about his acting career I think he found a really nice balance of funny anecdotal stories, bird stories and other stories about his life.
I received a free e-copy in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.
About the Book
A 7-time Teen Choice Award Winner on Freeform’s most-watched series, Pretty Little Liars … A social media influencer with over 7 million followers … An avid birdwatcher? Yes, you read that correctly. Ian Harding is all of these things, and so much more. In this memoir, explore the unexpected world of a young celebrity through the lens of his favorite pastime — birding.
Odd Birds is more than just a Hollywood memoir or tell-all. At its heart, this book is a coming-of-age story in which Ian wrestles with an ever evolving question— how can he still be himself, while also being a celebrity. Each humorous and heartfelt story features a particular bird—sometimes literal, at other times figurative. Using this framework, Ian explores a variety of topics, including growing up, life as a television actor and nature lover, and whether it is better to shave or wax one’s chest for an on-screen love scene.
A funny and heartwarming window into Ian’s life, Odd Birds is a must-read for fans of nature writing and memoir alike.


There are very few college basketball coaches that I can name – but Jay Wright is definitely one of them. I don’t watch too much college basketball, but whenever Villanova was on the TV I’d stop and check out the game. This book has a foreward written by Charles Barkley and is all about Jay Wright’s path to becoming a coach and building a winning season. Throughout the book there are “beyond basketball” notes with lessons that can be used in any part of life. You really don’t need to be a basketball fan to enjoy this book, it’s a great read and a lot of really great information – even though Jay says he’s not an authority on leadership.
Blondie was like a reality show before there was reality TV. In New York, in the punk era – they knew they had made it when they landed the cover of Rolling Stone in 1979. Debbie’s entire life she had been trained to become a house wife and for marriage – but that’s not what she wanted. In a time when NYC was collapsing and life in New York resulted in seeing a lot of dead bums, Debbie and Chris had a spark and made Blondie a household name by 1980-1981. This book was a really cool look back at a band that I wasn’t all that familar with – and as always – I loved all the pictures! There was lots of pictures. I also loved reading about New York in the early 80s, even though it was nothing like it is today, it’s cool to see how far it has come.
Joey’s Journal is subtitled “Staying Strong when Far From Mom” and is the journal of a 12 year old boy whose Mom took a job offer on the other side of the country and decided to not move the family there. They visited back and forth and Joey and his sister continued to go to their regular school – and watch lots of American Idol. I guess that I was not the ideal audience for this book because to me it was just a journal of a young boy. “Today we…” every day… I didn’t see him having too much struggle with his Mom being away – he was happy to visit her and happy when she visited him and other than that seemed to go on his merry way to school each day. This was a quick read and might be better for a family who is going through a similar situation. (I guess I need to stop picking books because I think they have cool covers)

Whoa, Baby! is a book by Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland. I wanted to check it out because of the music connection but I really am not the audience that Kelly was looking for. The book is a guide for new moms and talks about trouble and questions that new moms may have after giving birth and is written with her doctor. Each chapter is a question that Kelly had or that new moms might have that they discuss. Some of it was a little bit TMI for me – but I think that as a resource for new moms it will be really great because it may be things that you are too embarrassed to ask your doctor or friends about and there is information that you need to know! If you are a new mom, are going to be a new mom or know a new mom, definitely pick up this book.