Wings at My Window

by Ada Clapham Govan

About the author

Is the author of the best-selling novel "Wings at my Window" which tells the story of how Mrs. Govan, an invalid woman who lost two of her children as infants, overcomes her depression and other maladies and wants to live again. She eventually saved a woodland that was once her own backyard from being developed, which is now called the Ada Govan Bird Sanctuary in Lexington Massachusetts.

She was one of the few females that had a weekly column in the Boston Globe, wrote bird notes and poems under the name of Thee I Sing. She was voted one of the ten most outstanding women of the 20th century in the Boston area.
She married David Govan in 1903 and had four children, only two survived into adulthood.
She died peacefully in her sleep at age 77 and lived with her son David and his family.

Reviews

[Eva Tipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing style is 1930's: quaint, yet poetic. As she describes their beautiful coloring or their antics, Ada's enthusiam for "her birds" shines throughout the book. Not only does her growing love for the birds in her backyard help the many birds who visit, but it also changes Ada from a housebound invalid to a grandma who was able to walk outside in the woods or even jump off a kitchen table after getting up there to see what her birds were doing outside! I believe if one follows in Ada's footsteps, the rewards will be overwhelming -- and that should be possible as she shares the practical steps she took to turn the visit of one little chickadee into a wooded sanctuary for birds. This was my third read and I cannot wait to lend it to two friends!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a lovely book. old fashioned (written in 1940!). true hearted. One late chapter disturbed me, but some of this is because it was 1940 and sensibilities ever evolve.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little book about the trials and tribulations of a invalid woman that were solved by her involvement with birding in her own backyard. , It takes place in the 1930s Massachusetts where the author became adept at bird-banding, bird identification and in creating a wildlife sanctuary for her feathered friends. It would be interesting to see if the sanctuary is still in existence. I'll have to check it out. This book was introduced to me by author James Michener in his book, Welcome to My World.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a moving memoir of a woman who, during the Depression, discovers the wonder of birds while recovering from the death of several children.

Alternatively funny, heartbreaking, fascinating and, always full of hope.

I stretched this one out- might be a little too much in large doses.

What a woman Ava Govan was!

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book. Got us thinking about what more we can do in our yard to encourage the birds.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Challenge - A book your mom loves