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Bird Brain
Life was always difficult for Banger Peyton-Crumbe, an antiquated, misanthropic blood-sport obsessive, but it gets considerably worse when he is killed in a shooting incident and returns to earth as a pheasant. Banger's family think his death was an accident, but his gun dogs, who witnessed their master's demise, know it to be murder.
291 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 14, 2012
I absolutely adored this book. There's a large cast of characters: humans, dogs, a cat, foxes and of course, the pheasants - each of them perfectly drawn and with a place in the fast paced action. The protagonist, the human turned pheasant, Banger, stealthily transforms (emotionally as well as physically!) through the course of the book and there's even a bit of Scrabble. Sort of. It is relentlessly funny and there's a extremely engaging piece where the scions of anthropomorphological literature are neatly lined up and analyzed. I learned a lot about game keeping and shooting too - and discovered I shouldn't be so snooty about eating this sort of meat. Not as healthy and wild as I believed. I'll think twice before I order the pheasant next time. I started it this morning and couldn't stop until I reached the end.
December 1, 2014
Hilarious critique of the modern country squire, wrapped up in a murder mystery where the detectives are the animals. The dogs are dogs. The birds are birds. The absurdity of breeding pheasants for sport shooting is mocked unsentimentally, with animal rights activists getting their share of Guy Kennaway's treatment along with the gentlemanly hunters. Even the most sympathetic characters are ridiculous. The protagonist, murdered on page one and resurrected as a pheasant, has his own peculiar integrity. Not exactly sympathetic, but fun to ride along with. A romp. Highly recommend it, in particular, to those who wonder what dogs really think about us.
September 4, 2024
Living where I do, this book was extremely relatable, and really funny. Because this world surrounds me, I found many of the characters reminded me of people I knew. Original concept, cleverly written.
August 29, 2021
This was simply marvellous! It made me laugh out loud, several times whilst reading and was truly clever in the way it was written. What was best of all, was the fact that it didn’t brag about its cleverness or take it too far. The characters (that could so easily have been caricatures), had a real depth and humanity…even when it was a dog talking about the smell of bottoms or pheasants high on mushrooms! A really great read.
February 3, 2016
I really didn't like it when I first started reading it.
I found it graphic and crass. But at some point half way through I suddenly started to love it! All the groundwork had been laid and the story finally came through
I found it graphic and crass. But at some point half way through I suddenly started to love it! All the groundwork had been laid and the story finally came through
July 5, 2012
A quirky novel, how on earth does an author come up with a plot like this?! Enjoyable as an in-between-a-couple-of-serious-books kind of way! A put down-pick up kind of book.
October 20, 2019
It has it's own very funny moments! Lovely holiday read. I feel very aware of the pheasant cause!!
January 17, 2016
One of the funniest and most original books I've read in a long time. Basil 'Banger' Peyton-Crumbe dies in a pheasant shooting 'accident' and is reincarnated as a pheasant. Cue a completely different view of life (and death), sly observations on human behaviour, and a world peopled by animals who can communicate with each other. Some of the humour is coarse, some black, some satirical, but I defy anyone not to find it funny.
The ending is perfect too.
The ending is perfect too.
September 6, 2020
A pheasant shooter dies & is reincarnated as one of these birds that he loves to shoot & kill for sport, from here embarking on a perilous journey to uncover who was responsible for his death. A great premise & dealt with a great deal of humour & wit & satire, made this a super fun read.
October 16, 2012
Some very funny moments in a truly British comic novel. Inventive.
May 23, 2023
I wanted to enjoy this as the premise sounded so fun. It seemed as if it would be a jaunty, comedic crime thriller centered around resolving who done it. In actuality, there is no mystery to solve; the killer is explicitly implied, then stated very early on. So all that's left to enjoy is the jauntiness and comedic elements.
Unfortunately the humour in this one just didn't land with me. As Bird Brain is about an entitled aristocrat, you would expect some of the comedy to come from satirising this and some of it does, but actually the style of humour in this book is very public-school-boy-esque in and of itself. Most if not all the jokes here are toilet jokes and swearing is used gratuitously, not a la The Thick of It but just crudely and without purpose. Reading this I really did feel as if I'd just stumbled into the after party of a Tory MP who probably needs to sit down and sober up a little.
That said I did like the jauntiness, it works at points, and I think Kennaway's actual writing style was readable. A scene about halfway through the book showing a daughter with her dying dad was really quite moving and shows what the author can do if he stops faffing around. At times the plot perambulated in circles and really, for a book of this nature to be effective, it can't alienate its readers.
Some of the humour around vegetarians/animal rights activism hasn't aged well- I assumed if a book was about a pheasant hunter (an obvious moral evil) the author would have him proven wrong for his views but instead the narrative just seems to mock those who care about animal rights. I suspect it was supposed to come across as tongue in cheek but really I was back at the after party, weathering laughter from ruddy-cheeked patrons who think 'WHAT DO VEGANS EAT? GRASS?' is a cackle-worthy remark.
Unfortunately the humour in this one just didn't land with me. As Bird Brain is about an entitled aristocrat, you would expect some of the comedy to come from satirising this and some of it does, but actually the style of humour in this book is very public-school-boy-esque in and of itself. Most if not all the jokes here are toilet jokes and swearing is used gratuitously, not a la The Thick of It but just crudely and without purpose. Reading this I really did feel as if I'd just stumbled into the after party of a Tory MP who probably needs to sit down and sober up a little.
That said I did like the jauntiness, it works at points, and I think Kennaway's actual writing style was readable. A scene about halfway through the book showing a daughter with her dying dad was really quite moving and shows what the author can do if he stops faffing around. At times the plot perambulated in circles and really, for a book of this nature to be effective, it can't alienate its readers.
Some of the humour around vegetarians/animal rights activism hasn't aged well- I assumed if a book was about a pheasant hunter (an obvious moral evil) the author would have him proven wrong for his views but instead the narrative just seems to mock those who care about animal rights. I suspect it was supposed to come across as tongue in cheek but really I was back at the after party, weathering laughter from ruddy-cheeked patrons who think 'WHAT DO VEGANS EAT? GRASS?' is a cackle-worthy remark.
December 11, 2018
Bird Brain - Review
What a lovely book! Filled to the brim with adorable characters and backstory. Even the minor characters are heartwarming - maybe even most of all two young called Amy and Justin who I believe are only in the book for 20 or so pages. They have so much warmth and grief and genuine human emotion and it’s lovely to read and deeply saddening at times.
Banger was an excellent character. Being totally anti-hunting and passionately against animal cruelty and testing, I found my beliefs as far removed from his as they possibly could be. Nevertheless his endearing love for life is contagious and makes you want to like him - especially in the sweet little parcel of a pheasant.
I would highly recommend this book. Some of it is hilarious, some of it is very sad, and some of it deeply moving and unpredictable. The animals are lovely, the humans are complex and brilliant, and finally the ending is glorious.
Loved it - 5 Stars!
What a lovely book! Filled to the brim with adorable characters and backstory. Even the minor characters are heartwarming - maybe even most of all two young called Amy and Justin who I believe are only in the book for 20 or so pages. They have so much warmth and grief and genuine human emotion and it’s lovely to read and deeply saddening at times.
Banger was an excellent character. Being totally anti-hunting and passionately against animal cruelty and testing, I found my beliefs as far removed from his as they possibly could be. Nevertheless his endearing love for life is contagious and makes you want to like him - especially in the sweet little parcel of a pheasant.
I would highly recommend this book. Some of it is hilarious, some of it is very sad, and some of it deeply moving and unpredictable. The animals are lovely, the humans are complex and brilliant, and finally the ending is glorious.
Loved it - 5 Stars!
November 22, 2025
What a weird and wonderful book! The most bizarre plot and jokes, I have never read anything like it. But it's not just jokes, there is really an exciting story with a wicked villain, and a journey of redemption for our nasty old hero, Banger the bloodsports enthusiast who is reincarnated as a pheasant. My favourite bits are the passages seen from the point of view of dogs, especially their deep enjoyment of fine aromas such as poo and pee. And in case you think it sounds a bit shallow, the whole thing is mingled with sensitive and beautiful evocations of the Welsh countryside.
April 28, 2019
I bought the book on a whim (finding it a little by accident). I love bird dogs so I thought, why not? I didn’t think I would actually enjoy it this much. I love everything about the grumpy old English bird hunter. I love his appreciation for nature, his respect for traditions, his dog and even his tweed jacket! I will never look at a pheasant the same way again! It was quirky yet I believed every detail of the story to be absolutely plausible.
February 6, 2018
Priceless! I found the first chapter a bit difficult to go through because frankly, it was verging on disgusting. But once I reached the second chapter, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It's an original story, reminding me of George Orwell's "Animal Farm" without the political allegory, loaded with plenty of snorts and laughs.
August 18, 2021
As somebody that normally reads non- fiction this was a bit of a curveball, however the plot seemed so far fetched and funny that I couldn't resist. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself laughing out loud at many points. Some descriptions may be a bit graphic or crude for some people's tastes, but overall I recommend it.
February 28, 2018
Really good fun. The dogs just so much more interesting than the humans.
November 22, 2019
Entertaining book, easy read and ending wrapped up the story with a bow on the top.
December 25, 2019
Entertaining but kinda pointless. The scene with the ill father was pretty touching though.
dnf
August 26, 2021Stopped at pg. 139 and read the final 10’ish pages for closure. Promising start, interesting premise, talking animals, and dry humor but I grew bored and some things didn’t sit well with me.
December 28, 2022
Hilarious! And so well-plotted...
March 19, 2023
I quite liked it. Was slow to start and picked up pace towards the end. A lot of animal deaths and hunting though, so might no suit all readers.
June 23, 2023
Well that was brilliant!! Laughed out loud and enjoyed every minute of it. Who knew I needed a book like this in my life?!
June 8, 2024
This reminded me of the best of the Tom Sharpe novels.
July 5, 2024
Oh lord what a dull predictable book! It was supposed to be funny, it really wasn’t! The only saving grace was that I have learnt something about farmers and that there are those who care about how the birds are bred, managed and shot.
May 28, 2024
4.5
The book is about a recently deceased upper-class English estate owner who was reincarnated as a pheasant after his death during a pheasant shooting accident. He was obsessed with pheasant shooting. The story uncovers the mystery around his death and is told in the POV of him and of the animals closely linked to the estate.
Themes included family feuds over inheritance, inter-family relationships, animal rights and the experience of having falling wealth.
This was a fun read. It is very funny and blunt. The humour is dark and at times entertainingly random. It is original, the anthropomorphism and caricature of humans are done effectively. The book is quite insightful on human nature. There are also great descriptions which engage multiple senses.
I thought it could do more to explore the main character’s emotional development, however, especially during emotionally difficult situations and regarding his feelings towards his daughter.
It is also a bit slow in the middle. The emotional epiphany of the main character towards his daughter after seeing a man dying of an illness is unoriginal and could have been built up more.
Overall though, it was a lively and engaging read and provided me with interesting insights on pheasant hunting, what running an estate involves and how it feels to be a grumpy old man.
The book is about a recently deceased upper-class English estate owner who was reincarnated as a pheasant after his death during a pheasant shooting accident. He was obsessed with pheasant shooting. The story uncovers the mystery around his death and is told in the POV of him and of the animals closely linked to the estate.
Themes included family feuds over inheritance, inter-family relationships, animal rights and the experience of having falling wealth.
This was a fun read. It is very funny and blunt. The humour is dark and at times entertainingly random. It is original, the anthropomorphism and caricature of humans are done effectively. The book is quite insightful on human nature. There are also great descriptions which engage multiple senses.
I thought it could do more to explore the main character’s emotional development, however, especially during emotionally difficult situations and regarding his feelings towards his daughter.
It is also a bit slow in the middle. The emotional epiphany of the main character towards his daughter after seeing a man dying of an illness is unoriginal and could have been built up more.
Overall though, it was a lively and engaging read and provided me with interesting insights on pheasant hunting, what running an estate involves and how it feels to be a grumpy old man.
October 1, 2013
I recently stumbled upon a hilarious wee gem. Now, I never thought I'd be reading an adults' book written from the point of view of a pheasant, let alone reading it and laughing out loud, but I did! Bird brain by Guy Kennaway is a murder mystery set in the pheasant-shooting Welsh countryside. Wealthy and curmudgeonly, "Banger" Peyton-Crumbe is obsessed with pheasant shooting and estranged from his family; even his gundogs don't like him very much. When he dies in a pheasant shooting accident, his brother inherits everything, leaving his daughter penniless. Banger's gundogs know what really happened, though; Banger was murdered, and they set about trying to solve whodunnit.
Banger, meanwhile, finds himself reincarnated as a pheasant being reared for shooting; an ironic twist if ever there was one! Banger must learn to adapt to life among the creatures he only ever saw as prey, as well as trying to get back home to confront his murderer and mend his relationship with his daughter.
This book is definitely not for the easily offended, as there is a smattering of bad language and plenty of gross-out scenes and images, but I found it enormously entertaining. If you've ever wondered what your dog really thinks of that fancy new vegetarian diet you're feeding him, or what sort of love life pheasants have, beware - this book pulls no punches!
Banger, meanwhile, finds himself reincarnated as a pheasant being reared for shooting; an ironic twist if ever there was one! Banger must learn to adapt to life among the creatures he only ever saw as prey, as well as trying to get back home to confront his murderer and mend his relationship with his daughter.
This book is definitely not for the easily offended, as there is a smattering of bad language and plenty of gross-out scenes and images, but I found it enormously entertaining. If you've ever wondered what your dog really thinks of that fancy new vegetarian diet you're feeding him, or what sort of love life pheasants have, beware - this book pulls no punches!
May 22, 2013
This book was recommended to me and sat on my shelf until I had nothing else to read. Once I picked it up, I was off, there was no way I was putting it down until I found out what happened to Banger, the English Landowner who has spent his life shooting, to the detriment of his relationships with both his daughter and wife. On the first page, Banger is killed when his old faithful gun backfires and Banger is reincarnated as a pheasant, a pro shooting pheasant at that.
In the story all animals; birds, dogs, cats, even insects can communicate with each other, but frustrating, not with humans, especially for the police dog (Buck) who is more capable of solving the mystery of Banger's death than his master.
A wonderful story, with engaging characters that made me laugh out loud on a number of occasions. A simple, fun, enjoyable read. If you are only to read one book this year, make it this one. You will never view a pheasant the same again.
In the story all animals; birds, dogs, cats, even insects can communicate with each other, but frustrating, not with humans, especially for the police dog (Buck) who is more capable of solving the mystery of Banger's death than his master.
A wonderful story, with engaging characters that made me laugh out loud on a number of occasions. A simple, fun, enjoyable read. If you are only to read one book this year, make it this one. You will never view a pheasant the same again.
February 7, 2017
Ich hatte eine witzige, exzentrische, absurde Story erwartet - was, wie ich finde, bei einem Buch, das sich um einen Mann dreht, der während einer Fasanenjagd zu Tode kommt und dann als Fasan wiedergeboren wird, durchaus angebracht ist. Allerdings ist der Protagonist, Basil "Banger" Peyton-Crumbe, als Fasan leider genauso langweilig wie als Mensch. Dazu passt auch die Story, bei der nicht nur das Ende, sondern auch die einzelnen Etappen dorthin wenig überraschend waren. Zwar hat die Erzählung durchaus ihre heiteren Momente, aber im Großen und Ganzen lautet mein Fazit: Meh.
May 15, 2014
Great book. Very easy to read. A committed pheasant hunter dies on a pheasant shoot and *spoiler alert*
is reincarnated as a pheasant. The conversations between dogs and animals are hilarious and had me giggling out loud. I liked the way he grew on you as a character and the whole thing developed. Reminded me vaguely of the 'Wilt' books.
Will be more careful of what I say to the dogs in future!
is reincarnated as a pheasant. The conversations between dogs and animals are hilarious and had me giggling out loud. I liked the way he grew on you as a character and the whole thing developed. Reminded me vaguely of the 'Wilt' books.
Will be more careful of what I say to the dogs in future!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews