The Mob

Feather and Bone - The Crow Chronicles #1

by Clem Martini

The Mob is the saga of a crow family, the Kinaars, who are faced with troubled times. When the family converges for the annual Gathering, a mob mounts a revenge attack on a cat -- with disastrous consequences. The Gathering should be a time to rejoice. Instead, it becomes a time of fear, danger and uncertainty, when ancient laws and customs are tested. A tribunal passes judgment -- the instigator of the mob, the impulsive and charismatic Kyp, must be punished. Then, just when the Kinaars are divided over The Mob attack, an unexpected blizzard spells more trouble. They desperately need a safe roost. The family splits, leaving the Gathering Tree to seek shelter in forbidden worlds ?

Genres: Animals, Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure, Birds, Animal Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reread, after years of reading non-fiction on crows. Still just as riveting and delightful a story, and now I'm confident that the basic science is just about perfect. The only thing Martini got wrong was that he didn't give crows enough credit... turns out they can recognize, and completely remember, individual humans....

Ok, this is first of a trilogy. It ends entirely satisfyingly. But I'll check my libraries for the next two books anyway, and maybe I'll find something else by the author.

[nAeEMak نعیمک]

کلاغ‌ها از جانوران محبوب من هستند. در واقع تنها جاندارانی که از تماشایشان لذت می‌برم و دوست‌شان دارم و فکر می‌کنم بسیار زیبا هستند. قبلاً هم کتاب دیگری با محوریت کلاغ‌ها خوانده بودم که از نشر باژ بود (اسمش را یادم نیست). پشت‌جلد به شکلی نوشته شده که انتظار داشتم با یک داستان تمثیلی و پر از پند مواجه شوم و اصلاً این‌طوری نبود. شاید هم برای همین فقط یک چاپ خورد چون شاید شکلی که معرفی شد خوب نبود.
قصه ماجرای کوچ کلاغ‌ها به درختی بزرگ است و ماجراهایی که در بین دسته‌های مختلف کلاغ به وجود می‌آید. این کشمکش‌ها بسیار جذاب است. نویسنده خیلی خوب توانسته یک قصۀ «کلاغی» بسازد. به هر حال آن‌ها دارند به زبان ما حرف می‌زنند و تقریباً انسان‌نگاری شدند اما یک عالمه ویژگی مختلف است که آن‌ها را واقعاً کلاغ می‌کند.
رسم‌های مختلفی که دارند؛ شکلی که به آدم‌ها نگاه می‌کنند و رابطه‌ای که با هم دارند بسیار لذت‌بخش است چون نویسنده توانسته «داستانی» بسازد که در آن کلاغ‌ها نقش اصلی باشند. یعنی نه بسیار مستند است که معمولی جلوه کند، و نه خیلی داستانی و تخیلی که هیچی به هیچی نیاید.

[Livia Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an wildlife rehabber with a particular fondness for crows, this book seemed to be right up my alley. And it sure was! The author most certainly has an innate understanding of crows; I completely believed that if we could understand their world, it would be very close to what Martini describes. It's as if he's telling the story of something that really happened.

What I particularly enjoyed was the way the crows see humans. It's spot on and should be eye-opening to those who've never considered how animals might view us. Martini also illustrates the harsh reality of the natural world in a way the manages to enhance rather than diminish the glory and magnificence of nature. (In other words, bad stuff may happen, but instead of thinking it sucks, you're struck by the beauty and wonder and fragility of nature and want to enjoy every puny second you have, and hope that you can be half the creature that the main characters Kip and Kym are.)

The crows in this book are storytellers with a spiritual bent. I'm not a religious person by any means, but I'm thinking of converting to Crowism. (Crowianity?). Also, the characters are so very real; one of my favorites is Kuru, an elder male who swears constantly (he appears in the last book in the series, Judgement). The "swears" are adorable!

Finally, and I don't say this often, but this book is well-written. I wouldn't remove or change one single word. You should read it just for the descriptions of flying, and what flying means to a bird.

[Sparrowkeeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Whoever wonders about what goes through the mind of the crow? Clem Martini weaves a fascinating tale that gripped me from beginning to end. The viewpoint was different from most books, and I could tell the author had done quite a lot of research in order to make these books. I've been on the hunt for some good bird books out there, and this captivating tale is now definitely one of my favorites.

[Jenny's Book Life]

Final Review (Quickie) for "The Mob" by Clem Martini from "Feather and Bone - The Crow Chronicles"

I'm a little confused by this book. It was good, but ?

This trilogy is told from the POV of a clan of crows. It's well-written and I find I really do seem to like books with an animal narrator! It took me a minute to get hooked by this story (Chapter 5) and I suffered with a little confusion because all the crows have names that start with the letter "K" - keeping track was hard at first.

The crows are attending their annual Gathering where their history is passed on to the newlings and weighty decisions are made. The crow society has a very strict hierarchy and power structure which is important to the safety of all. A war is inadvertently started with a cat. There is an unexpected connection made by some young crows with humans, who always play a big role in crow life.

The book is a quick read. I liked it. I wanted to know what happened. It's not a gripping, wild ride, though. I think of books like this as 'mellow reads.'

I guess the question is will I read the second in the trilogy? Yes, I think I'll give it a try. I'm slightly ambivalent but intrigued enough to maybe make this a 'purse book' - that book you keep in your purse for reading in waiting rooms, gig setups, and at long traffic lights. I'm withholding a star rating at this time.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I will not be finishing the series I felt that this book deserved 5 stars. He gets it. He sees that Crows are intelligent, family oriented and delightful birds. Most people don’t see that. I have spent this winter (and it’s been a bad one) providing food for these birds and I am truly fascinated with them. Mr. Martini wrote a wonderful story about a bird that the majority of people overlook as pests everyday and for that I couldn’t thank him enough.

BUT

I do not feel that I want to keep reading about Mr. Martini’s Crow’s and I can’t figure out why. I really didn’t warm up to any of the main characters and I didn’t much care for the Crow’s interaction with the Human’s. I just don’t know what the major reason is.

I do recommend everyone giving this book a try. The author (for the most part) sticks to the true nature of crows and you can actually learn a lot about them from this book.

The only part I disagreed with was the part where the human gives the crows shelter in a storm. Crow’s are too damn smart for that. They would never trust a human. Not in a million years and that’s just the way I like them.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Initially I thought it was going to be more for children but I soon got into it and found it had great depth and although about crows on a surface level and of course it can be read at surface level; I found it had lots to say about human living and am eager to carry on with the next book.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Random find in the library and it didn’t disappoint! You can tell the author has done his research and weaves together an exciting tale about the survival of a gathering of crows. It’s not up there with The Animals of Farthing Wood but it’s well worth a read.

[Manuel Espinoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted to read a book that has family caring for each other and a book that can kinda relate to a typical family. Well then my good sir or madam this is the book for you. For me this book kinda made me heartbroken when certain parts of the book showing family sacrifices and how each crow in the family care for each other. In my personal opinion I would rate this book 4/5 stars because the plot and story sequence was kinda confusing for me.
In the beginning the boom took you into the family of the crows in which they have a reunion in order to roost for the season so then during the middle of the book Krym ( one of an older sibling in the family ) told a story to Kyp ( a younger sibling in the family ) in which talks about the Great Crow and the Creator in which how the Great Crow sacrifice himself spoiler alert: ( by giving his own body to the badger in which the badger took the eggs of the Great Crow ) and then when the Great Crow's children were born the Creator has blessed them with flight beyond the wind ( which means flying really fast and the heart of their father ) so then the story was passed on forever and ever to each generation of crow.
Then towards the middle the family went to the woods for their family reunion to roost but then out of nowhere a big loud noise came out of nowhere and shot Crymp. ( a relative who the book didn't really describe that much ) In addition to that the family scattered leaving Krym, Kyp and their grandfather still in the woods with the hunters but things got even worse. During their night in the woods their grandfather went missing only leaving four of his feathers behind. ( pretty dark leaving two teenage crows on their own in the woods, not even knowing there way back home )
Then towards the end Kyp and Krym find their own separate ways to get home ( each of them think that there way is the right way home ) so then Krym told Kyp the same exact words as the Creator said to the Great Crow's children but then it ends like that because there is another book after thus which leads on.
I hope you guys enjoy my review of this book and I really hope you are able to read this book and give it your own opinion.

[Kell · Rating 3 out of 5]

*REVIEWED FOR PUBLISHER*

It's springtime - hundreds of Crows set out on their yearly migration and converge at the Gathering Tree. This sacred Gathering is an opportunity for the six crow Clans of the Family Kinaar to assemble, to make decisions and to celebrate being together. But when young blood is lost, sacred laws are tested as an illegal Mob seeks revenge, and a schism threatens the unity of the flock. The Family's situation is made yet more precarious when a severe blizzard hits and the Crows are faced with the dilemma of where to find shelter. Breaking age-old decrees and working together may offer their only chance of survival. This is a startling view of the world from a bird's-eye perspective, complete with its own set of beliefs, mythologies and politics. But it's a world familiar to us too - where the needs of the individual often clash with those of the group, and where the desire to be free must be tempered with the need to be safe, to survive.

Clem Martini does for crows what Richard Adams did for rabbits in Watership Down. As the first in a trilogy that promises to be epic, The Mob does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into a world seen from above, where humans are strange creatures whose actions are indecipherable; cats are viciously sly and dangerous creatures; and the safety of family flock is the most important thing to consider at all times. It’s a fascinating story, filled with heroism, triumph over personal fears, and the philosophy that understanding each other and working together can mean the difference between life-or-death in the animal kingdom. Told from the point of view of Kalum, a crow who lived through all the trials and tribulations and is passing the story on to the next generation; this unusual approach works really well in drawing the reader into the flock and seeing things from a birds-eye view.

[Yasmin Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Review of the entire trilogy:
By all accounts this should have been an enjoyable quick trilogy: it had a nice dark seasoning and the plot was interesting enough to keep me guessing (even if it did get a bit ‘wait…what? Really?’ by the end of the last book.) The protagonist is likeable and the crow culture is well thought out, alongside the mythology. Granted, it does feel a little ‘Watership Down-ish’ in some parts, but it’s enough of its own thing to keep interest in what happens next.
However, I found there was a glaring problem and it was something I really didn’t expect. The names. All the crows have names beginning with ‘K’. Okay, I get it, the author is going for that harsh crow-like sound, but does so many of the names have to look so similar: we got Kyp, Kym, Kaf, Kyf, Kyrk, Kyrt (ah, the ‘Y’ instead of any other vowel, that old fantasy trope) and I found it difficult to try and remember who goes to who’s name. There were a few names that were fine: Kuper, Kollum, Kuru, and Erkala (a foreign crow, hence why the name begins with E), you could remember who they are because they're visually and structurally different. Having to pause at each name, trying to recall who they are, just sucks you out of the narrative and didn’t allow me to get any emotional investment in the characters.
It doesn’t help that the narrative is not written in the point of view of the protagonist, which sometimes tripped me up. I like the idea of the narrative being told by an eye witness retelling events as if directly to an audience, and it could have worked really well…it’s just those names making it more confusing than it needed to be.

[Birdshadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this book. If you have any interest in crows (or birds in general) this book is for you. I find Clem Martini to be amazing at keeping to, exclusively, the mind of a crow to the point where you forget a human actually wrote the book and not a crow himself. I also especially loved the dialogue between the crows. It just seems so true, like how crows would really talk to one another if we humans were to listen in on their conversations. I also love the crow's 'mythology' and 'folklore' which they reference throughout the story. Clem Martini should write a follow up book to this series about crow folktales according to the crows (ie. not written by humans).

Right after reading "The Mob" I immediately ordered books 2 & 3 ("The Plague" and "The Judgement") and am currently in the middle of "The Plague" which is equally as amazing so far.

Again, If you have any interest in crows/ravens/corvids, you definitely need to read "The Mob" you will not be disappointed.

[Stephan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful cross between modern fable and myth! The entire story is told from the perspective of a murder of crows. Complete with their own tales and myths, very much like those of the native Americans I read when I was a child. Humans are entirely secondary characters here and it's great fun to read of how animals perceive us. How we act, how we surround us with fur-covered four-legged slaves and how we travel around in our moving boxes. It's both entertaining and satirical.

I get the feeling that the author really did some background research on the subject of crows before writing this novel. they feel very much alive and believable as they play, converse and fight together as the murder they are.
That they are all beloninging to a pack is a major theme, as is the conflict between the old, experienced tradition and the new, impulsive and curious youth

It's a fantasy tale, but still not entirely. It's a fable, but not quite. It's a fantastic story, and that it is!

[Uηkη๏ωη · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful novel, the cover is mint green and it's very simplistic, but the story it holds is very imaginative, and epic! This book deserves to be read by everyone. All compliments to Clem Martini! I see the crows, usually an everyday pest, in a different way and thank Mr. Martini for this.

The crows are not just garbage eating birds, they hunt and talk in a way we do not understand yet. They are almost as intelligent as chimps, and they use tools that only apes and humans are know for using!

Martini really lead me to ornithology, the study of birds. I learned quite a lot of facts and am still admiring crows now. Every time I see a crow fly by, I picture Clem's very exquisite description of their behaviour, the way they stay in a group, and all the personalities in the story of the Flock.

This is just like Warriors in a different way, with more interactions with humans and flight.

[Swuun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clem Martini is Canadian, and in English this book is called "The Mob". It's difficult not to draw parallells to Adam's "Watership Down", as it is a book starring animals, being animals, in a human world. But unlike the cute bunny rabbits of Watership Down, The Mob deals with the much-maligned, wild crows. Martini weaves a skillful tale around the fateful time the crow tribes are gathering at the Meeting Tree, and the young Kip plays a prank that turns into a tragedy. But a storm is coming, and Kip still has a role to play...

Martini knows his crows, and it shows. Their behaviour becomes fascinating rituals, and everything is full of meaning we humans just haven't figured out yet. The book is slow, but refreshing to read. It is told as a tale by one of the oldest crows, and as such, there is much talk, and often little action. Still, it suits the book, and it gives the reader a chance to explore the crow culture. I'm looking forward to the two sequels!

[gazoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a soft heart for these types of books as I lost my head in them in my youth. Always some good morals passed on and courage being a key trait. It all holds steady here. Crows fascinate me while I am sure many abhor them. Written beautifully. I wish there were more insights on this bird with recent material showing they used tools to secure food, they plan ahead and even remember human faces. Looking forward to read the next two. (Really thought this book was about the band The Black Crowes and their Mob of followers;). For two great youth books try Searching For Alaska and The Kryptonite Kid.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely splendid. It contrasts the importance of rules and simulates how crows see the world. The is lots of death and violence, but nothing too horrid. The cover is quite simplistic, but inside is full of details, not too much, and loads of different layers. In this book you are considered one of them, the clan of crows. I do say the beginning is a little confusing, but all of the weird names are for the clans. This book truly relates to Warriors, but this is about birds and you always want more as the series isn't as long. This is terrific and thrilling. You can read this at any age, this is action packed and amusing. Fantastic!

[Aura Nizharu · Rating 3 out of 5]

wow, very good, surprisingly good.
I don't give it 4 stars because religion, that irks me a lot.

The prose is superb, the worldbuilding, excellent, the characters was a little bit on the plain side but this works was never character driven so no probs here, and the story,even slow was entertaining, which is good by my standards.
Also, the way it's narrated is a perfect gateway for more hard pastures for the younger audience.

Very good and tasty.

[Kelly Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book( even though cats were cast as the bad guys). I can hardly wait to start he next in the series.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! An animal tale to delight lovers of Redwall, Warriors, Rabbit Hill. A bit violent for younger students, but fine for middle schoolers.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, characters are well developed.
Couldn't wait to start the next book in the series.

[Anscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly intriguing and unique. It's rare to have a non-human POV in a story (and in this case full protagonist), but it's always interesting to see how the author writes about the world as seen through an animal's eyes. In this case I actually found it a bit jarring at first, but I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I got used to it and was soon effortlessly following the story through the crows' POVs. For my own purposes, this book was very helpful in that regard.

Unfortunately I felt that the society and culture presented to us was rather simplistic and could have done with some more depth. And the story itself had rather a slow start, as it took me nearly half way in to really become invested. But once I did it was smooth sailing.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of a readathon and I got the book from a closing second hand shop. I found it an very interesting way to write a story for teens and I like that it is poeticaly written and in ways very grown up.

[Parham · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[J8J8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quando parti para a leitura deste pequeno livro não tinha qualquer ideia com o que me iria deparar, comecei-o então sem qualquer expectativa. Foi, portanto, com alguma surpresa e com algum agrado que acabei a leitura do livro. Resumindo, foi uma estreia agradável.

A melhor parte, para mim, foi a escrita. Suave, delicada, mas muito agradável, sem nada a apontar.
Quanto às personagens, foi um pouco complicado conseguir entender, principalmente ao início, quem era quem pois todos os nomes dos Corvos começavam por K: Kirk, Kumma, Kyp, Kym, etc. havia alturas que já não sabia quem era quem.

Em suma, gostei do livro mas senti que faltava algo… não sei dizer ao certo o quê...talvez um pouco mais profundidade (principalmente ao nível dos diálogos entre alguns dos Corvos).

Irei, sem dúvida, continuar a trilogia.

[MasuruBird · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a bird-watcher and a bird expert this book was for me. Oh it was alright! Crows; intelligent, bringing the life out of them. It was a truly amazing story, a series, the next two books I'll definitely be reading. It is a book I recommend with all my heart - the author weaves a tale of crows. You will never look at these astounding, beautiful, amazing birds the same way again upon reading this novel.

[tan tee may · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was kind of hard for me to picture the cats as the antagonists as cats as usually very docile creatures and hardly kill. or maybe that's just my biased-ness talking. sorry.
i liked how Clem Martini put together a story about crows and their lifestyle and clan traditions. it sure opened my eyes of how humans are viewed in the eyes of birds. if anything, it taught me to be a nicer person to crows. or animals in general.

[Jacqueline Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always wondered what crows talk about when they gather to roost. This fantasy series does for crows what Kenneth Oppel's Silverwing series did for bats. I really enjoyed the whole series and appreciate the way the author was able to create crow characters and a crow culture while keeping true to the characteristics and reality of real crows

[Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Embora o tom seja, por vezes, um pouco infantil, é uma excelente metáfora para a sociedade humana. Ao observar a sociedade dos corvos, com todos os seus mitos, tradições, regras sociais, necessidades e relações entre indivíduos, este livro permite-nos olhar para nós próprios do lado de fora.
É uma leitura fácil, mas interessante, com uma bela história de coragem e determinação para contar.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

adorable fiction from the prospective of a crow. I loved the depth of crow-culture and mythos. This book would be a great read for a number of ages-- I think a bright 10 year old could love it as much as an adult.