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The Company of Owls
As the autumn nights draw in, join Polly Atkin in a nocturnal love song to the owls that surround her Lake District home – a stunning meditation on learning to listen in a world full of noise
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2024
31 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Polly Atkin
13 books37 followersPolly Atkin is an English poet and academic.
She lives in Cumbria and teaches English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Strathclyde. She has published widely in magazines and literary journals, and her pamphlet, Bone Song, was shortlisted for the 2009 Michael Marks Pamphlet Award.
Her second pamphlet, Shadow Dispatches, won the 2012 Mslexia Pamphlet Prize and is published by Seren.
She lives in Cumbria and teaches English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Strathclyde. She has published widely in magazines and literary journals, and her pamphlet, Bone Song, was shortlisted for the 2009 Michael Marks Pamphlet Award.
Her second pamphlet, Shadow Dispatches, won the 2012 Mslexia Pamphlet Prize and is published by Seren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 10, 2025
The Company of Owls is a beautifully written book celebrating those nocturnal creatures that are often elusive to most of us but are heard at certain times of the year.
Polly Atkin guides us through the world of these enigmatic birds that are often seen as signs of wisdom - the goddess Athena -and legendary symbols of intelligence and knowledge.
This is also a personal journey of connection as Polly Atkin relates her growing relationship to the birds as she moves forward with a chronic and debilitating illness. She lives in Cumbria and narrates her discoveries with passion and poetic prose whilst providing factual information. The descriptions of the Lake District and the trials and tribulations of the owls is excellent
This is a book to escape into - immerse your mind into the world of these sometimes illusory raptors. This is a love story to connecting us back with the natural world which we are part of and to building our understanding of these beautiful birds.
Poignant, informative and a book to be slowly savoured.
An excellent read for all ornithologists and lovers of the natural world.
Polly Atkin guides us through the world of these enigmatic birds that are often seen as signs of wisdom - the goddess Athena -and legendary symbols of intelligence and knowledge.
This is also a personal journey of connection as Polly Atkin relates her growing relationship to the birds as she moves forward with a chronic and debilitating illness. She lives in Cumbria and narrates her discoveries with passion and poetic prose whilst providing factual information. The descriptions of the Lake District and the trials and tribulations of the owls is excellent
This is a book to escape into - immerse your mind into the world of these sometimes illusory raptors. This is a love story to connecting us back with the natural world which we are part of and to building our understanding of these beautiful birds.
Poignant, informative and a book to be slowly savoured.
An excellent read for all ornithologists and lovers of the natural world.
September 11, 2025
A beautifully written memoir about the authors love of owls, and her time spent observing owls. She isn't an expert on owls, but she is lucky enough to live in close proximity to a family of tawney owls. She does have a habit of being anthropomorphic when talking about their behaviour, as she admits herself.
She lives in the Lake District, so writes not only about the owls in her neighbourhood, but the other creatures she spots on her frequent walks around the place, mainly roe deer and badgers. Towards the end, there is a lovely chapter about her search for short eared owls, (I don't think I've ever seen a short eared owl, now I want to look out for them). Ultimately, this is about being more aware of what is surrounding you; there is plenty out there to see, if only we would look.
*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
She lives in the Lake District, so writes not only about the owls in her neighbourhood, but the other creatures she spots on her frequent walks around the place, mainly roe deer and badgers. Towards the end, there is a lovely chapter about her search for short eared owls, (I don't think I've ever seen a short eared owl, now I want to look out for them). Ultimately, this is about being more aware of what is surrounding you; there is plenty out there to see, if only we would look.
*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
May 28, 2025
I haven’t seen many owls, mostly because they tend to be fairly elusive and nocturnal. I have heard a few Tawny’s in the woods near home, but never been fortunate to catch sight of one.
But I have been lucky enough to see a handful of barn owls and two short-eared owls that are resident nearby. Atkin is the same, she has been hearing Tawny Owls whilst in her attic room in her house in the Lake District, but hasn’t seen any as yet.
It is thought that Tawny Owls are the most common of owl species, but nobody actually knows as they are so difficult to spot! Then one evening around the solstice, she sees a Tawny Owl. It is a magical time of the year, everything feels like it is turned up to 11, and this was quite a special moment.
In the spring of 2020, the world changed. Lockdown because of the COVID-19 virus meant that we were only permitted outside for exercise for one hour a day. The skies cleared of aircraft, and there were almost no cars on the roads. Nature began to claim back some of the spaces that we had dominated for so long. It was on one of these permitted exercises that she sees another Tawny Owl. It was to become a regular sighting on her and her partner’s walks.
Their walks start to take longer so they can enjoy seeing these birds, they notice the bird songs from others too, downloading an app to help them identify the songs.
Her three tips for seeing owls:
1. Live near them
2. Walk around at different times
3. Pay attention.
They then spot two owlets, one sadly has fallen from a nest box, and they can see the other in the next box as it moves around. They then find a dead owl and she buries it in her garden and then worries as to whether there won’t be another to take over the territory. She needn’t have worried as there is another in the area come the next spring.
It feels like her heart is full of owls.
One of her fears when younger was being afraid of being in the dark. She needed a night light for a long time. She moved to London, and it was never dark there. However, moving to the Lake District was where she learnt to love the dark and all the creatures that inhabit the night.
Atkin is someone who needs space. She can spend time with people, but it takes mental energy that she doesn’t always have. Tawny’s are similar. They come together to raise a brood, but it affects them both and they need to be apart for the rest of the year.
She sees the owlets again. But there are three of them this time. She learns what they can do at that age, and it reminds her of her own limitations with the body that she has. She is often thought of as a night owl, being most lucid between 10 pm and 2 am. She stays in bed until late morning, which can make very early medical appointments a tough call.
As the owlets begin to fledge, they leave the nest book. Atkin has to look very carefully for them now, as they just disappear as they branch hop. It is a learning process, though, and she develops the skills to find other owls in her local area. It can be incredibly frustrating, though, as they are rarely in the same place each time, and that ability to vanish doesn’t help! They are becoming more independent, but will still snuggle together for security. It won’t be long before their parents drive them away to make their own way in the world.
I liked this book a lot. Her previous book concentrated on her chronic illness, but this feels more like a nature diary that has been transformed into narrative prose. The chapters are short and focused, concentrating on a moment that is important to her at that particular time. It reads very differently from other nature memoirs that I feel can be contrived. What comes across in this is her feeling of wonder for these beautiful birds and the empathy she has in wanting them the survive and thrive. Great stuff.
But I have been lucky enough to see a handful of barn owls and two short-eared owls that are resident nearby. Atkin is the same, she has been hearing Tawny Owls whilst in her attic room in her house in the Lake District, but hasn’t seen any as yet.
It is thought that Tawny Owls are the most common of owl species, but nobody actually knows as they are so difficult to spot! Then one evening around the solstice, she sees a Tawny Owl. It is a magical time of the year, everything feels like it is turned up to 11, and this was quite a special moment.
In the spring of 2020, the world changed. Lockdown because of the COVID-19 virus meant that we were only permitted outside for exercise for one hour a day. The skies cleared of aircraft, and there were almost no cars on the roads. Nature began to claim back some of the spaces that we had dominated for so long. It was on one of these permitted exercises that she sees another Tawny Owl. It was to become a regular sighting on her and her partner’s walks.
Their walks start to take longer so they can enjoy seeing these birds, they notice the bird songs from others too, downloading an app to help them identify the songs.
Her three tips for seeing owls:
1. Live near them
2. Walk around at different times
3. Pay attention.
They then spot two owlets, one sadly has fallen from a nest box, and they can see the other in the next box as it moves around. They then find a dead owl and she buries it in her garden and then worries as to whether there won’t be another to take over the territory. She needn’t have worried as there is another in the area come the next spring.
It feels like her heart is full of owls.
One of her fears when younger was being afraid of being in the dark. She needed a night light for a long time. She moved to London, and it was never dark there. However, moving to the Lake District was where she learnt to love the dark and all the creatures that inhabit the night.
Atkin is someone who needs space. She can spend time with people, but it takes mental energy that she doesn’t always have. Tawny’s are similar. They come together to raise a brood, but it affects them both and they need to be apart for the rest of the year.
She sees the owlets again. But there are three of them this time. She learns what they can do at that age, and it reminds her of her own limitations with the body that she has. She is often thought of as a night owl, being most lucid between 10 pm and 2 am. She stays in bed until late morning, which can make very early medical appointments a tough call.
As the owlets begin to fledge, they leave the nest book. Atkin has to look very carefully for them now, as they just disappear as they branch hop. It is a learning process, though, and she develops the skills to find other owls in her local area. It can be incredibly frustrating, though, as they are rarely in the same place each time, and that ability to vanish doesn’t help! They are becoming more independent, but will still snuggle together for security. It won’t be long before their parents drive them away to make their own way in the world.
I liked this book a lot. Her previous book concentrated on her chronic illness, but this feels more like a nature diary that has been transformed into narrative prose. The chapters are short and focused, concentrating on a moment that is important to her at that particular time. It reads very differently from other nature memoirs that I feel can be contrived. What comes across in this is her feeling of wonder for these beautiful birds and the empathy she has in wanting them the survive and thrive. Great stuff.
November 17, 2024
"Lass mich dir erzählen, was ich über sie gelernt habe..." so beginnt die englische Autorin Polly Atkin ihre Erzählung über Eulen im Allgemeinen und über Waldkäuze im Besonderen. Die Vögel leben in der Nähe ihrer Farm in Grasmere. Anfangs hat sie sie fast nur nebenbei wahrgenommen, aber mit der Zeit wurden sie zu ihren ständigen Begleitern.
Polly ist nicht gesund und mit Tieren zu leben ist für sie oft einfacher als der Umgang mit Menschen, von denen sie sich oft nicht verstanden fühlt, weil sie sich nicht in ihre Lage hineinversetzen können. Aber ihre Krankheit soll in ihrem Buch nicht im Vordergrund stehen.
Das Buch über Eulen, sondern über das Leben mit ihnen. Wie Polly anfangs sagt: sie erzählt darüber, was sie über und von den Eulen gelernt hat. Gelernt hat sie viel: wie sie Eulen findet, die oft ganz in der Nähe sitzen, aber trotzdem fast unsichtbar sind, weil sie mit der Umgebung verschmelzen. Oder wie man die Plätze findet, in deren Nähe sie sich aufhalten.
Besonders Eulenjunge haben es ihr angetan. nicht unbedingt, weil sie niedlich sind. Das sind sie gerade zu Anfang nicht, wenn sie nur Flaumfedern und ein viel zu großer Kopf sind, den sie nicht aus eigener Kraft halten können. Sie beobachtet die Küken, anfangs neugierig, als das Wetter umschlägt auch besorgt, weil sie nicht sicher ist, ob sie überleben werden. Polly fühlt sich hilflos, weil sie nicht weiß, was sie machen soll, aber sie lässt sich von ihrer Hilflosigkeit nicht lähmen, sondern sucht nach Antworten.
Sie macht sich Gedanken darüber, wie ihre Anwesenheit und die von anderen Spaziergängern und Wanderern von den Tieren wahrgenommen wird. Nehmen sie sie als Bedrohung wahr oder haben sie sich mit ihnen arrangiert? Vielleicht beobachten sie sie ja auch genauso, wie wir sie. Diesen Gedanken habe ich aus der Lektüre mitgenommen, denn in der Natur sind wir alle nur Gäste und sollten uns auch so verhalten, damit wir wiederkommen dürfen.
Das Thema Natur und besonders Eulen ist für mich immer ein Anreiz, ein Buch zu lesen. In diesem Buch habe ich viel mehr als erwartet bekommen. Für mich ist es definitiv eines der Lesehighlights in diesem Jahr und wird nicht das letzte Buch der Autorin sein, das ich lesen werde.
Polly ist nicht gesund und mit Tieren zu leben ist für sie oft einfacher als der Umgang mit Menschen, von denen sie sich oft nicht verstanden fühlt, weil sie sich nicht in ihre Lage hineinversetzen können. Aber ihre Krankheit soll in ihrem Buch nicht im Vordergrund stehen.
Das Buch über Eulen, sondern über das Leben mit ihnen. Wie Polly anfangs sagt: sie erzählt darüber, was sie über und von den Eulen gelernt hat. Gelernt hat sie viel: wie sie Eulen findet, die oft ganz in der Nähe sitzen, aber trotzdem fast unsichtbar sind, weil sie mit der Umgebung verschmelzen. Oder wie man die Plätze findet, in deren Nähe sie sich aufhalten.
Besonders Eulenjunge haben es ihr angetan. nicht unbedingt, weil sie niedlich sind. Das sind sie gerade zu Anfang nicht, wenn sie nur Flaumfedern und ein viel zu großer Kopf sind, den sie nicht aus eigener Kraft halten können. Sie beobachtet die Küken, anfangs neugierig, als das Wetter umschlägt auch besorgt, weil sie nicht sicher ist, ob sie überleben werden. Polly fühlt sich hilflos, weil sie nicht weiß, was sie machen soll, aber sie lässt sich von ihrer Hilflosigkeit nicht lähmen, sondern sucht nach Antworten.
Sie macht sich Gedanken darüber, wie ihre Anwesenheit und die von anderen Spaziergängern und Wanderern von den Tieren wahrgenommen wird. Nehmen sie sie als Bedrohung wahr oder haben sie sich mit ihnen arrangiert? Vielleicht beobachten sie sie ja auch genauso, wie wir sie. Diesen Gedanken habe ich aus der Lektüre mitgenommen, denn in der Natur sind wir alle nur Gäste und sollten uns auch so verhalten, damit wir wiederkommen dürfen.
Das Thema Natur und besonders Eulen ist für mich immer ein Anreiz, ein Buch zu lesen. In diesem Buch habe ich viel mehr als erwartet bekommen. Für mich ist es definitiv eines der Lesehighlights in diesem Jahr und wird nicht das letzte Buch der Autorin sein, das ich lesen werde.
August 5, 2025
Schon als Kind war Polly Atkin fasziniert von den Rufen der Eulen und überhaupt von der Nacht. Was anderen Kindern vielleicht Furcht eingeflößt hätte, fand sie beruhigend und interessant. Auch als Erwachsene ist ihr ein Faible für die Nacht und ihre Tiere geblieben. Nach einigen Jahren in der Stadt zieht sie mit ihrem Partner irgendwann wieder in den Lake District und wohnt dort sehr naturnah, so dass sie die Waldkäuze nicht nur hört, sondern auch auf abendlichen Spaziergängen mit ein wenig Glück die schönen Nachtjäger sehen kann. Besonders spannend wird das, als Familie Waldkauz Nachwuchs bekommt und es der Autorin immer wieder gelingt, die Kleinen in ihrer Entwicklung zu beobachten.
Manchmal fühlt sie sich den Eulen sogar näher als den Menschen, denn sie ist selbst eine "Nachteule" und Kontakt mit Menschen kostet sie viel Energie, nicht zuletzt wohl auch wegen einer chronischen Erkrankung. Während der Corona-Pandemie gehört sie daher zur Hochrisikogruppe, muss sich noch stärker schützen und isolieren als die Durchschnittsbevölkerung und findet Trost und Zuflucht in der Natur, ganz besonders bei den Eulen - in echt, aber auch in Form von Eulen-Content auf Instagram. (Die hübsche Bartkauz-Mutter mit ihren Jungen habe ich dort selbst schon bewundert, die Parallele fand ich sehr nett.)
Das Buch ist eine wundervolle Liebeserklärung an die Eule im allgemeinen und Waldkäuze und Sumpfohreulen im speziellen. Das Schöne ist, dass Atkin nicht nur Faktenwissen vermittelt, das ich als Eulenliebhaberin vielleicht schon kenne, sondern auch von vielen eigenen Beobachtungen und Erlebnissen erzählen kann. Ganz besonders gefielen mir die Episoden mit den Eulenküken, die nach und nach immer wagemutiger werden und anfangen, ihre Umgebung zu erobern.
Dazwischen eingestreut sind kleine Exkurse mit persönlichen Gedankengängen oder Erinnerungen der Autorin, es geht um Naturschutz, Tourismus, das Leben mit krankheitsbedingten Einschränkungen und manchmal wird es auch ein bisschen philosophisch. Als selbst eher introvertierter Mensch konnte ich mich auch in ihren Überlegungen zu der Frage, ob man seine Energie eher aus Begegnungen mit anderen Leuten oder aus der Ruhe zieht, sehr gut wiedererkennen, das war zusätzlich ein kleiner Bonus für das Buch.
Manchmal fühlt sie sich den Eulen sogar näher als den Menschen, denn sie ist selbst eine "Nachteule" und Kontakt mit Menschen kostet sie viel Energie, nicht zuletzt wohl auch wegen einer chronischen Erkrankung. Während der Corona-Pandemie gehört sie daher zur Hochrisikogruppe, muss sich noch stärker schützen und isolieren als die Durchschnittsbevölkerung und findet Trost und Zuflucht in der Natur, ganz besonders bei den Eulen - in echt, aber auch in Form von Eulen-Content auf Instagram. (Die hübsche Bartkauz-Mutter mit ihren Jungen habe ich dort selbst schon bewundert, die Parallele fand ich sehr nett.)
Das Buch ist eine wundervolle Liebeserklärung an die Eule im allgemeinen und Waldkäuze und Sumpfohreulen im speziellen. Das Schöne ist, dass Atkin nicht nur Faktenwissen vermittelt, das ich als Eulenliebhaberin vielleicht schon kenne, sondern auch von vielen eigenen Beobachtungen und Erlebnissen erzählen kann. Ganz besonders gefielen mir die Episoden mit den Eulenküken, die nach und nach immer wagemutiger werden und anfangen, ihre Umgebung zu erobern.
Dazwischen eingestreut sind kleine Exkurse mit persönlichen Gedankengängen oder Erinnerungen der Autorin, es geht um Naturschutz, Tourismus, das Leben mit krankheitsbedingten Einschränkungen und manchmal wird es auch ein bisschen philosophisch. Als selbst eher introvertierter Mensch konnte ich mich auch in ihren Überlegungen zu der Frage, ob man seine Energie eher aus Begegnungen mit anderen Leuten oder aus der Ruhe zieht, sehr gut wiedererkennen, das war zusätzlich ein kleiner Bonus für das Buch.
December 27, 2025
Beautifully written book about one woman's experiences with the owls in the woods behind her house. The story expresses how I feel about nature, solitude, and the wonder of other living creatures.
October 21, 2024
“Don’t go with so much grasping in your heart and you may be lucky. Let go of your longing and you might be lucky.”
Rarely have I felt more at home in a book, rarely have it felt so understood by a narrative.
Polly Atkin’s wonderful journey through her own experiences with (not exclusively) tawny owls created such a deep, pure connection to nature that I might never forget. I felt like a visitor in Polly’s world, in the world of the owls, the babies, the adolescents and the adults.
I love the ideas the author touches upon such as loving nature from afar, or better, giving animals the space they deserve; or, her musings on human disturbances. I love the beautiful, not necessarily scientific, heartwarming explorations of nature, but also the author’s thoughts on her own reasons for burying the owl. This book stirred something in me, more than a laughter that I simply couldn’t suppress when the owls were described as attacking humans.
One things I wish I had gotten from Polly Atkin: photos! I so desperately want to see the owls, the trees, the lakes. (Well, I now follow her on Instagram so I got that in the end.)
Thank you NetGalley, Elliott & Thompson as well as Polly Atkin for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Rarely have I felt more at home in a book, rarely have it felt so understood by a narrative.
Polly Atkin’s wonderful journey through her own experiences with (not exclusively) tawny owls created such a deep, pure connection to nature that I might never forget. I felt like a visitor in Polly’s world, in the world of the owls, the babies, the adolescents and the adults.
I love the ideas the author touches upon such as loving nature from afar, or better, giving animals the space they deserve; or, her musings on human disturbances. I love the beautiful, not necessarily scientific, heartwarming explorations of nature, but also the author’s thoughts on her own reasons for burying the owl. This book stirred something in me, more than a laughter that I simply couldn’t suppress when the owls were described as attacking humans.
One things I wish I had gotten from Polly Atkin: photos! I so desperately want to see the owls, the trees, the lakes. (Well, I now follow her on Instagram so I got that in the end.)
Thank you NetGalley, Elliott & Thompson as well as Polly Atkin for providing me with an ARC of this book.
January 5, 2026
Part diary, part nature observation logbook, part ode to owls and their resilience while facing the ever reducing territory and threats from humans!
Unfortunately The Company of Owls did not bring me as much joy as I have thought it will. I am saddened by this, but it is my truth. This probably stems from the fact I was expecting a lot of information/science about owl. And luckily(for me), Polly Atkins has included some of that, but this is not a popular science book, so if you are looking for that, be warned! I really enjoy the idea of a nature observation logbook and especially the concept of citizen scientist - which is more what the author was doing, but the translation of that on the paper didn't really work for me. I've enjoyed the observations, but there was repetition and some of the description were somewhat tedious to read. Therefore it was a bit of a roller-coaster ride for me: with highs where I wanted more and lows where I skipped lines and/or paragraphs...
But I loved the message: be aware and try to attune to nature, the joy it brings is priceless!
*Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity!
Unfortunately The Company of Owls did not bring me as much joy as I have thought it will. I am saddened by this, but it is my truth. This probably stems from the fact I was expecting a lot of information/science about owl. And luckily(for me), Polly Atkins has included some of that, but this is not a popular science book, so if you are looking for that, be warned! I really enjoy the idea of a nature observation logbook and especially the concept of citizen scientist - which is more what the author was doing, but the translation of that on the paper didn't really work for me. I've enjoyed the observations, but there was repetition and some of the description were somewhat tedious to read. Therefore it was a bit of a roller-coaster ride for me: with highs where I wanted more and lows where I skipped lines and/or paragraphs...
But I loved the message: be aware and try to attune to nature, the joy it brings is priceless!
*Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity!
January 25, 2025
This is such a beautifully descriptive book that really brings to the fore the author’s love of owls and how much they have impacted on her life. The Lake District is where Polly really encountered owls for the first time and her descriptions of the landscapes and natural history of the area are fascinating. The author brings poetry into this book and her narrative is poignant at times as it tells of her battles with poor health and how nature has healing powers that can never properly be understood.
I learnt a lot from this book as it describes not only the tawny owls of her Grasmere home but also other owls and other places she has lived. There are owls in the woods where I live, I often hear them but rarely see them, just an occasional silhouette at dusk so it was wonderful to share Polly’s encounters as it all really resonated with me. A truly wonderful reading experience and one that I will happily share with others.
I learnt a lot from this book as it describes not only the tawny owls of her Grasmere home but also other owls and other places she has lived. There are owls in the woods where I live, I often hear them but rarely see them, just an occasional silhouette at dusk so it was wonderful to share Polly’s encounters as it all really resonated with me. A truly wonderful reading experience and one that I will happily share with others.
October 21, 2025
This book reminds me of a very poetic journal. Memories and reflections about owls in author's life in Cumbria and around. The vivid, reflective tone sets the feelings of being there, walking and observing owls together. The book isn't long, divided in short chapters, sprinkled with interesting facts about owls and references to further reading or watching. It's a cosy read for owl lovers.
July 9, 2025
As a person who spends perhaps too many hour obsessively following nature of one sort or another (owls, hares, deer, badgers to name a few) I related to this book on lots of levels and loved hearing her musings about situations. I felt at home in this book!
October 31, 2024
Polly Atkin does not profess to be an expert, on owls or anything else. This refreshing book brings the love of birds, especially owls, right from her heart to yours. It also brings the sights, sounds, weather (oh, the weather!) of England’s Lake District right into your sitting room.
In the Company of Owls, we are treated to the author’s observations of the owls that choose to live near her. This nips off to other places she’s lived and visited, which adds richness to her descriptions, but it is her ‘home’ birds, and particularly one year in their lives, that is the main focus.
The author has wonderful descriptive powers, and it is no surprise to glean her interest in poetry from her tale. Her description of the bog habitat where she went looking for short-eared owls is superb, although given the daily walks that provide the basis for her writing about her local owl family as they grow, it is amazing that there is no hint of repetitiveness.
Atkins supports her story with solid research, comparing owl numbers now with the records since Victorian times. These details tend to slip in as anecdotes, and more narrative quotes combine to give a really good picture of how owls have fared over the last century or so.
It’s a very personal record, and she isn’t afraid to reveal her own mistakes, which brought me back after a slight dip in attention in the middle of the book. On the whole, I think this is a really good book for the cosy bird lover, and people who like to know all the birds on their patch, rather than the twitching variety. I’m a patcher, of course.
In the Company of Owls, we are treated to the author’s observations of the owls that choose to live near her. This nips off to other places she’s lived and visited, which adds richness to her descriptions, but it is her ‘home’ birds, and particularly one year in their lives, that is the main focus.
The author has wonderful descriptive powers, and it is no surprise to glean her interest in poetry from her tale. Her description of the bog habitat where she went looking for short-eared owls is superb, although given the daily walks that provide the basis for her writing about her local owl family as they grow, it is amazing that there is no hint of repetitiveness.
Atkins supports her story with solid research, comparing owl numbers now with the records since Victorian times. These details tend to slip in as anecdotes, and more narrative quotes combine to give a really good picture of how owls have fared over the last century or so.
It’s a very personal record, and she isn’t afraid to reveal her own mistakes, which brought me back after a slight dip in attention in the middle of the book. On the whole, I think this is a really good book for the cosy bird lover, and people who like to know all the birds on their patch, rather than the twitching variety. I’m a patcher, of course.
December 7, 2024
First and foremost a big thank you to NetGalley, Polly Atkin, and Elliott & Thompson for providing me with a copy of this publication in exchange for an unbiased review.
Polly Atkin definitely has a way with words especially when talking about her neighbors: a handful of owls she's become increasingly enamored with over the years while struggling with chronic illness. Miss Atkin herself will tell you right up front she's no ornithologist but this memoir is a true testament to how much heart and passion goes into proclaimed "expertise". Her extent of owl knowledge is not only impressive but fascinating as well, catching the reader up on all the important touchpoints one would need and want to know about these feathered raptors of the night that seem to have so much heart.
This work transported me into the author's shoes, whether she was having a not-so-great health day or going for a peaceful walk in the woods to escape from it all. Thank you for sharing your story and spreading your deep respect for nature, Miss Atkin. Your book is a work of art!
Polly Atkin definitely has a way with words especially when talking about her neighbors: a handful of owls she's become increasingly enamored with over the years while struggling with chronic illness. Miss Atkin herself will tell you right up front she's no ornithologist but this memoir is a true testament to how much heart and passion goes into proclaimed "expertise". Her extent of owl knowledge is not only impressive but fascinating as well, catching the reader up on all the important touchpoints one would need and want to know about these feathered raptors of the night that seem to have so much heart.
This work transported me into the author's shoes, whether she was having a not-so-great health day or going for a peaceful walk in the woods to escape from it all. Thank you for sharing your story and spreading your deep respect for nature, Miss Atkin. Your book is a work of art!
Read
November 5, 2025DNF - Overly anthropomorphized, overly dramatic approach to nature. Not my cup of tea.
March 5, 2025
It is fascinating that the Owl, a creature of the night, embodies such contrasting meanings across different societies. In India, an owl is often seen as an omen of events, and used as a slight to describe a foolish person — ullu ka pattha (where ullu means Owl), which contrasts sharply in the West, where owls are emblematic of wisdom largely due to their association with Greek Goddess Athena.
Polly Atkin’s The Company of Owls offers a fresh perspective that transcends these celebrated traditional symbolisms. Her heartfelt narration of her personal encounters with tawny owls in the Lake District, blends meticulous observation with through-provoking reflection. Atkins writing captures her curiosity and wonderment of these enigmatic birds, inviting readers to share in her discovery.
Atkin’s uses the narrative to intertwine her personal journey; chronicling her illness, with her observation of owls. She approaches them with the enthusiasm of a wildlife enthusiast, engaging in very methodical activities like introducing herself to the tawny owl up in the tarn, anxiously observing their behaviour to better understand them, worrying about the owlets whilst they ‘branch out’ and even taking on the somber task of burying the deceased matriarch found by the roadside. It is personal, but also academic; she intersperses anecdotes with scientific knowledge gleaned from the studies of others who have observed and studied owls, offering a multifaceted exploration of both the author and her owls. My only grouse, is the absence of illustrations or images. Atkins devotes pages to describing the turn of an owl’s beak and wings, its plumage, and its regal hues — white, grey, and beige— so it would have been wonderful to see them visually represented.
It is wise to recognise that Atkins consciously projects aspects of herself onto the owls, addressing this tendency with a meta sense of awareness and a relaxed, laissez-faire attitude. I find that this self-reflective approach enriches the narrative, allowing the author’s personal life to spill in, allowing for a deeper exploration of the author’s nature through the allegorical alignment with owls.
By intertwining her personal journey — her chronic illness, Atkins offers the readers a nuanced perspective on self-reflection and the universal quest for meaning. Her encounters with owls infuse her life with excitement, making this book a delightful read for anyone interested in nature, birdwatching, personal growth and the mysteries of the wild.
Polly Atkin’s The Company of Owls offers a fresh perspective that transcends these celebrated traditional symbolisms. Her heartfelt narration of her personal encounters with tawny owls in the Lake District, blends meticulous observation with through-provoking reflection. Atkins writing captures her curiosity and wonderment of these enigmatic birds, inviting readers to share in her discovery.
Atkin’s uses the narrative to intertwine her personal journey; chronicling her illness, with her observation of owls. She approaches them with the enthusiasm of a wildlife enthusiast, engaging in very methodical activities like introducing herself to the tawny owl up in the tarn, anxiously observing their behaviour to better understand them, worrying about the owlets whilst they ‘branch out’ and even taking on the somber task of burying the deceased matriarch found by the roadside. It is personal, but also academic; she intersperses anecdotes with scientific knowledge gleaned from the studies of others who have observed and studied owls, offering a multifaceted exploration of both the author and her owls. My only grouse, is the absence of illustrations or images. Atkins devotes pages to describing the turn of an owl’s beak and wings, its plumage, and its regal hues — white, grey, and beige— so it would have been wonderful to see them visually represented.
It is wise to recognise that Atkins consciously projects aspects of herself onto the owls, addressing this tendency with a meta sense of awareness and a relaxed, laissez-faire attitude. I find that this self-reflective approach enriches the narrative, allowing the author’s personal life to spill in, allowing for a deeper exploration of the author’s nature through the allegorical alignment with owls.
By intertwining her personal journey — her chronic illness, Atkins offers the readers a nuanced perspective on self-reflection and the universal quest for meaning. Her encounters with owls infuse her life with excitement, making this book a delightful read for anyone interested in nature, birdwatching, personal growth and the mysteries of the wild.
December 15, 2024
A wonderfully refreshing and poetic book about one of the mightiest birds on the planet, the Owl. Atkin is a poet and that comes across in her writing, there is a flow to her words that not many other nature writers have, it draws you in and captures your imagination. She is able to transport the reader into her book, setting the scene, dark woods, lots of shadows being cast by the moon and that first call of the owl, within a few lines I was there right beside her. There is plenty to learn here for the reader, most fascinating was something the owlets do, branching, I think if I saw an owlet in the wild out of it’s nest I would be worried for it, having read this book I would confidently search for the nearby adult and know that they knew what they were doing and leave them to it.
I remember the first time I read J. A. Baker’s book on the Peregrine, he became obsessed with the bird and you could see him start to merge his identity with that of the falcon, I can see similarities between Atkin and her local owls. At one point she shares that due to a medical condition she can turn her head owl-like to look behind her. Much of the book is during the time of lockdowns and due to her medical conditions Atkin spent longer in isolation, this alone time was spent looking for owls, caring for them and worrying about their survival. Atkin spends a lot of time carrying out proper research and fun research, aka cute owl videos on social media. One of my favourite parts was the descriptions of one of the habitats she visits, knee deep moss, you could almost sense the owls watching in bewilderment as she battles across the land.
Atkin states at the beginning that she isn’t an expert on Owls but as the book progresses she researches and shares what she learns and that is what I love about this book, I also started with little knowledge and have been able to learn at the same pace with Atkin who is a fabulous teacher. Atkin shows that a book doesn’t have to be crammed with facts, you can have fun too whilst learning. A fantastic introduction into owls and why people love them so much.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2024...
I remember the first time I read J. A. Baker’s book on the Peregrine, he became obsessed with the bird and you could see him start to merge his identity with that of the falcon, I can see similarities between Atkin and her local owls. At one point she shares that due to a medical condition she can turn her head owl-like to look behind her. Much of the book is during the time of lockdowns and due to her medical conditions Atkin spent longer in isolation, this alone time was spent looking for owls, caring for them and worrying about their survival. Atkin spends a lot of time carrying out proper research and fun research, aka cute owl videos on social media. One of my favourite parts was the descriptions of one of the habitats she visits, knee deep moss, you could almost sense the owls watching in bewilderment as she battles across the land.
Atkin states at the beginning that she isn’t an expert on Owls but as the book progresses she researches and shares what she learns and that is what I love about this book, I also started with little knowledge and have been able to learn at the same pace with Atkin who is a fabulous teacher. Atkin shows that a book doesn’t have to be crammed with facts, you can have fun too whilst learning. A fantastic introduction into owls and why people love them so much.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2024...
November 22, 2025
It's like reading a diary (journal), supplemented with tidbits of research here and there.
It seemed at first a gentle book, and I loved the line at the end of the introduction which went something like (from memory) "I'm not a naturalist or a biologist. I just love owls, and I want you to love owls, too!" It made me smile, and dive in.
The author got to know the tawny owls around her home in the Lake District over her daily walks, watching them grow from youngsters to adults. She shares with us her layperson observations, together with bits of research she's done, and her thoughts on them. She shares the excitement of seeing 3 baby owls peering out from the nest; the fear for the ones who've branched too soon; the explanation of what branching is; the vivid description of how they melt away into the forest thanks to their camouflage; the really interesting idea we have that, because they have one ear higher than the other and also with the aid of their facial disc, they're able to create a map of what's in front of (and in some species, behind) them based on sound; and more.
She also visits a few other kinds of owls, and we learn some about those species, too.
It was mostly good bedtime reading - something gentle, with really short chapters, so it's easy to pick up and put down no matter how long or short the time you have before your eyelids slam shut.
Owls' lives are not all voles and hoots, however; they have many challenges to survival, mostly because of us humans. The author does share some of these, too, which are less good bedtime reading. These passages are good and worthwhile to help people understand the problem, but they lack any suggested solution, so it does make the reader feel bad for existing, for a bit.
Like a diary, we peek a bit more into the author's emotional state than we perhaps expect or want to, as she obsesses at times about this or that event.
I did learn a lot about owls, in a gentle way, and will be looking out for them on my own walks. I hear them at night, so I know they live here. But I've never paid much attention to them, to be honest. This book will help me look at them differently.
It seemed at first a gentle book, and I loved the line at the end of the introduction which went something like (from memory) "I'm not a naturalist or a biologist. I just love owls, and I want you to love owls, too!" It made me smile, and dive in.
The author got to know the tawny owls around her home in the Lake District over her daily walks, watching them grow from youngsters to adults. She shares with us her layperson observations, together with bits of research she's done, and her thoughts on them. She shares the excitement of seeing 3 baby owls peering out from the nest; the fear for the ones who've branched too soon; the explanation of what branching is; the vivid description of how they melt away into the forest thanks to their camouflage; the really interesting idea we have that, because they have one ear higher than the other and also with the aid of their facial disc, they're able to create a map of what's in front of (and in some species, behind) them based on sound; and more.
She also visits a few other kinds of owls, and we learn some about those species, too.
It was mostly good bedtime reading - something gentle, with really short chapters, so it's easy to pick up and put down no matter how long or short the time you have before your eyelids slam shut.
Owls' lives are not all voles and hoots, however; they have many challenges to survival, mostly because of us humans. The author does share some of these, too, which are less good bedtime reading. These passages are good and worthwhile to help people understand the problem, but they lack any suggested solution, so it does make the reader feel bad for existing, for a bit.
Like a diary, we peek a bit more into the author's emotional state than we perhaps expect or want to, as she obsesses at times about this or that event.
I did learn a lot about owls, in a gentle way, and will be looking out for them on my own walks. I hear them at night, so I know they live here. But I've never paid much attention to them, to be honest. This book will help me look at them differently.
October 24, 2024
Some interesting observational natural history and information, however I never felt engaged with the narrative or the author sadly.
In full
The author loves owls but until fairly recently has rarely seen them. Where she lived originally in the Lake District, she often heard them but only saw one briefly in Grasmere. She left the area for a while but moved back to Grasmere a little under 10 years ago. Again owls were "singing" her to sleep. She would say that she is no expert but is a watcher. This book is about her observation of owls and other things as well as her life more generally.
While this is about owls in the Lake District in particular, there is quite a bit about owls worldwide and historically. I did learn a number of things that I had not been aware of before. I certainly wasn't aware of just how long owls had been around for! The information on owls generally was interesting though maybe not a reason for buying this book solely for that. The author's health has not been good generally and at times quite poor. Issues about aloneness, isolation and covid for example are mentioned here. While I do have enormous sympathy for the author and her health generally, I never really felt connected to that aspect of this book sadly.
As this is about the Lake District it will probably not surprise people to know that Wordsworth gets a look in here. Literature about owls, Grasmere and the Lakes more widely are part of this and that will appeal to people. The author's observations of owls (& owlets) come to this as a diary narrative quite often and I did enjoy reading about it. Much of the minutia of owls lives is here and fascinating. Her owl sightings are generally quite close to her home. It was interesting to me that the app she used to identify bird calls was often very unreliable!
For me there is some great observational natural history in this book. I think some observers might consider some parts of this to be intrusive as far as wildlife is concerned however that will always be a tricky area of observation. I guess I did feel that things found on the Internet and fed to the author interested me less than her own personal observations. Ultimately there were parts of this book that I really did find very interesting. However they were quite well buried at times and other aspects of the book didn't really grab me.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
The author loves owls but until fairly recently has rarely seen them. Where she lived originally in the Lake District, she often heard them but only saw one briefly in Grasmere. She left the area for a while but moved back to Grasmere a little under 10 years ago. Again owls were "singing" her to sleep. She would say that she is no expert but is a watcher. This book is about her observation of owls and other things as well as her life more generally.
While this is about owls in the Lake District in particular, there is quite a bit about owls worldwide and historically. I did learn a number of things that I had not been aware of before. I certainly wasn't aware of just how long owls had been around for! The information on owls generally was interesting though maybe not a reason for buying this book solely for that. The author's health has not been good generally and at times quite poor. Issues about aloneness, isolation and covid for example are mentioned here. While I do have enormous sympathy for the author and her health generally, I never really felt connected to that aspect of this book sadly.
As this is about the Lake District it will probably not surprise people to know that Wordsworth gets a look in here. Literature about owls, Grasmere and the Lakes more widely are part of this and that will appeal to people. The author's observations of owls (& owlets) come to this as a diary narrative quite often and I did enjoy reading about it. Much of the minutia of owls lives is here and fascinating. Her owl sightings are generally quite close to her home. It was interesting to me that the app she used to identify bird calls was often very unreliable!
For me there is some great observational natural history in this book. I think some observers might consider some parts of this to be intrusive as far as wildlife is concerned however that will always be a tricky area of observation. I guess I did feel that things found on the Internet and fed to the author interested me less than her own personal observations. Ultimately there were parts of this book that I really did find very interesting. However they were quite well buried at times and other aspects of the book didn't really grab me.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
November 7, 2024
The Company Of Owls by Polly Atkin is a love letter to nature and her love of not only owls but of The Lake District and rarely have I been so absorbed in nature writing as I have reading this book.
Polly doesn't proclaim to be an ornithologoist or or in fact any kind of expert but what she does extremely well is bring her love of birds, specifically but not limited to Tawny owls and make you feel exactly the same. I was transported to Grasmere with the weather, the sounds, and the sights of nature. I felt at home reading this book, peaceful, which is an achievement in itself, seeing as I live in inner London.
Polly has battled with chronic illness and also talks about her experience of lockdown and the pandemic and that overwhelming feeling of loneliness that many of us experienced in varying degrees and how the beauty of the natural world can bring a great sense of solace.
The writing is engaging, and Polly's candid approach to life is refreshing.
I loved how aware the author is of infringing on the natural world and trying to minimise disruption wherever possible, although as human beings we by nature are incredibly curious, the importance of being respectful of the owls space and their instinct is something that I really respected in this book.
Overall, this was a lovely piece of nonfiction to read, and I would highly recommend it. I always have a great time with nature writing, and it makes me question why I don't read more, The Company Of Owls is informative, reflective, and actually so wholesome. I can't wait to see what Polly writes in the future.
Polly doesn't proclaim to be an ornithologoist or or in fact any kind of expert but what she does extremely well is bring her love of birds, specifically but not limited to Tawny owls and make you feel exactly the same. I was transported to Grasmere with the weather, the sounds, and the sights of nature. I felt at home reading this book, peaceful, which is an achievement in itself, seeing as I live in inner London.
Polly has battled with chronic illness and also talks about her experience of lockdown and the pandemic and that overwhelming feeling of loneliness that many of us experienced in varying degrees and how the beauty of the natural world can bring a great sense of solace.
The writing is engaging, and Polly's candid approach to life is refreshing.
I loved how aware the author is of infringing on the natural world and trying to minimise disruption wherever possible, although as human beings we by nature are incredibly curious, the importance of being respectful of the owls space and their instinct is something that I really respected in this book.
Overall, this was a lovely piece of nonfiction to read, and I would highly recommend it. I always have a great time with nature writing, and it makes me question why I don't read more, The Company Of Owls is informative, reflective, and actually so wholesome. I can't wait to see what Polly writes in the future.
December 31, 2024
The Company of Owls by Polly Atkin
I am not sure what I was expecting but since my sister is an avid bird watcher and I have lived vicariously through her emails as she shares what she has seen, I thought this might be a book she would like and, I believe she would. I ended up skimming rather than settling in but did find myself more interested in the owls as I read and skimmed my way through the book.
Notes while reading:
* I wonder if short eared owls are the same as the burrowing owls cinde told me about?
* Interesting notes from authors and history about owls
* Is this a journal of sightings, feelings, information learned, or…
* Anthropomorphizing owls – I do that with animals and even shapes seen in nature
* I wonder if the owls in Lebanon are like the ones in the Lake District?
* Interesting tidbits about branching, vision/eyes, lifespan, predator vs prey, what happens when owlets outgrow their parents, history, community interaction, feathering, owl behavior…
* How Covid-19 and lockdown played a part in the writing of the book
* This would be fun to for if illustrated or there was an online link to photos of the owls
* I wonder if the photos shared online by the author are located somewhere easy to access?
Did I like this book? Eventually – it grew on me and made me think of the night sounds I hear on my hilltop…including the owls calling to one another and sometimes moving through the night.
Thank you to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for the ARC – this is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
I am not sure what I was expecting but since my sister is an avid bird watcher and I have lived vicariously through her emails as she shares what she has seen, I thought this might be a book she would like and, I believe she would. I ended up skimming rather than settling in but did find myself more interested in the owls as I read and skimmed my way through the book.
Notes while reading:
* I wonder if short eared owls are the same as the burrowing owls cinde told me about?
* Interesting notes from authors and history about owls
* Is this a journal of sightings, feelings, information learned, or…
* Anthropomorphizing owls – I do that with animals and even shapes seen in nature
* I wonder if the owls in Lebanon are like the ones in the Lake District?
* Interesting tidbits about branching, vision/eyes, lifespan, predator vs prey, what happens when owlets outgrow their parents, history, community interaction, feathering, owl behavior…
* How Covid-19 and lockdown played a part in the writing of the book
* This would be fun to for if illustrated or there was an online link to photos of the owls
* I wonder if the photos shared online by the author are located somewhere easy to access?
Did I like this book? Eventually – it grew on me and made me think of the night sounds I hear on my hilltop…including the owls calling to one another and sometimes moving through the night.
Thank you to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for the ARC – this is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
October 28, 2024
A beautiful cover and a beautifully written and observed 'ode to owls'! She has a lovely way with words so I will be searching out more of her work after reading this!
But this is her story of her encounters with her owl neighbours in Grasmere. Her first encounter made a lasting impression on her, so she's now watching out for them wherever she goes, by sight or sound, and it's lovely to see how involved she becomes in looking out for them if they needed help, especially around nesting time.
She includes lots of background on different varieties of owls, and also shares how humans have impacted on their habitats. From her own perspective she shares how lockdown impacted on her as she has a chronic illness, and having a chronic illness myself I really connected with her experience and how being out in nature, distracting yourself from the world, was a saving grace and a better focus of her mind when her health was good enough to be out and about.
I loved her use of poetry about owls, and her descriptions of nature was really evocative so this made for such an enchanting read, and a really lovely nature book. Highly recommended!
But this is her story of her encounters with her owl neighbours in Grasmere. Her first encounter made a lasting impression on her, so she's now watching out for them wherever she goes, by sight or sound, and it's lovely to see how involved she becomes in looking out for them if they needed help, especially around nesting time.
She includes lots of background on different varieties of owls, and also shares how humans have impacted on their habitats. From her own perspective she shares how lockdown impacted on her as she has a chronic illness, and having a chronic illness myself I really connected with her experience and how being out in nature, distracting yourself from the world, was a saving grace and a better focus of her mind when her health was good enough to be out and about.
I loved her use of poetry about owls, and her descriptions of nature was really evocative so this made for such an enchanting read, and a really lovely nature book. Highly recommended!
November 25, 2025
I have been waiting to read this for a year. Tried to get hold of it in October last year at Sam Read Bookseller the bookshop in Grasmere which the author owns with her partner having seen it in the Bookseller but it was too recently published to be for sale in the shop. I tried three times during the week including the day we came home and though I was promised the books would be arriving imminently they didn't turn up in time. So when we stayed in Grasmere again this year (November 2025) I was able to purchase a signed paperback and excitingly read some while we were there. We actually stay in 3 Tarn cottages every year in Autumn which is so close to the common where the owl action takes place. I have heard owls when we stay there but never seen any in fact only heard them on the first night this time. We see red squirrels and so many birds from woodpeckers to blue tits, nuthatch to coal tits and robins of course but no owls and no badgers. We did have a pint in the Badger Bar which feeds badgers out the back at dusk but we must have been too late. Lyrically written as you might expect from a poet and Polly's love and awe for the owls shines through on every page.
November 16, 2024
This story of owl-spotting mostly in the Lake District, kept there through lockdown and occasionally widened by trail-cam, is light and enjoyable.
I love the descriptions of wooded and mossed landscape, the stone walls and bogs, the hills and hollows. Owls made their homes in this territory, drawn by abundant rodent prey. The author and her partner watched a nest in particular, finding the three owlets every evening after they branched - left the hollow to perch on branches. Tawnys, barn owls, little owls and more feature.
I learned a good deal along with the author, who kept looking the latest development up to reassure or inform herself.
We don't seem to have rodenticide as a big problem, but we learn of day-flying owls getting shot by ignorant gamekeepers. Traffic of course is a major hazard. Lockdown helped small wildlife recover, and I hope it can stay that way.
This book bears comparison with Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton, which is also set during lockdown.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
I love the descriptions of wooded and mossed landscape, the stone walls and bogs, the hills and hollows. Owls made their homes in this territory, drawn by abundant rodent prey. The author and her partner watched a nest in particular, finding the three owlets every evening after they branched - left the hollow to perch on branches. Tawnys, barn owls, little owls and more feature.
I learned a good deal along with the author, who kept looking the latest development up to reassure or inform herself.
We don't seem to have rodenticide as a big problem, but we learn of day-flying owls getting shot by ignorant gamekeepers. Traffic of course is a major hazard. Lockdown helped small wildlife recover, and I hope it can stay that way.
This book bears comparison with Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton, which is also set during lockdown.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
November 6, 2024
Judging this book by its cover and title, one might think this is a field guide for bird watching (owl watching in this case), but it is not. This is a personal journey through the observation of owls. Polly Atkin combines her personal experiences in life (including her struggle with a chronic disease) with the observation of owls and nature it self.
I found this book very inviting to be more perceptive of nature and our surroundings. The writting is beautiful and soothing. I feelt very peaceful through the reading of this book. This is a heartwarming personal story. Although this is not a scientific work, I wish the book had included some illustrations.
The autor made it clear since the beginning “I am not a naturalist or an ornithologist”, but she acomplished her purpose “…I love my neighbours, the owls. I love them and I want you love them too”.
Thank you NetGalley and Elliott and Thompson for this ARC.
Thank you Polly Atkin for sharing your story.
I found this book very inviting to be more perceptive of nature and our surroundings. The writting is beautiful and soothing. I feelt very peaceful through the reading of this book. This is a heartwarming personal story. Although this is not a scientific work, I wish the book had included some illustrations.
The autor made it clear since the beginning “I am not a naturalist or an ornithologist”, but she acomplished her purpose “…I love my neighbours, the owls. I love them and I want you love them too”.
Thank you NetGalley and Elliott and Thompson for this ARC.
Thank you Polly Atkin for sharing your story.
December 2, 2025
I have heard owls but only rarely seen them in the wild. Polly Atkin's book suggests that perhaps I just don't know how to look for them. This book offers a closely-observed account of Atkin's local owls (and a few more distant birds), which she observes through regular walks; it is an argument for venturing out frequently, on the same paths, and noticing our neighboring species, looking not for what we expect to see (like owls only after dark), but at who and what is actually there. There is a particularly delightful section where she observes a nest of baby owlets growing up, seeing them almost daily once they first climb out until they finally become good enough at flying to hide even from a practiced observer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to become better at seeing.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in return for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in return for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.
January 1, 2025
The Company of Owls is a beautifully gentle appreciation of the natural world in and around Grasmere, Cumbria. In particular, Polly documents the happenings of her local Tawny owls as they mate and raise owlets whilst she is home and able to observe them. This is a wondrous book especially as fluffy owlets branching leads to concern for their welfare.
The writing style is serene and poetic as documenting owl happenings is interspersed with appropriate facts on tawny owls, what was once understood to be facts about their nature, and what is happening in Polly's life at the time. A good blend of nature documentary and memoir. The company of Owls gave me peaceful balance to offset the hectic build up to Christmas. A wonderful gift for a nature lover, both touching and inspiring. A terrific find I truly enjoyed.
The writing style is serene and poetic as documenting owl happenings is interspersed with appropriate facts on tawny owls, what was once understood to be facts about their nature, and what is happening in Polly's life at the time. A good blend of nature documentary and memoir. The company of Owls gave me peaceful balance to offset the hectic build up to Christmas. A wonderful gift for a nature lover, both touching and inspiring. A terrific find I truly enjoyed.
January 23, 2025
This is a fluffy book in the best possible way, the fluff being on the various owlets who feature in its pages.
There were all sorts of things I appreciated about this slim volume of Polly Atkin's encounters with her local owls - the chapters mostly short but fitted to the length of the episode or subject, the light touch with important matters such as environmental threats, chronic illness and rural life issues... by which I very much mean both that they were definitely there but did not weigh the book down. I enjoyed her reflections on 'nature on screen' and on setting out to see (and not seeing) something particular in nature. The language was beautiful and I settled into the rhythms of Polly and Will's walks. I read in hard copy but I can imagine this making a very fine audiobook.
There were all sorts of things I appreciated about this slim volume of Polly Atkin's encounters with her local owls - the chapters mostly short but fitted to the length of the episode or subject, the light touch with important matters such as environmental threats, chronic illness and rural life issues... by which I very much mean both that they were definitely there but did not weigh the book down. I enjoyed her reflections on 'nature on screen' and on setting out to see (and not seeing) something particular in nature. The language was beautiful and I settled into the rhythms of Polly and Will's walks. I read in hard copy but I can imagine this making a very fine audiobook.
September 8, 2025
This is a nice book to sit, relax and reflect with. Sit by a nice window with a good cup of tea and just enjoy the peace and quiet that this book will bring you. This book teaches you to be the quiet one who listens when there’s nothing But chaos around you. Owls are wise creatures and they are some of the fierce hunters, but they don’t come off that way. In humans it’s always the quiet ones that you have to worry about it’s always the quiet ones that are usually the smartest ones in the room. This book represents that well.
August 21, 2025
Beautiful book! I’ve learned a lot about owls but my heart has also burst at the depiction of connection and isolation, at the reminders of the first years of Covid as a person with a chronic illness (i.e. a “pre existing condition”), and over the descriptions of the family of owls that live near Polly’s Lake District home. One of my favourite writers and this doesn’t disappoint.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2025
Stumbled upon this one completely unexpetedly like an owl rising from a fowliage: you are seeking for it but it is it which find you on its own term eventually.
One can assume its a book about birding and even though it is parsing with many interesting anecdotes about our flying neighbors, this is more a book which invites you to reconnect with nature and consider aloneness differently.
We underestimate what wildness can teach us, was already observing our feathered friends each time i couldsnatch a moment here at edinburgh hope i can learn more, enjoy more, being soothed more by them.
And i hope i'm not bothering them too much as well.
Absolutely delightful
One can assume its a book about birding and even though it is parsing with many interesting anecdotes about our flying neighbors, this is more a book which invites you to reconnect with nature and consider aloneness differently.
We underestimate what wildness can teach us, was already observing our feathered friends each time i couldsnatch a moment here at edinburgh hope i can learn more, enjoy more, being soothed more by them.
And i hope i'm not bothering them too much as well.
Absolutely delightful
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