In Wild Things, Wild Places, Jane Alexander movingly, with a clear eye and a knowing, keen grasp of the issues and on what is being done in conservation and the worlds of science to help the planet's most endangered species to stay alive and thrive, writes of her steady and fervent immersion into the worlds of wildlife conservation, of her coming to know the scientists throughout the world--to her, the prophets in the wilderness--who are steeped in this work, of her travels with them--and on her own--to the most remote and forbidding areas of the world as they try to save many species, including ourselves.
I love reading about wildlife, particularly the strides being taken to try and protect those species that are being killed at absurd rates. When I saw the title of this book, my first impression is that it would discuss those wild animals - probably different species - and maybe some of the places and preserves created to try and save those animals. Sadly, that isn't really what this book is about at all.
Jane Alexander, some of you may know, is an actress. She has also become quite the dedicated conservationist. However, what sticks out from these pages more than anything is her love of birds. There are far more species of birds discussed - almost a dizzying amount - than any other form of wildlife. Basically, it's almost a travelogue - stories of the places she has visited, the people she traveled with, and the birds she spotted. There are a few other creatures mentioned, but a very few. This would have been better described as a bird book instead of a wildlife book.
Having said that - the book is fairly well-written and the stories are interesting. It's not a *bad* book by any means. It just seems misrepresented to a degree that might confuse readers looking for one thing and ending up with something totally different.
