THE BIRD SINGERS How Two Boys Discovered the Magic of Birdsong

This translated French memoir by Jean Boucault and Johnny Rasse recounts their youth and mutual passion for birdsong. The boys' backgrounds are differentiated by the accents of narrators Jean-Marc Berne and Jean Brassard. Berne gives Johnny a rural working-class dialect represented by heavily accented English, while Brassard represents Jean's wealthier upbringing with less-accented speech. Berne's English requires a keener ear, but listeners will delight in his heartfelt lyrical portrayal of Johnny's reverence for birds. Brassard's voice is more studied, suiting Jean's exacting personality and scientific appreciation for birds. Chapters alternate between the boys, sometimes recounting the same events. The two frequently vied in birdcalling contests but never lost their mutual admiration and passion for birds. A bird-lover's delight! L.T. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2025]