WOMAN, WATCHING Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay

Elizabeth Wiley's warm voice and audible enthusiasm welcome listeners to the remarkable story of Louise de Kiriline Lawrence, a Swedish aristocrat who became a WWI front-line nurse, then a Canadian wilderness nurse, and finally a pioneering bird-watcher known as Canada's Rachel Carson. Captivating even for those with only a passing interest in birds, Simonds's book is an artful mix that blends her own first-person remembrances with crisp, engaging biography and extensive quotations from de Kiriline Lawrence's delightful letters. The result gives Wiley an opportunity to shine as she switches seamlessly among lively readings of the letters with a hint of de Kiriline Lawrence's Swedish accent; well-paced and lilting narration of the biographical sections; and cheerful performances of Simonds's personable memories. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2022]