Review: ‘An Evening with Amy Tan’ 

Rachel Benton

Birders and readers alike gathered under one roof for a special event hosted by the Washington Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 7.

Award-winning author Amy Tan came to town to discuss her latest book, “The Backyard Bird Chronicles,” as part of "An Evening with Amy Tan." 

A delightful nonfiction romp, "The Backyard Bird Chronicles" combines Tan’s observations of the birds who visit her backyard with what she learns about caring for her feathered neighbors and becoming a birder. The book also chronicles her artistic journey, as she develops her drawing skills and captures the personalities of the birds she encounters along the way. 

A few things are worth keeping in mind when reading “The Backyard Bird Chronicles.” First, the book is compiled from personal journals Tan kept throughout her birding journey, some dating back about a decade.

For another, she has continued learning since the book’s publication. Lastly, because these journals began as a hobby rather than a potential publication, Tan didn’t always think about writing down certain details.

At the time, these were personal reflections, never intended for a public audience. It wasn’t until her editor and publisher discovered the journals, and then suggested turning them into a book that Tan began to consider sharing these intimate glimpses into her life with readers. 

Oh, and one more whimsical detail. When Tan wrote the journals, she added an element of satirical newspaper, complete with daily “breaking news” from the Backyard Bird gang! I’m about halfway through reading this compilation of journals myself, and I can confirm that it is irresistibly charming. 

If you haven’t picked up a copy of this delightful book yet, I encourage you to do so here. You won’t regret it!  

The review 

Fans of Amy Tan know whether she’s writing fiction or nonfiction, she always leaves a little bit of herself on the page. Having spoken with Tan for a previous JOLT interview and now having met her in person, I believe three words capture who she is and how she approaches her writing: curious, whimsical, and authentic. 

After attending the event at the Washington Center, I added two more words to that list: funny and intelligent. Tan balances the two beautifully. One minute, Tan was giving audiences a very detailed insight into the bird world, and the next she casually said, "I have yet to meet a birder who is an asshole." I'm so grateful she let us see both the humorous and the very knowledgeable, lifelong-learner sides of her. 

The center pulled out all the stops to make the event memorable! Browsers Bookshop sold copies of Tan’s book at the event, while the center transformed a space into a “Literary Lounge,” where attendees could enjoy snacks, color pictures of birds, and discuss the book. Tan herself stayed long after the event concluded to meet audience members and autograph their copies, making the evening even more special for those in attendance. 

As mentioned earlier, because “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” compiles Tan’s personal birding journals, readers can’t glean all the insights from the pages alone. That’s what made “An Evening with Amy Tan” so valuable.

During the conversation, Tan shared stories from her life that helped bring the book together, along with insights into how she approaches birding today. Some stories were humorous, others offered a more realistic look at her experiences, and the best ones did both.

Here are two examples that capture what I mean: Tan spoke about the recent wave of racism directed toward the Asian community and how deeply discouraging it had been. Amid that discouragement, birding became a source of peace, hope, and love. 

The second story was a little more lighthearted. Tan shared just how many mealworms she regularly buys to feed her backyard birds. She used to store them in the main refrigerator until they started competing for space with dog food! Eventually, she and her husband reached a compromise: a second refrigerator dedicated to her birding supplies and other extracurriculars, if you will.  

See how both stories resonate, albeit for very different reasons? 

Before the show, I chatted with Washington Center Executive Director Jill Barnes, who made a comment that stuck with me.

“Tonight, feels so special, doesn’t it? There is something in the air tonight that is very unique and profound," Barnes said.

I couldn’t agree more. It warmed my heart to see so many people come together around two things that can sometimes feel overlooked in our busy lives — literature and nature.  

People came together to learn, grow, and celebrate an author who has always encouraged her readers to explore their curiosity. In a society as frequently polarized as ours, this was encouraging to witness.  

Want to attend an event like this? Explore the Washington Center’s season offerings featuring more author talks and literary events! 

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.