Great read, more like a sit down and chat with a guy with a really interesting job. Some castle lore and raven lore, bit of science, more biography of the ravenmaster , all fun ( )

I cannot BEGIN to tell you how much I ADORED this book!

First of all, Skaife is an incredible storyteller and if I ever get to the Tower of London, I'll wait as long as I have to for him to be my guide. I was completely taken by his wit, humor, and charm; so much so that when I finished the book, I wished I had not. Second, I had no idea that the title "Ravenmaster" even existed. That being said, I am completely ready to quit my job to be an apprentice... holla @ me, bro.

As the legend goes,"if the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it". It is therefore the responsibility of the Ravenmaster (and in this case Yeomen Warder, Christopher Skaife) and his team to ensure this never happens. Skaife describes his daily routines with the ravens, from the very specific way he has to release the ravens in the morning to their rather grotesque feeding time, where readers learn about the... interesting... eating habits of these omnivorous birds. In addition to his own personal experiences with the ravens, he touches upon their behavior (he claims he is no ornithologist, but his firsthand accounts are definitely something to take into consideration), and offers further information on the Tower of London's history, the fascination with ravens in literature, and more.

If you're looking for a delightful book with a whole lot of charm and quirkiness, look no further, the Ravenmaster has got you covered! ( )

The book delighted me by being an intertwining of ravens, the Tower of London, and the author's own life. I had been expecting the first two elements, but had rather unconsciously assumed science would be the third; I'm glad that it wasn't. Because the author wove in his own life experiences we get something uniquely intimate. I especially enjoyed the parallels he draws between his life as a soldier and his life as a carer for ravens, the similarities were completely unexpected and enlightening.

Ultimately this book feels exactly like a great conversation with a favorite uncle down at the pub one long and relaxed evening. ( )

So fun! I recommend the audio, read by the author. It's like... it's like that rarely-reached jackpot for travelers, meeting a stranger in a bar or on a train who is full of interesting stories, and you pass hours listening to them without noticing, just learning a whole new life.

I try to read a variety of books and as a result I often find myself saying "not quite my type of book" in my reviews. Well, this is my type of book! Distracting and fascinating, offering a new perspective, telling amusing stories, and I get to focus on something that has flickered in my peripheral vision for a while - that's all I really want. ( )

This is a well-written and well-paced book abut the current Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. It is written in first person which allows the author to be chatty and provide information at the same time. He compares much of what he does with the ravens with what he did in the army and there do seem to be a lot of similarities. He lets us know him and the ravens in bits as he divulges secrets of the tower, the ravens, and himself. ( )

Interesting, informative, funny - an easy and compelling read! ( )

This book is a fascinating mix of memoir, history, and day-in-the-life of a Yeoman Warder in the Tower of London. The short chapters were well suited for my chapter-a-day nonfiction reading habit. In fact, they’re so short, I often read 2-3 a day.
It’s not terribly in-depth, and I don’t think it’s meant to be. He’s really just letting the reader look through a window into life at the Tower (the warders and their families live there), its history, and specifically, what it’s like to care for the ravens.
I can’t like that they clip their feathers to keep them close. I was glad to learn there’s a way to do it so they can still fly, but the fact that flight, and therefore the ravens’ freedom, is still limited, doesn’t sit right with me. The care of the Tower ravens has improved over the years, and it’s clear that Skaife has a strong affection for the birds and wants to continue to make improvements to the tradition of keeping ravens at the Tower.
I had some mixed feelings while reading this, but I really liked how the author balanced telling his own story and that of the ravens and the Tower.
( )

This is an enjoyable book written by the current Ravenmaster at the Tower of London (the guy responsible for caring for the Tower's ravens). In the book, Christopher Skaife discusses aspects of caring for the ravens and what his life is like at the Tower, in addition to some recollection of his earlier life, especially the 24 years he spent in the military.

I listened to this on audiobook, and I would definitely recommend doing it that way--Skaife narrates, and it's definitely an enjoyable time. The structure of the book is extremely informal, jumping from story to story, and so it works really well as an audiobook. I'm not sure how memorable this will be for me, but it was definitely a fun listen. ( )

A British Army veteran finds a second calling as the full-time caretaker of the legendary London Tower ravens. This book is an entertaining mix of bird folklore, British history, and avian science. Fun, informative, and a recommended read to anyone interested in Corvids and all those planning a visit to London. I also appreciated the photos and the recommended reading list in the back. ( )

I loved this book. Just a very enjoyable read about the Tower of London and its ravens. The book is full of amusing anecdotes and information about the Tower. He gives a lot of information about ravens and their care and personalities. I highly recommend this book, however, it will make you want to visit the Tower. ( )

I'm a fan of ravens in general, and the tower ravens in particular. Skaife does a nice job conveying many of the highlights of working with ravens and the history of ravens at the Tower of London. He also shares some of his personal history that led him to where he is. The tone is pretty conversational, and it's nice that he narrates the audiobook version, so you really get the right emphasis exactly as he meant them. ( )

Super fun book by and about the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. I learned about this one from Effin' Birds on Instagram and got the audiobook when I found out it was read by the author. I periodically think it would be cool to keep a hawk or a raven and was rearranging furniture and thinking just this when I heard Chris Skaife say how if you keep a corvid, there will be chaos every time you move anything in your house. So, maybe a hawk instead. ( )

nonfiction/memoir of Yeoman Warder and Ravenmaster.
I was expecting more ravens; this had to do mostly with Skaife's life (including some war stories from his days spent as a soldier) and a few stories about the Tower of London (ghosts, birds, and follies).
I would have abandoned but it was a fairly short book so I just pushed through, but I can't say I'm much richer for it. ( )

Lighthearted, chatty, affable - Ravenmaster Skaife is just the chap you'd like to have a pint with. Or two. He has a very cool job, taking care of the ravens at the Tower of London, AND he gets to LIVE in the Tower grounds. You maybe learn more about Skaife than you do about the ravens in this little volume - but it's all enjoyable, fun, and a very pleasant read from an impressively self-taught military veteran, tour guide, historian, and caretaker for the smartest birds on earth.

I would note that the hardback copy I got from my library had a couple signatures transposed, so I had to do some hunting around to follow the pages in their intended order! ( )

One of the most surprising books I’ve read in a long time. Who thought that a book about an ex-infantry squadie who lives in an old castle looking after seven blackbirds could be so engrossing that I literally couldn’t put it down? This was an unplanned single sitting read. Skaife’s has a simple honest prose style (and I mean that as a compliment) that immediately engages and entertains. He comes across as a consummate story-teller and educator as well as a highly empathetic human. But the real stars are the Tower Ravens who emerge as distinct individuals with their own personalities and behavioral quirks. ( )

An enjoyable introduction to the ravens of the Tower of London. An overview of their history, care, and personalities. A nice light read. ( )

This was such a fun audiobook! I love hearing books as their authors intended for them to be read, and Skaife performs enthusiastically. He's a great storyteller.

This wasn't a topic I had ever given much thought, much less studied, but it's a fascinating subject that I'm happy to know more about. ( )

A unique memoir from a man working in a unique job. Written in a conversational style, this is an enjoyable and enlightening read. It's a great book if you want to start learning about ravens (and has an excellent list of further reading in the back), but also worthwhile if you enjoy memoirs of people living unusual lives, or like history. ( )

Subtitle: My Life With the Ravens at the Tower of London

This memoir details Skaife’s career path to what has become his life’s work: the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. He recounts what led to his joining the Army, some of his experiences in service and his chance decision to apply for a position as a Yeoman Warder at the Tower upon retirement from active service. But he spends most of the book regaling the reader with stories about the ravens.

Skaife is clear at the outset: he is not a scientist. But he has a passion for his work and has made a determined effort to educate himself on the history, anatomy, habits and natural behaviors of corvids in general, and ravens in particular. His dedication to his position as Ravenmaster is evident, as is his great love for the birds. But there were times when I felt the book dragged as he overwhelmed me with scientific detail. I most enjoyed the stories of his various escapades: tracking an escaped raven, climbing scaffolding in the near-dark to get a recalcitrant bird “ready for bed” or embellished histories used to amuse (and partly to educate) the public.

Final verdict: interesting but not gripping. ( )

This is an utterly charming memoir from the current Ravenmaster at the Tower of London, whose primary duty is to care for the resident ravens at the Tower of London. Skaife is an excellent storyteller (you can definitely see his skills giving tours at the Tower at work here) and he weaves together his life experiences with his work at the Tower providing an insight into both Tower and raven lore and history, mixed with some insights into his own life and character. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it if it intrigues you even slightly. ( )

Christopher Skaife is a yeoman warder at the Tower of London, but not just any yeoman warder — he’s the Ravenmaster, the man with prime responsibility for the welfare of the Tower’s seven ravens. Skaife would never have predicted that his army career would lead him to feeding birds dog biscuits soaked in blood, but he’s developed a rewarding relationship with his fellow Tower residents. This book is brimming with enthusiasm and delight at the ways of the ravens — their personalities, their intelligence, and their social structures. There’s a great section of books to read if you’re interested in ravens in general, and you should be by the end of this book! I’d highly recommend this if you like to read about birds and/or about historical sites operating in the present day. ( )

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this, but it was disappointing. It's pretty touristy - Skaife spends a lot of time talking to tourists, so the book is full of the same kind of information he shares with tourists, which is mostly a bunch of anecdotes, a few historical facts, and an awful lot of army stories. You won't learn anything about ravens that you don't already know from watching a nature documentary. ( )

Delightful! A walk through the history of the London Tower, the ravens who occupy it, and those who've cared for them over the years. I love all things raven and crow-related, so of course, I love this book. ( )

Memoir by the current Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. Having never been there or even knowing ravens hung out there it was all new. Skaife has a bartenders gift for conversation, honed over years with the public, and VIP guests at the Tower bar. The focus is on the ravens which are interesting enough. His theory about the ravens origins at the Tower is pretty good, but who knows. This is a light and easy read, notable for Skaife's personality and insider access to a popular tourist spot. ( )

Legend has it that if the ravens at the Tower of London should ever leave, the Tower will crumble into dust and great harm will befall the kingdom. It is the responsibility of the Ravenmaster and his team to ensure this never happens. Christopher Skaife is a Yeoman Warder and the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London and this is his memoir.

In The Ravenmaster - My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London, Christopher takes the reader through his daily routine and introduces us to each of the ravens. He describes the birds, their personalities, pecking order, quirks and many anecdotes demonstrating proof of their incredible intelligence. He explains the characteristics of ravens, what makes them different to crows and how he manages to keep them happy and healthy at the Tower.

In addition to his duties as Ravenmaster, he also gives us an idea of what it's like to give tours of the Tower in his role as Yeoman Warder: learning the tour script, fielding questions and being photographed hundreds of times a day.

To qualify as a Yeoman Warder of the Tower of London, applicants need to have served in the military for a minimum of 22 years with an unblemished record. Christopher lives with his wife in the Tower and is one of many ceremonial guardians of the Tower. He is a corvid enthusiast having previously known nothing about birds, and I found his writing style easy going and informative without being dry.

Incorporating the history of this great fortress (which is fascinating to me), the author also includes the history of ravens in literature and art and the folklore and myths surrounding them. In talking about the association between ravens and death, Christopher writes:

"Their reputation for feasting on flesh was soon matched by a reputation for feasting on souls: people used to say that ravens would sit on the roof of a house of the dead and the dying and wait for the soul to come up the chimney so they could gobble it down." Pg 221

I met the Ravenmaster when I visited the Tower of London in October 2012, and wanted to ask him a million questions at the time. Fortunately he was able to answer all of my questions in this memoir which was a pleasure to read. I especially enjoyed reading about his involvement in the poppy exhibition Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red exhibition in 2014.

* Copy courtesy of Harper Collins * ( )