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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Wrong Bird by Matthew West-James is a memoir built around moments when his confidence and his reality collided. The book begins with his teenage decision to mark a turning point in life with a phoenix tattoo that later proves to be nearly identical to the corporate logo of Japan Airlines. The author uses the discovery as the framework for a series of life episodes that examine how people commit to decisions long before experience provides a context. Military service, travel abroad, early encounters with technology, family life, and adulthood all become the settings where the author confronts the distance between his intention and the outcome. Through these experiences, the author argues that mistakes often remain visible long after the moment that created them, shaping one's identity and memories across decades.
Matthew West-James's Wrong Bird is a no-holds-barred, straight-shooting memoir that looks back at decisions he made after the passage of time, when reality settles in. It is said that hindsight is 20/20, and a lot of what he shares is downright hilarious when viewed through the rear-view mirror. The writing style is intelligently witty, with a conversational style that makes him instantly relatable. I almost fell over laughing at a second's-long cancer scare he had when the discovery of a cancerous mass on his body turned out to be an undigested shrimp from dinner the previous night. Let's face it: a guy who can make the terror of potential cancer hilarious is going to produce a first-rate memoir. The same goes for the suspicion of a fatal brain illness, and thinking your wife might just be a figment of your imagination. Overall, West-James offers readers the king of memoirs, and those who enjoy humor in honest recollections and personal accountability will likely find it here. Very highly recommended.
