Whatever else Chris Packham might be, TV naturalist, photographer, – he is also undoubtedly a writer of some quality.
First of all, I have to come right out and say I really rather love Chris Packham. Before hearing him speak at Hay festival I really liked him, but having heard him speak and now read his marvellous book I have become a proper big fan.
Fingers in the Sparkle Jar is Chris Packham’s highly acclaimed memoir, in which he talks with great honesty about his childhood, his obsession with animals and the natural world, the struggle he had feeling different to other kids, and the depression which led him to contemplate suicide.
“I’m sorry, I haven’t got change of a ladybird.’
The ice-cream man had opened the matchbox expecting a sixpence but instead found a six-spotted beetle that was now scuttling manically over his counter, defiantly refusing reinternment in its crisp little cell despite repeated repositioning.”
The structure is somewhat unusual for an autobiography – and yet it really works well. For a start events are not told chronologically – the majority of the book is slowly building to a particular incident in 1975 – which was so painfully life changing for the young Chris. Although this event takes place when he is just fourteen it is related something like 250 pages into the book. By which time, we know Chris well enough to realise just what impact it had. Many sections are actually told in the third person, again this is unusual for an autobiography, in this way we get to know some of his neighbours, an elderly WW1 veteran, kids from school and the ice-cream van man alongside a more distanced view of Chris himself. Other chapters revert to a more conventional first person narrative, which is necessarily more personal and intimate. When I saw Chris Packham interviewed by Horatio Clare at Hay, he explained a little about why he had structured his memoir in this way. He had wanted his adult readers to have an adult perspective of his childhood. The whole thing is beautiful, in prose both lyrical and intimate, it is an unforgettable, coming of age memoir which I think is worth all the hype. The narrative is suffused with Chris Packham’s voice, and his not infrequent wry humour.
“Unfalling, the bird stands chopping air, fluttering and then rolling down smooth, slipping and then sliding away to ring a curve across the storm until it pitches at its apex and begins to dance with the wind, its plumes constantly shaken, folding and flicking to steer it still and… balance broken it tumbles and steadies with a twist of grey – cloud-licked and clean, now measuring the weight of the sky again. Then a drop, deckling wings furling – waiting, rich brown back and freckled front – watching, and then the ground quickly surges up and swallows it into the scrolling grass, sucks it down in a greedy rush. And it’s stopped, nothing happens now.”
The majority of Fingers in the Sparkle Jar tells the story of Chris Packham’s childhood leading up to and including the summer he was fourteen when he acquired a young kestrel and began to train it. From a very young boy Chris was fascinated by all kinds of wildlife. Obsessional, a loner at school, Chris only felt at peace in the open spaces, fields and woods close to his suburban home. His obsessions varied and changed over time, a dinosaur phase replaced by an otter phase, and so on. He collected all manner of tiny creatures in jam jars where they were frequently left to expire in the sun on his window sill. In the company of the young Chris, we taste tadpoles off a spoon, watch fox clubs at dusk, plead to be allowed to see One million years BC (an A rated film, he needed an adult to take him), and visit Portswood Pets almost weekly where he could visit the caiman and the fruit bats he so coveted for his own. Then that summer in 1975 Chris steals a young kestrel from a nest and takes it home to rear and train. The relationship the teenage Chris develops with this bird is life changing, teaching this awkward, frequently frustrated boy, what it means to connect with and love another creature.
“Once at home my father had regained his composure and held it down wrapped in an old tea towel whilst I attached the jesses and bells, the pencil pre-training not counting for much. Then I’d fed it some beef, banished my sister from the room and settled down for what my mother assured me would be a ‘long old night.’ But every minute was magical, every single thing it did was fascinating and everything it didn’t do was equally wondrous, and to be sat there, with a Kestrel, a real live Kestrel, my own real live Kestrel on my wrist! I felt like I’d climbed through a hole in heaven’s fence.”
Alongside the accounts of Chris’s adventures with wild life as a young boy – are some first-hand accounts of sessions with his therapist in 2003 after Chris had come close to taking his own life.
This is an incredible book; I hope Chris Packham continues writing (he referred to some short stories written years ago simply as an exercise for himself during that talk – I for one would love to read them.) If you are reading this book in the future – don’t forget to read the acknowledgements in which Chris pays a lovely tribute to his parents.
Really looking forward to reading this, the dramatised reading on R4 was spine tingling.
I heard about the R4 reading I’m sorry I missed it.
I’ve heard many good things about this from other bloggers so I’ll look forward to reading it. Thanks so much.
I really hope you enjoy it.
Thankis for a really well written review – I shall be adding this to my wishlist.
Ooh good! Hope you love it too.
I am very reluctant to read memoirs, but this one sounds worthwhile. The structure sounds interesting.
Oh yes I would definitely recommend this one. I am more of a fiction reader generally too.
I think the title wold draw me in, even if I didn’t know who he was! (And I didn’t…:) )
Oh yes I know it’s a brilliant title.
Great review Ali – I know absolutely nothing about Packham but you make a very good case for reading him!
Oh good! My work is done. 😉
I’m also a Chris Packham fan, and while I don’t usually read many autobiographies, after reading your review I’ll definitely be reading this!
Oh good, as a fan I’m sure you’ll really enjoy it.
I really like Chris Packham too – I once spotted him in a garden centre near where my mother lives, I think I just about managed to keep my fan excitement to myself 😀 I will definitely keep this memoir in mind as it sounds really touching and interesting.
I met him at Hay as part of an enormous line of people getting books signed, I did manage to exchange a couple of brief words with him. 😊
How lovely – I am a little jealous 🙂
I had him down as another glib presenter. This makes him sound so much more interesting and the writing in the quotation was wonderful. I will also be keeping my eyes open for this. Thank you.
I think his presenting style puts some people off but I don’t think he is as glib as he sometimes comes across. When I heard him speak at Hay he came across as really rather humble and quietly wise.
So glad you liked this, Ali. I have listened to a bit of Chris Packjam reading this on audio and it has gone straight onto my wish. Sounds terrific.
Really hope you enjoy listening to it.
I often find memoirs dreary. But this does sound very interesting. Great review
Thank you. This is a non dreary memoir.
I admire this man tremendously and any tv programme he is on is a must for me. Looking forward to reading this. Thanks for the informative review.
I love him on Springwatch/autumnwatch. Hope you enjoy the book.
I’m also really rather love Chris Packham. Springwatch etc are my favourite nature programmes – his enthusiasm contrasts so well with Michaele Strachan’s and Martin Hughes-Games’. So I really ‘must’ read his book. I wish I’d gone to Hay!
Oh I think you will love this then.
Really enjoyed the Radio 4 version of this book – I thought it came to life in his own voice & I completely understood the child who is immersed in his own interests. Immediately afterwards I went to reserve the book at the library, but held back to put some time between hearing the book & reading it for myself. I particularly enjoy watching/hearing him interview people on tricky issues, he is very tenacious & gets to the point.
He’s a fabulous presenter. His enthusiasm is infectious.
This sounds amazing, and even though I do a lot of work with ghostwriters these days, it’s actually really nice to come across one that was actually written by the person themselves!
It is amazing, on many levels. So beautifully written, the voice all the way through could only be Chris Packham’s.
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