Saturday Samplers Book Group to Discuss "Red-Tails in Love"

Bernardsville Library’s book group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, June 4 at 3:30 pm to discuss "Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park" (1999) by Marie Winn. [The author will not be present.]

The scene of this enchanting (and true) story is the Ramble, an unknown wilderness deep in the heart of New York City's fabled Central Park. There an odd and amiable band of nature lovers devote themselves to observing and protecting the park's rich wildlife. When a pair of red-tailed hawks builds a nest atop a Fifth Avenue apartment house across the street from the model-boat pond, Marie Winn and her fellow "Regulars" are soon transformed into obsessed hawk watchers. The hilarious and occasionally heartbreaking saga of Pale Male and his mate as they struggle to raise a family in their unprecedented nest site, and the affectionate portrait of the humans who fall under their spell, will delight and inspire readers for years to come.

Marie Winn is a journalist, author, and birdwatcher. She is particularly well known for her books and articles on the wildlife of Central Park and her Wall Street Journal Leisure & Arts column. She appears in Frederic Lilien's documentary film, "The Legend of Pale Male" (2010). She is also known for writing “The Plug-In Drug” (1977), which explored the impact of television on young children, and for her involvement in the quiz show scandals of the 1950s.

Born in 1936 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Winn is one of two daughters of a psychiatrist; her sister is the writer Janet Malcolm. An advocate for protecting wildlife, Winn gave the name Pale Male to the red-tailed hawk that nested on a Fifth Avenue building, receiving much press coverage. She was also prominent in preserving Pale Male's nest when it was threatened with removal. The book is an expansion of her magazine and newspaper articles.

Led by Program/PR Assistant Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked literary and narrative works. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.