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MWSA Review
Wrong Bird by Matthew West-James is a collection of relatable, humorous stories sure to evoke a chuckle or two. The title comes from a tattoo the author desired at the tender age of nineteen. Despite the artist’s suggestions that specific changes be made to the image, the author insisted on the one he chose. Then, in his mid-thirties, author James traveled to Europe. Upon his return home, the aircraft was routed through Helsinki. With plenty of time to kill, James wandered around the terminal looking out of the large windows at airplanes coming and going, when he spotted the symbol he had tattooed on his arm. Japan Airlines had the logo on the tail of every plane in its fleet. The same image, in a different shade, that Matthew James chose at age nineteen. For almost twenty years, Matthew sported the logo of a large company in Japan, free of charge, with no royalties. Now he knew why the artist wanted to tweak the design.
Every story in Wrong Bird is full of self-deprecating humor that makes a reader laugh out loud. But haven’t we all been there to some degree? Live, grow up, and learn. Haven’t we all done something embarrassing or stupid that we look back on with chagrin?
Review by Nancy Panko
Author's Synopsis
Wrong Bird: Misdiagnoses and Other Things I Got Completely, Confidently Wrong' is a humorous collection of personal stories about the universal experience of being absolutely certain about something… and being completely wrong.
Through a series of self-deprecating essays, Matthew West-James recounts moments from across his life including childhood misunderstandings, professional miscalculations, travel mishaps, military experiences, and everyday situations that spiraled into embarrassment. Each story explores the gap between confidence and reality, and the strange ways memory, assumptions, and human nature conspire to create mistakes that seem obvious only in hindsight.
Rather than presenting failure as tragedy, 'Wrong Bird' approaches these moments with humor and reflection. The stories show how embarrassment can eventually become perspective, how missteps can become stories, and how the things we most wish we could forget often become the experiences we learn from the most.
Drawing on experiences that include military service, family life, and professional work in technology, the book highlights a simple truth: everyone gets things wrong. The difference is whether we hide those moments or learn to laugh at them.
Ultimately, 'Wrong Bird' is a reminder that being wrong is not the end of the story. Sometimes it is the beginning of the best one.
Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle
Review genre: Other—Humor
Pages/Word count: 118 / 21,657