REFERENCE

The Inside Out of Flies

by Erica McAlister
Firefly. 2020. 288p. ISBN 9780228102878. $24.95. REF
COPY ISBN
Flies are not everyone’s cup of tea, but McAlister (curator, Natural History Museum, London) finds them “stupendous.” Following up The Secret Life of Flies, she shares her love in intimate detail, with archival drawings, detailed photographs, and scientific illustrations. McAlister discusses naming conventions and anatomy (thorax, wings, and reproductive organs), and though text and illustrations are occasionally icky (images of maggots or a fly emerging from a decapitated ant’s head), they’re sometimes unexpectedly beautiful (compound eyes, feathery antennae). The writing is dense but will be accessible to interested nonscientists.
VERDICT Readers may not come to love these creatures, but they will likely grow to see them as more than simply germ-laden pests. Recommended for most libraries.
Reviewed by Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley Sch., Fort Worth, TX , Feb 01, 2021
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

REFERENCE

Major Canadian Cities: 50 Cities Compared, Ranked & Profiled
REFERENCE

Critical Insights: Power & Corruption
REFERENCE

The Plants of the Appalachian Trail: A Hiker’s Guide to 398 Species
by Wickert, Kristen Lea
REFERENCE

Silenced in the Library: Banned Books in America
by Jarvis, Zeke
REFERENCE

Decentering Whiteness in Libraries: A Framework for Inclusive Collection Management Practices
by Jamison, Andrea
REFERENCE

Current Biography Yearbook 2023
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?