When the researcher, after accidentally absorbing some experimental hallucinogen, comes home to find a mulberry tree full of talking parrots and thinks he is hallucinating, he ruminates on the meaning of his discovery to mankind. A moment of enlightenment, the reader thinks, a story of discovery, and his hopes for family success achieved. But the reader is reduced to grabbing his sides in laughter as the researcher's wife walks out the front door to comment on the peculiarity of the birds' appearance.

What an enticing and pleasurable novel to read! Wittenborn's ability to draw the reader into a past time, with his skill at description of surroundings and thoughts, is so very unique these days. A multi-faceted book, indeed. Desire, hopes, destruction, illness, passion, tragedy, power, and loss. Again, what a pleasure to read.