The Bird House by Kelly Simmons
February 1st 2011 by Washington Square Press
Paperback, 288 Pages
Review Copy
Review
Interweaving diaries penned forty years apart, Kelly Simmons’s captivating second novel, The Bird House, blends the fierce voice of Ann Biddle, a woman struggling to bond with her only grandchild, Ellie, while railing against the ravages of early dementia, with her point-of-view as a young wife and mother. We witness the secrets of Ann’s family and her grand-daughter and daughter-in-law’s through every lens — from the clarity of the rearview mirror to the haze of Alzheimer’s. And we see her grappling through the ‘60’s with sleep deprivation, breast cancer, her own mother’s death, a passionate affair, and a tragedy that leaves her stunned until, four decades later, her whip-smart granddaughter unwittingly sheds a burst of light on the family’s shadowy history.
Review
The dark life so many of us live tend to make for the best stories. The tangled web of lies we hide under carpets and the secrets that are buried in trunks and attics give the most tangible mysteries to fictional characters. The Bird House weaves the past and present story of Ann Biddle, a woman whose faced death, pain, a loveless marriage, cancer and loss beyond that of any reasonable measure. The past though has been locked away in Ann’s trunks, in the hidden attics of her heart and not until her bubbly, fiercely smart granddaughter Ellie beckons her to help in a school project does Ann finally begin facing her past. Thoughts and feelings are brought to the surface of her heart and sharing her story with Ellie begins the slow road of discovery, forgiveness and the strength to face what’s coming.
We the readers know immediately that Ann is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, which makes going into her past that much harder, getting to know her and loving her makes it difficult to accept what the future will bring. However even loving Ann’s character didn’t mean I loved everything about her. She was lonely to the point of miserable and she justified that loneliness and lack of an attentive husband to have a serious adulterous affair with another married man…. long ago high school boyfriend Peter. In the beginning the affair made me see a weakness in her character, but over the course of the novel I saw that it was a weakness in her family, it was a big hole of unfulfilled happiness and loneliness that the generation of women carried, always the grass is greener syndrome lurking about to consume them. She was also terribly guilty over the death of her eldest child- Emma, an intolerable little girl who was very hard to like even with her age. As a mother I could identify with the weariness that comes with whinny kids, long nights and achy breasts. As I read more of her emotional turmoil even with being against her affair in the beginning, wanted her to start over with Peter and finally come to a peaceful place in her life. I wanted to see things change for her and even though things didn’t turn out the way I had hoped, I was happy to see her long awaited growth and acceptance of her life through the help of Ellie and their relationship.
I really enjoyed the storytelling in this novel, Simmons was able to keep me anchored to Ann as she is in the present, but pulled me into her past with effortless perfection to feel like I was right there with her in that time period. It was compelling, full of secrets that weaved a tale almost mysterious, outlined love in the softest places and ultimately was full of heartbreaking sadness.
Rating
The Bird House is recommended to adult readers and contains: mild language, adultery, sexuality, mild alcohol consumption (by adults), family history, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, death, depression, grief, loneliness and cancer.
4/5- Women's Contemporary Fiction
Thanks to Publisher and Tlc Book Tours for Review Copy!
GIVEAWAY
Thanks to the generosity of Kelly Simmons and TLC I have one signed copy of The Bird House to give away to one of my winners. To enter please just leave a comment. Open to US residents only.
Winner will be Picked 3/20/2011.
To learn more about Kelly and to check out the rest of the tour please go HERE.
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Beautiful review! I read it over the weekend and reviewed it on Saturday. I felt the same way. Though I didn't think it was anything magnificently different in the story line, i did think Ann's voice was unique and absorbing to read.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
Take care
Michelle
I really want to read this book
ReplyDelete[email protected]
Thanks for your beautiful honest review. I agree, the tangled tales are always the most powerful and interesting.
ReplyDelete(not an entry)
Goodness Tina, you read such intense, emotional books, I don't know how you do it all the time. I have to be in the right mood to tackle a difficult read, but this one sounds like it's worth all the pain to travel between past, present and future with Ann:)
ReplyDeleteHi all -- thanks Tina for reviewing my book and to all for entering!
ReplyDeleteHappy to answer any Q's -- and good luck winning!
@Jenny- HAHA yes I know it seems like Ive had a lot of deep ones lately..:) But I read a lot of light and funny stuff too to break up the weepers.
ReplyDeleteThis one has a beautiful cover.
ReplyDeleteI would really love to win this!
ReplyDeletestephaniet117 at yahoo dot com
Sounds like a lovely novel! I'd love to read this!
ReplyDeletemeredithf at gmail dot com
I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
I'm just as baffled as Jenny and can' help wonder how you manage it. This story sounds heartbreakingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love when a story ends, not the way you hoped, but still in a way that alludes to happiness for the character.
Stunning review, T.
This sounds like a heavy yet powerful and honest read - I'm intrigued! :)
ReplyDeleteThis book looks so good, I would love to win it. It is already on my must-read list. Thanks for the chance :)
ReplyDeletejaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
Sounds like a good read! Sign me up...
ReplyDeleteSuch a heartbreaking read. I would definitely need a couple boxes of tissues by the sound. Another brilliant review :)
ReplyDeleteNot in US so please don't enter me in giveaway. But good luck to everyone else :)
This book covers so many different topics - I'm glad to know Simmons kept your attention and kept you wanting to know what happens next.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour.
I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
Overall, the story line is not something excessively original. It's a relatives drama. Mothers struggling with motherhood, fathers leaving their families.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love the way you expressed how the story pulled you in. This was fantastic. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely! Please count me in. Thank you!
ReplyDeletenfmgirl AT gmail DOT com