morebedsidebooks's review against another edition
4.0
But I do think about it often, I imagine her ordering that guy to stop and then finally taking his laugh by the throat. Then I feel lifted up, raised, a kind of lift or magic carpet, air, I can almost feel my vertebrae being placed in a different way just under the skin of my back. Stop laughing.
I think it was the day after that STOP LAUGHING screening that the Little Girl came to the Island and offered to go spray-paint his street. And all alone, on a little street in the historical centre of Paris, she makes it known in black ink that the silence is beginning to come undone.
We Are the Birds of the Coming Storm by Lola Lafon is a piece of feminist literary fiction to really sit with. Translated to English by David and Nicole Ball, the dense text has an exceptional cadence, truly melodic as it keenly weaves three women’s experiences along with a deteriorating political back drop in a manner bursting with references, rage, resistance, riots, revolt, and resilience. Indeed, the acknowledgements include ‘To riots past and future.’ A dancing nightmare even at points questioning reality and rationality. Asking big questions too about freedom, action and expression. If at times the pages might feel too filled with trauma, helplessness, wait— there is something like a war song. The symbolism of birds (a popular choice) as people, falling or taking flight is a significant touch, down to the memorable final lines. Originally published in 2011, the subject matter might as well remind of today. Again, sit with this underrated book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Minor: Eating disorder
The book opens with a character in the ICU after a heart attack (they will survive) while their soulmate and other friends and family holds vigil.salomlamouette's review against another edition
J’ai beaucoup aimé le début, cette narration et les images que Lola Lafon (d)écrit. Mais malheureusement, la seconde moitié du roman m’a lassée : les allégories, la place de la politique, la vengeance de ces femmes — que des thèmes très intéressants, certes — me paraissaient trop éloignés du début du roman. Dommage…
emmajane99's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
lamusadelils's review against another edition
3.0
Lo conseguí gratuito porque la editorial estuvo compartiendo libros en los meses pasados por COVID.
Aunque no es de los géneros que más me llaman, la historia es emotiva y abarca muchos temas que se prestan al drama. Incluso en los momentos "lentos", hay mucha tela de dónde cortar.
Aunque no es de los géneros que más me llaman, la historia es emotiva y abarca muchos temas que se prestan al drama. Incluso en los momentos "lentos", hay mucha tela de dónde cortar.
astridrv's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Oh man... What an impossible book to rate. If you have been given, gifted, advised, lent this book, if someone you love looked you in the eye and said 'you HAVE to read this', then take it, let it take you, overtake you. This book has chosen you, and it is likely to be the shape of you in ways you didn't know you had a shape. The meandering yearnings from within. Then again, it is flawed - it could have been more edited, I think, it tends to repeat itself and lose itself sometimes, and I am sure there is much to be said about its portrayal of mental health. But I was there and the fire within too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Police brutality
fortifiedbybooks's review
5.0
We Are the Birds of the Coming Storm is the English translation of the book from the original French. I really wish my French was at a high enough level to read the original because I’m sure, as with all translations, something is always lost. However, that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book in any way. It’s still a 5 star book, and that is also despite the fact that I prefer Fantasy over any other genre.
My reasons for loving this book are many, but I will stick to my top couple of reasons. First of all, this being Literary Fiction, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me think. I had to take my time with the story, with several breaks to sort out my feelings and thoughts. Even though the story takes place in France, it deals with many social and political issues that are relevant to current events in the United States. It is primarily a Feminist book, but in addition to dealing with issues of rape and mental illness, it also brings up issues of political upheaval, riots, racism, and immigration. I didn’t necessarily agree with everything, particularly the violent political action, but I was still able to relate to the characters and understand their reasoning.
My second reason for loving the story is that it doesn’t provide any answers. This isn’t a book of pat solutions to all the social issues. It’s not preachy or condescending, and it doesn’t contain a single moment of misandry, blaming, or explaining away the issues. The story simply presents them as they appear in the characters’ lives.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thought provoking literary fiction, or who is interested in or studying Women’s Studies or Feminism. However, I do have to provide a trigger warning for victims of sexual assault since many of the narrator’s thoughts, memories, and emotions concerning rape often come up as flashbacks.
My reasons for loving this book are many, but I will stick to my top couple of reasons. First of all, this being Literary Fiction, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me think. I had to take my time with the story, with several breaks to sort out my feelings and thoughts. Even though the story takes place in France, it deals with many social and political issues that are relevant to current events in the United States. It is primarily a Feminist book, but in addition to dealing with issues of rape and mental illness, it also brings up issues of political upheaval, riots, racism, and immigration. I didn’t necessarily agree with everything, particularly the violent political action, but I was still able to relate to the characters and understand their reasoning.
My second reason for loving the story is that it doesn’t provide any answers. This isn’t a book of pat solutions to all the social issues. It’s not preachy or condescending, and it doesn’t contain a single moment of misandry, blaming, or explaining away the issues. The story simply presents them as they appear in the characters’ lives.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thought provoking literary fiction, or who is interested in or studying Women’s Studies or Feminism. However, I do have to provide a trigger warning for victims of sexual assault since many of the narrator’s thoughts, memories, and emotions concerning rape often come up as flashbacks.
manonreads's review against another edition
2.0
Autant l'histoire et les personnages étaient tout ce que j'attendais. Autant la réalisation m'a déçue. J'ai du me faire violence pour lire les 200 dernières pages. Je crois j'ai adoré le style poétique des 100 premières, j'ai pris des notes, relus des passages plusieurs fois. Ensuite une fois le troisième personnage arrivé, c'était trop long. Trop de répétitions. Trop d'abstractions. J'aurais aimé plus de factuel sur ces incendies qui m'ont fascinée.
manon0efef's review against another edition
2.0
Autant l'histoire et les personnages étaient tout ce que j'attendais. Autant la réalisation m'a déçue. J'ai du me faire violence pour lire les 200 dernières pages. Je crois j'ai adoré le style poétique des 100 premières, j'ai pris des notes, relus des passages plusieurs fois. Ensuite une fois le troisième personnage arrivé, c'était trop long. Trop de répétitions. Trop d'abstractions. J'aurais aimé plus de factuel sur ces incendies qui m'ont fascinée.
jadealmeida's review against another edition
5.0
Ce livre est décidément rien de ce que l'on peut s'attendre à lire. Je serais bien incapable de le résumer ou d'en faire un quelconque analyse. Tout ce que je sais c'est que j'ai aimé, profondément aimé, alors que la lecture m'a plus d'une fois mise mal à l'aise, m'a plus d'une fois donné l'envie de refermer les pages et ne plus l'ouvrir. C'est dur et brut et tranchant. Et vraiment je vous le recommande et surtout, ne pas le lâcher tant que vous ne l'avez pas terminé ! Ne surtout pas le poser quand bien même ça vous apparaitra plus d'une fois, la meilleure chose à faire.
PS : Gros clin d'oeil involontaire au roman, je l'ai terminé un 11 novembre ! Et ce n'est même pas fait exprès !
PS : Gros clin d'oeil involontaire au roman, je l'ai terminé un 11 novembre ! Et ce n'est même pas fait exprès !
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