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eliya's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I spent 9h 47m reading this book.
The whole time I was reading I was trying to figure out what this book was going to be. There was so much backstory and set up, it seemed, that I wasn’t sure when the book, or “real” story, would begin. It caught me off guard when I realized the point of the book, and it was kind of relaxing. This isn’t a particularly exciting book or anything, this is a very healing book.
I just lost my father about two months ago and it’s been hard to let go. I’m glad I read this book when I did.
Now, the actual book was weird. The point was lovely— there was a very odd antihomelessness theme throughout the book. The island that they live on has heavy patrols for people sleeping anywhere but inside a house & none of the characters bay an eye about it. The author tries to do this like “I remember poverty… it was rough” thing with a couple of the characters and it doesn’t land, it just reads as empty, really. I think she could have dived deeper and given detail instead of vague “what was probably abuse” description.
I feel bad for Lizbeth honestly. I think she and Lucy should have had a larger part of the story. You have Lizbeth and her diaries and we’re waiting for this big ball to drop (no pun intended) at the end when someone finally reads her diaries, but it, again, falls flat on delivery.
I’m glad the loose ends were tied up, but the package was a lot smaller than it made itself out to be. Cute book, glad I read it, good for grief. Nice to fat people and not weird about weight lol.
The whole time I was reading I was trying to figure out what this book was going to be. There was so much backstory and set up, it seemed, that I wasn’t sure when the book, or “real” story, would begin. It caught me off guard when I realized the point of the book, and it was kind of relaxing. This isn’t a particularly exciting book or anything, this is a very healing book.
Now, the actual book was weird. The point was lovely— there was a very odd antihomelessness theme throughout the book. The island that they live on has heavy patrols for people sleeping anywhere but inside a house & none of the characters bay an eye about it. The author tries to do this like “I remember poverty… it was rough” thing with a couple of the characters and it doesn’t land, it just reads as empty, really. I think she could have dived deeper and given detail instead of vague “what was probably abuse” description.
I feel bad for Lizbeth honestly. I think she and Lucy should have had a larger part of the story. You have Lizbeth and her diaries and we’re waiting for this big ball to drop (no pun intended) at the end when someone finally reads her diaries, but it, again, falls flat on delivery.
I’m glad the loose ends were tied up, but the package was a lot smaller than it made itself out to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Classism
kelleykamanda's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I usually love her books but this one was simply okay. Still nice to listen to but I didn’t have as much of a desire to root for the characters as I did with other books. I liked listening to Zoe’s plot line.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death
kcup21's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A must read when you need to see some light in the dark and learn to let go of what’s holding you in place.
This was a cozy read with just a dash of magic. I loved the found family and the characters I grew to really love and root for. The book moved at a slow pace and spent time showing what each character had to carry with them. By the end, I felt at peace with the decisions the characters made and where the story ended.
This was a cozy read with just a dash of magic. I loved the found family and the characters I grew to really love and root for. The book moved at a slow pace and spent time showing what each character had to carry with them. By the end, I felt at peace with the decisions the characters made and where the story ended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Violence
mbmayo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Gaslighting
snipinfool's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
CW: Sexual assault of minor, mental illness, drug abuse, emotional abuse
Zoey arrived on Mallow Island the summer before she was due to move into her college dorm in nearby Charleston. Her mother died twelve years previously and left Zoey a condo at The Dellawhisp. She hoped to find some items there that would spark memories of her mother, as she had few items that belonged her. The Dellawhisp had five units. Two belonged to estranged sisters, one to a man who worked late nights, and one to a woman who was an artist. Three ghosts were also living there as well. The condos were run by an elderly man who had been working there since it had been renovated many years before. The residents knew little about each other despite most living there for a considerable number of years. Zoey didn't know anyone in the area so she made it a goal to try to get to know her neighbors and hopefully become friends.
This was a heartwarming story about found family. Each of the residents was lonely, but for different reasons did not seek out those close by. Zoey became the one who brought them all together. Their life stories were interesting and varied. I love stories where people who are very different in background and experiences find a common thread and become close friends. It gives me hope that we can all find a connection with someone we thought to have nothing in common with. I will be keeping this story in my heart for a long time.
Zoey arrived on Mallow Island the summer before she was due to move into her college dorm in nearby Charleston. Her mother died twelve years previously and left Zoey a condo at The Dellawhisp. She hoped to find some items there that would spark memories of her mother, as she had few items that belonged her. The Dellawhisp had five units. Two belonged to estranged sisters, one to a man who worked late nights, and one to a woman who was an artist. Three ghosts were also living there as well. The condos were run by an elderly man who had been working there since it had been renovated many years before. The residents knew little about each other despite most living there for a considerable number of years. Zoey didn't know anyone in the area so she made it a goal to try to get to know her neighbors and hopefully become friends.
This was a heartwarming story about found family. Each of the residents was lonely, but for different reasons did not seek out those close by. Zoey became the one who brought them all together. Their life stories were interesting and varied. I love stories where people who are very different in background and experiences find a common thread and become close friends. It gives me hope that we can all find a connection with someone we thought to have nothing in common with. I will be keeping this story in my heart for a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
haileybones's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
There is a magical quality to Other Birds that adds to its sweetness -- and its sadness. I liked the story and characters and especially Mallow Island, but the handling of the characters felt a little off to me. They're all dealing with some element of loss, abuse, family, identity, and/or learning how to move through the world and, despite all their personal tragedy and reluctance to process it, they're very self-aware. I think that narrative choice serves the themes and fairy tale vibe of the story, but it comes at the price of some of the authenticity or subtlety or something. It still emotionally connects (I cried more than once), but it was because the author has a talent for profound sentences more than me feeling something for a character. I also noticed the two most prominent black characters fell into some racialized tropes, which made me a little uncomfortable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual assault
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Mental illness
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Other Birds is a heartwarming story featuring found family and quirky characters moving on from the hurts and secrets of the past. It is set a small apartment building on the idyllic sounding Mallow Island, South Carolina. There’s magical realism in the form of ghosts, and the delightful dellawisps - enchanting magical little birds. There’s also a bit of a mystery. While the story touches on some heavy topics the overall tone is light and feel good, emphasising the power of connection.
“There are birds, and then there are other birds. Maybe they don’t sing. Maybe they don’t fly. Maybe they don’t fit in. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be an other bird than just the same old thing.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
starrystarryeyed's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
turnip11's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is wonderfully written, the author really brings you in to the story and the setting. The characters are all complex and they draw you in quickly. I loved the magical realism aspects, overall this is one of my new favorite books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol