blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review
3.0
This is a book about a mother/daughter relationship, told from the perspective of the daughter. The mother, a Korean prostitute, basically rejects her half-black daughter as the girl is growing up. A string of the mother's dead birds (all killed by the daughter) serve as first a wall and then a bridge between them.
My favorite part of this book is how you only know what the daughter knows, so the whole story isn't packaged up and handed to you. Tidy happy endings that leave no questions are boring, and this book will not bore you.
My favorite part of this book is how you only know what the daughter knows, so the whole story isn't packaged up and handed to you. Tidy happy endings that leave no questions are boring, and this book will not bore you.
ivleafclover's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful book about terrible things. I can't remember the last time I read such difficult subject matter.
jackievr's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kevinsmokler's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful mother/daughter past-still-haunts-first novel. Having never visited The Salton Sea, this novel feels like the perfect introduction
writersrelief's review against another edition
5.0
THE BOOK OF DEAD BIRDS is the bittersweet story of Ava Sing Lo, half African American and half Korean, born to a mother who worked as a prostitute at a segregated Army base during the Korean War. Ava has been accidentally killing her mother's cherished pet birds since she was six years old. Now in her mid-twenties, Ava ventures from the home she shares with her mother in San Diego, California, to the Salton Sea, where she volunteers to help save birds sickened by environmental contamination. After killing so many of her mother's birds, Ava believes her random discovery of the print article looking for volunteers is her chance at redemption...and a chance to (hopefully) make her mother proud. In the desolate wasteland of the Salton Sea, Ava discovers a deeper understanding of herself, her mother, and their relationship. While there are sexual situations in this book and some use of profanity, THE BOOK OF DEAD BIRDS is a beautifully written story of a mother-daughter journey that ultimately overcomes their scars and struggles.
cactuswrenwriter's review against another edition
2.0
i hated this book. couldn't finish it. there should be a "couldn't finish the book because it sucked" category. ;)
jules72653's review
3.0
I started and stopped this book two times before finally getting into it enough to finish it. I didn't love it but I would give this author another try. The writing was fine, I just didn't care much for the characters.
aunt_t's review
3.0
I totally dig Brandeis' prose, but I spent more time wondering how the hell someone thinks of this story than trying to figure out what the author was trying to relate. Definitely worth the read and I'm looking forward to discussing the novel with friends.
le13anna's review
4.0
Did you know that Barbara Kingsolver has an award? I know. I did not. Well this is a book that she gave an award to and it's almost so sad and hard and full of darkness that I thought I would not be able to read it. But I'm glad I did.
kathleenitpdx's review
3.0
A very good first novel. It explores mother/daughter relations, race, and some environmental topics. I have a little difficulty that Ava who had gotten two degrees and lived away from her mother had not yet resolved her handed-down sexual trauma.