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deedireads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? No
4.25
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All the Little Bird-Hearts was longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize, and I’m glad it was, because otherwise I probably would never have picked it up. But this was a book very much worth my time (and yours).
The main character, Sunday, is a lovable but lonely autistic single mother whose world (and relationship with her teenage daughter) is shaken up when glamorous, electrifying new neighbors move into the house next door. Throughout the book, there’s a dark tension that grows more and more ominous as you read, making it both deeply engaging and tenderly heartbreaking.
This is a refreshingly authentic portrayal of autism by an autistic author (amidst the “finest fiction” Booker-esque literary canon, anyway). I read an interview with the author where she talked about her intentional choice to set this in the ‘80s before our modern understanding of autism became prevalent, because Sunday was not in a privileged enough position to outwardly challenge biases. Setting it in the ‘80s allowed her to form a more autonomous understanding of herself. And I think this choice was extremely successful.
If you were on the fence about this one because it was longlisted but not shortlisted, do yourself a favor and pick it up anyway. It’s worth it!
All the Little Bird-Hearts was longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize, and I’m glad it was, because otherwise I probably would never have picked it up. But this was a book very much worth my time (and yours).
The main character, Sunday, is a lovable but lonely autistic single mother whose world (and relationship with her teenage daughter) is shaken up when glamorous, electrifying new neighbors move into the house next door. Throughout the book, there’s a dark tension that grows more and more ominous as you read, making it both deeply engaging and tenderly heartbreaking.
This is a refreshingly authentic portrayal of autism by an autistic author (amidst the “finest fiction” Booker-esque literary canon, anyway). I read an interview with the author where she talked about her intentional choice to set this in the ‘80s before our modern understanding of autism became prevalent, because Sunday was not in a privileged enough position to outwardly challenge biases. Setting it in the ‘80s allowed her to form a more autonomous understanding of herself. And I think this choice was extremely successful.
If you were on the fence about this one because it was longlisted but not shortlisted, do yourself a favor and pick it up anyway. It’s worth it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Child death
avisreadsandreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
tosta's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
saradoxical's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
I absolutely would not have thought to pick up this book, with bird-hearts in its title if not for my book club. And I am so glad that I did. I adored this book, this glimpse into a life that neither the narrator herself nor the characters around her fully understand. For me, it was a slow but worthy read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Death
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
All the Little Bird-Hearts is my final book from the Booker longlist. It’s the simply told story of Sunday, an autistic woman and solo parent to teenage daughter Dolly, and the changes that come into her life when Vita and Rollo, a wealthy and somewhat flamboyant couple, move in next door. I thought Sunday as a character was brilliantly depicted. All the concrete details - her reliance on routines, white food, an etiquette guide and Sicilian culture, the peace she finds in the greenhouse - showcased not just her neurodivergence but made her a unique, fully rounded character. Her existence shows the positive contribution own voices authors can bring to literature. Seeing Vita manipulate Sunday, and watching Rollo aid and abet Vita, for their own selfish ends was a bit like watching a car wreck in slow motion, knowing what was going to happen but being powerless to stop it. Sunday, a close observer of behaviour, noticed what was happening but didn’t necessarily realise its significance, at least not as quickly as most readers. My heart was left aching for her, especially the fact that with the exception of her coworker David no one seemed to have the least interest in genuinely caring for her. They saw the neurodivergence which seemed to blind them to Sunday as a person, a kind and clever person at that.
I love a book that makes me feel and this definitely did. Some of that may be due to my personal connection to neurodivergence but most of it is down to the book. I don’t know if it will make the shortlist, but its rounded and nuanced portrayal of a neurodivergent woman, makes it well worth reading - even though the behaviour of most other characters will leave your blood boiling.
“When I put my hands on my plants, or immerse myself in Sicilian culture, I am gifted with something more than I really am. The awkwardness of being no longer exists when I am part of these other worlds and aligned with something bigger. I would rather be a tiny person who wonders and trembles at their surroundings than rule over everything, manipulate it to my preference, and in doing so, come to despise it.”
I love a book that makes me feel and this definitely did. Some of that may be due to my personal connection to neurodivergence but most of it is down to the book. I don’t know if it will make the shortlist, but its rounded and nuanced portrayal of a neurodivergent woman, makes it well worth reading - even though the behaviour of most other characters will leave your blood boiling.
“When I put my hands on my plants, or immerse myself in Sicilian culture, I am gifted with something more than I really am. The awkwardness of being no longer exists when I am part of these other worlds and aligned with something bigger. I would rather be a tiny person who wonders and trembles at their surroundings than rule over everything, manipulate it to my preference, and in doing so, come to despise it.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
kirstym25's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
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