Scan barcode
A review by chamomiledaydreams
Nobody's Magic by Destiny O. Birdsong
challenging
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.0
I've been on the lookout for books featuring characters with albinism, and so far, "Nobody's Magic" is the only one I've read that was written by someone with albinism. It's definitely the most authentic, and I had to take breaks while reading each story, because they got a bit overwhelming for me.
My favorite of the three stories is "Drive," in part because it hits so close to home. It was validating when Suzette felt as though she had to jump through extra hoops to get her driver's license, and part of me was hoping that she (like me) would ultimately decide that driving isn't worth it. Of course, Suzette's situation is much different than mine, so driving represented a freedom for her rather than an obligation, and I'm happy that she managed to pursue her goals. The title "Drive" is a clever pun on the act of driving and the desire to move forward with purpose and determination.
The other two stories were great, as well, although I would say that I enjoyed each story a little less than the one I'd read previously. "Mind the Prompt" was especially challenging for me, because I hated the decisions that Agnes was making in her love life, and it was painful to watch her make a succession of bad choices. "Bottled Water" also featured moments that made me wince, but there was enough genuine human connection to compensate that the overall tone of the story was bittersweet, rather than depressing. I still don't understand why it was called "Bottled Water," to be honest, but I trust the author enough to assume that I just missed something as a reader.
The quality of Birdsong's writing is fantastic, so even when a scene was difficult to read, I was confident that she knew what she was doing and that she had a specific story to tell. The end of the book confirmed this for me, when I looked over the discussion questions meant for reading groups and realized that I had missed significant details in the text, like the fact that only Agnes' story is written in the third-person. That would be so much fun to analyze, and the English major in me who wrote essays on similar subjects in college is very intrigued.
I would love to read Birdsong's poetry collection sometime. It's great to see art made by someone with albinism, and I love the way that the characters' disabilities are subtly woven into the story. My heart leapt in fellow-feeling every time there was a reference to the characters' visual limitations, and even though each character was vastly different in terms of personality and lifestyle, I felt a connection to all three that kept me invested in their stories. I'm glad that my library had a copy of this book, and I hope that more of the stories I find about albinism are of a similar caliber!
My favorite of the three stories is "Drive," in part because it hits so close to home. It was validating when Suzette felt as though she had to jump through extra hoops to get her driver's license, and part of me was hoping that she (like me) would ultimately decide that driving isn't worth it. Of course, Suzette's situation is much different than mine, so driving represented a freedom for her rather than an obligation, and I'm happy that she managed to pursue her goals. The title "Drive" is a clever pun on the act of driving and the desire to move forward with purpose and determination.
The other two stories were great, as well, although I would say that I enjoyed each story a little less than the one I'd read previously. "Mind the Prompt" was especially challenging for me, because I hated the decisions that Agnes was making in her love life, and it was painful to watch her make a succession of bad choices. "Bottled Water" also featured moments that made me wince, but there was enough genuine human connection to compensate that the overall tone of the story was bittersweet, rather than depressing. I still don't understand why it was called "Bottled Water," to be honest, but I trust the author enough to assume that I just missed something as a reader.
The quality of Birdsong's writing is fantastic, so even when a scene was difficult to read, I was confident that she knew what she was doing and that she had a specific story to tell. The end of the book confirmed this for me, when I looked over the discussion questions meant for reading groups and realized that I had missed significant details in the text, like the fact that only Agnes' story is written in the third-person. That would be so much fun to analyze, and the English major in me who wrote essays on similar subjects in college is very intrigued.
I would love to read Birdsong's poetry collection sometime. It's great to see art made by someone with albinism, and I love the way that the characters' disabilities are subtly woven into the story. My heart leapt in fellow-feeling every time there was a reference to the characters' visual limitations, and even though each character was vastly different in terms of personality and lifestyle, I felt a connection to all three that kept me invested in their stories. I'm glad that my library had a copy of this book, and I hope that more of the stories I find about albinism are of a similar caliber!