Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

Lynnie   
Amy      

contemporary fiction, magical realism

 

Zoey is starting college in Charleston, SC and has moved to Mallow Island, a small island off the coast, to follow her dreams. Other Birds follows a collection of characters who live in the quaint Dellawisp Condominiums--think Melrose Place if the residents were multigenerational (and, occasionally, other-worldly). Besides Zoey, Charlotte is a henna artist, Mac is a talented chef, there are the estranged sisters Lizbeth and Lucy Lime, and their property manager, Frazier, who sees dead people. Unfortunately for him, the annoying lady who lived in one of the units has just died. 

Lynnie's Review

 

I’m so sad that I finished this book so quickly. What a pleasure to be able to spend time again in the wonderful imagination of Sarah Addison Allen. I simply adore her novels and Other Birds is no exception. Amy and I both loved First Frost, the only book she's published since we started our blog but we have been long time fans of hers.

Each of the characters in Other Birds has secrets and something that they are holding on to that keeps the spirits of their past tethered to present.

The residents of the Dellawisp come together to help and heal one another and, maybe while they are doing so, also remind readers that family can be found wherever you are willing to open your heart. Sarah Addison Allen’s magical realism is endlessly creative and never fails to keep a smile on my face as I read her books. I miss spending time with all of these characters already. 

Amy's Review

Other Birds is populated with people who had difficult childhoods, feeling unloved and unwanted. They all find this quaint, peaceful place to live and, to no reader’s surprise, eventually form their own family with each other. As with Sarah Addison Allen’s other novels, the magical realism builds mystery and gives the story a whimsical feel. In this novel, the special birds represent companionship and love.

I’ve looked forward to a new novel by Addison for some time. However, I did not enjoy Other Birds as much as her other novels. I think my main disappointment was that all of the different characters have the same basic issue—they had parents who were absent and/or neglectful. They became stuck living empty lives, afraid to connect with people, as a result.  So, of course, they found each other in this strange and wonderful place. They all had secrets and were all a bit damaged. This plot just wasn't as complex as Addison’s other novels.

However, having said that, her characters were as lovable and quirky as always and her world-building was fun. I enjoyed spending time in Zoey’s world. And I was reminded that there are good people in the world who will step in and love a lost child. I will look forward to Addison’s next novel since I'll happily read anything she writes.