Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on August 30, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Magical Realism, Fiction / Women
Pages: 304
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
From the acclaimed author of Garden Spells comes an enchanting tale of lost souls, lonely strangers, secrets that shape us, and how the right flock can guide you home.
Down a narrow alley in the small coastal town of Mallow Island, South Carolina, lies a stunning cobblestone building comprised of five apartments. It’s called The Dellawisp and it is named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy.
When Zoey Hennessey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment at The Dellawisp, she meets her quirky, enigmatic neighbors including a girl on the run, a grieving chef whose comfort food does not comfort him, two estranged middle-aged sisters, and three ghosts. Each with their own story. Each with their own longings. Each whose ending isn’t yet written.
When one of her new neighbors dies under odd circumstances the night Zoey arrives, she is thrust into the mystery of The Dellawisp, which involves missing pages from a legendary writer whose work might be hidden there. She soon discovers that many unfinished stories permeate the place, and the people around her are in as much need of healing from wrongs of the past as she is. To find their way they have to learn how to trust each other, confront their deepest fears, and let go of what haunts them.
Delightful and atmospheric, Other Birds is filled with magical realism and moments of pure love that won’t let you go. Sarah Addison Allen shows us that between the real and the imaginary, there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways.
I fell in love with Sarah Addison Allen’s writing in Garden Spells way back in 2007. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review her latest release, Other Birds. Magical realism can be hit or miss but Allen has found a beautiful balance here.
Boiling this story down is surprisingly difficult. There are so many stories; everyone and their mother has a POV but it worked in this tale. I enjoyed following along each of the characters and the gentle teasing apart of tangled mysteries.
Zoey and her invisible pigeon entering college years and desperately looking for roots. Charlotte with a love for henna art and a life on the road. Mac and his fears of letting go to the woman that loved and supported him. Frasier’s love of the Dellawisp and his mysterious connection to Lizbeth. Lucy, more shadow than person. Oliver, Lizbeth’s son. Each of the characters were beautifully developed, and I found myself wishing I could be a part of their little community. The two budding romances were a delight to see!
Other Birds is ultimately a story of healing, letting go of plans that no longer align with you in the present, forgiveness, and found family. As cozy as it is powerful, SAA has found a way to keep me thinking long after finishing Other Birds. Musing over what it means to heal and finding yourself. Being comfortable with friends and community but also within your own skin. It was beautiful, and it makes me want to reread Garden Spells all over again.
Excuse me while I go find a pretty witch ball to hang in my favorite space.
Triggers: Child Neglect/Abuse (on and off page), Parent Death (off page) and others
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About Sarah Addison Allen
New York Times Bestselling novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction -- a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility.
Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Allen grew up with a love of books and an appreciation of good food (she credits her journalist father for the former and her mother, a fabulous cook, for the latter). In college, she majored in literature -- because, as she puts it, "I thought it was amazing that I could get a diploma just for reading fiction. It was like being able to major in eating chocolate."
After graduation, Allen began writing seriously. Her big break occurred in 2007 with the publication of her first mainstream novel, Garden Spells, a modern-day fairy tale about an enchanted apple tree and the family of North Carolina women who tend it. Booklist called Allen's accomplished debut "spellbindingly charming." The novel became a Barnes & Noble Recommends selection, and then a New York Times Bestseller.
Allen continues to serve heaping helpings of the fantastic and the familiar in fiction she describes as "Southern-fried magic realism." Clearly, it's a recipe readers are happy to eat up as fast as she can dish it out.
Great review. This seems like an unusual story but I think I’ll love it. Thanks for sharing!
It was so lovely! I hope you enjoy it!