★★★★☆
I was introduced Other Birds, Sarah Addison Allen’s quirky, magical realist novel, through my book club, which reads books by women authors and/or that feature strong female characters. I was thrilled to be introduced to a new author for me, especially one from my home state of North Carolina.
Set on the fictional Mallow Island in South Carolina, the story revolves around Zoey Hennessy, who inherits her mother’s apartment in the offbeat Dellawisp community. As Zoey settles into her new life, she encounters an eclectic group of neighbors, including two estranged sisters, a grieving chef, and a mysterious young woman. The atmosphere is filled with an enchanting blend of reality and the supernatural, with hints of magic and the presence of ghosts. A sudden death among the residents plunges Zoey into a world of secrets and hidden connections. As she unravels Dellawisp’s mysteries, she discovers her neighbors’ intertwined lives and the haunting legacy of a famous writer.
It took me a beat to follow what was happening in the story – so much so that I probably wouldn’t have persevered if it hadn’t been a book club pick. However, the story grew on me over time, and I ended up appreciating the whimsical way Other Birds explores the magic and wonder hidden within ordinary lives. I also enjoyed the story’s theme of found family.
One small detail in the book that gave me a chuckle was that two side characters shared the same name, and were nicknamed Heather 1 and Heather 2. As someone with a really common name, there is always someone else in every circle I’m in with the same first name. I’ve been called everything from Kristi M. to Kristi-by-the-windowside. I’ve even been nicknamed Kristi 2! Seeing an author poke fun at the silly ways people deal with the common occurrence of having multiple people in their lives with the same name made me smile.
Now that I’m familiar with and know what to expect from Allen, I’d definitely give her books another try. The writing was good, with insightful lines about family, particularly motherhood, and self-acceptance. One of my favorite lines: “It had taken him all his life to understand this, but even unlikable things have worth. It was how, after all, he’d learned to live with himself.”
What was the last book that you grew to love after a slow start?