Friday, June 3, 2011

The Bird Sisters


The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen


The first time I learned of this book, I was excited. After reading the little blurb about it, I was even more excited to learn it took place in Spring Green, Wisconsin, which I am somewhat familiar with. I have visited there many times and it is an excellent place for a novel to take place.

Milly and Twiss are elderly sisters who live together in the home in which they grew up. They are known as the Bird Sisters. People bring injured birds to them where Twiss does what she can to heal them while Milly listens to the people that bring the birds to them. When a goldfinch is brought to them, Twiss remembers the summer of 1947, the summer that changed their lives drastically with a visit from their cousin, Bette. The chapters alternate between the present day and the summer of 1947. Milly had her future all planned out right down to the names of the children she planned on having. Twiss, who was a spunky tomboy was happy to be on the golf course with her father and she really didn't think much about the future except that she couldn't imagine life without her sister. We know the two ladies end up living together in their golden years but we don't know how or why they got to that point until we learn of the events of that dreaded summer. The town is full of an array of wonderful, quirky characters. I fell in love with many of them, while some irritated me much in the same way they bothered the girls. I was very tickled with the mention of The Cave of the Mounds, a tourist attraction I have been too many times both as a child and as an adult.

Rebecca Rasmussen has a beautiful way with words. The novel is character driven and the prose is simply beautiful. I could close my eyes and see the farm where the sisters lived clearly in my mind. In the end, it is a story of loyalty, love and sacrifice and it is written just beautifully. As soon as that goldfinch was delivered to the sisters I was hooked! This is one book you don't want to miss! This is a book I will reread just so I can visit the sisters again! I can't wait to see what Rebecca will write next!

I purchased this book myself and read it for the 2011 Just For Fun Challenge

21 comments:

  1. I've read so many positive comments about this book. I have it on my Kindle and must get to it soon. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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  3. This book is on my TBR list and I hope to be able to get to it in the not-too-distant future. I think the story sounds really neat the cover is so pretty! I enjoyed reading your thoughts...

    ~Asheley T.

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  4. I can't wait to read this book and reading your review makes me want to read it even more now. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Wow this book sounds amazing! I need to move it to the top of my TBR pile :)

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  6. This one sounds so good. I don't think I've seen a bad review yet!
    2 Kids and Tired Books

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  7. I have been dying to read this book!I hope I can have time to read THE BIRD SISTERS sometime this summer.

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  8. This sounds cute - love books with quirky characters!!! Definitely have to read this one.

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  9. I love your review of this book. I have read wonderful things about the story and the prose. The sisters intrigue me and I know this is a book I will definitely read. Hopefully soon!

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  10. I read this last week and loved it too! Milly and Twiss were wonderful characters. I wasn't crazy about Bette, but when you think about it, she was a great character too. Rebecca is coming near me on Tuesday, and I can't wait to meet her!!

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  11. I don't think I've seen one bad review of this book -- I love writers that can make you see the setting and characters so vividly :)

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  12. Rebecca-Thank you for writing a beautiful story with great characters! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  13. Thank you all for your wonderful comments. You are in for a treat when you read this!

    Kathy-I agree Bette was a not so nice character but the book wouldn't have been the same without her. I envy you getting to meet Rebecca! I am sure she will be as charming as her book!

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  14. I got this one from the library, and I think it might have just been a case of me not being in the right mood for it. I seem to be the only one who wasn't over the moon about it (but then I only read a few chapters so I can't really judge the whole thing).

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  15. I want, I want to read this book! Sisters, a fateful summer, and good prose is all I need.

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  16. Ahhhh I so have to order this one now. I need to get this one for my sister too.

    Great review and will track one down next.

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  17. OK; this one has been on my wishlist for a long time, and this review just put it on my next-to-buy list!

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  18. So glad to see you enjoyed it! I won it in a giveaway recently, and I can't wait to make time to read it.

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  19. I'm so glad you enjoyed is one Beth. It is such a beautiful novel!

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