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Summary: This is one of the best books I've read in some time.
Review: I heard about the book when news of the movie came to my attention. I was determined to read the book before seeing the movie and I'm glad that I did. Connie May Fowler is an excellent author who uses wonderful techniques that not only describe but give you a feeling that you are the character. Bird is a wonderful young girl who throughout the book you grow to love and sympathize and Mrs. Zora gives the book a wonderful touch and leaves hope of happiness and survival. I recommend this to everyone interested in a loving and touching story about survival and forgivness. It was wonderful reading.
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Summary: YOU WANT TO HUG THE MAIN CHARACTER !!!
Review: This book was very touching. Seeing two young girls go through so much at such a tender age. Seeing them grow up so fast by no choice of their own. It was heartbreaking to read about the verbal and physical abuse that went on in their household and the blame being put on them for everything that went wrong. You will acquire a strong affection for Bird, the main character in the story. She is a curious, loving, forgiving, precious little girl. She goes through alot, and the way the book is written, makes the reader feel that they are walking hand-in-hand with Bird the whole time.Connie May Fowler is a talented writer. God Bless Her!
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Summary: Good reviews well deserved...
Review: To me, there's nothing better than a good story. And I was pleased with this little number after having to wait for it to arrive in the bookstore for a week, and let me tell you, the wait was worth it. This book tells the story of Avocet Abigail "Bird" Jackson and her dirt poor family in Florida. Rich with description and sweet with good prose, this book is one that will sit in the readers' minds long after they've finished it. Everyone else did a pretty good job at describing the plot, so I don't think I really need to do that. All I can do is suggest anybody who enjoys dramatic, well-written novels to pick up this book as soon as possible. The money you'll spend will be worth it
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Summary: You'll enjoy every second the effort you put into this book!
Review: The book entitled,"Before Women Had Wings," is a very wonderful book. There is a wonderful variety of interesting topics, which happen throughout this book; and throughout Bird's life. Bird is a girl featured throughout this book, which her real name Advocet Jackson. Advocet was raised within a poor family with a sister named Phoebe, her mother and father were both alcoholics. Bird and Phoebe both throughout the book recieved critical physical, emotional, and mental abuse. Not only that, but as Bird was younger, her father ended up comitting suicide. Advocet throughout the book states a lot of varities, like I said, which happened throughout her life. As I read this book, it made me cry, have joy; and learn how to cooperate with my life, since I'm 15 years old; and also live with an alcoholic. Advocet, I'd just like to say if you get my message, to never give up;"Have faith!" You do well, "Keep up the good writings!" When I read Advocet's book, it really touched me; and how to change my life; and what to do with it. I bet you, that if you read this book today, you won't every second of your time. Also, I bet if you read the whole book, it will somehow change your life. I hope you enjoy the book,"Before Women Had Wings!"
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Summary: A story that tugs at the heart strings
Review: Perhaps one of the most difficult stories to write is a story about children and/or abuse. Interjecting just the right amount of sentimentality is often times too difficult of a task for even the most talented writers, but Connie May Fowler tackles both topics with a level of sensitivity and finesse that makes this book a "must read." BEFORE WOMEN HAD WINGS tells the story of Avocet "Bird" Jackson, a world-weary child in search of love among the people whose love should be a given but who are sometimes the most stingy with their affections. Bird tells the story of many young women who have either witnessed or experienced abuse in a matter-of-fact, no-holds bar fashion. The complexity of the relationship between she and her parents and she and her sister and brother provides readers with a wide-open look into a tragic life that eventually makes a transcendent jump into a path of redemption. This is a book well worth reading again and again.
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Summary: How Can I Ever Forget Bird?
Review: This is my most favorite book, ever! Connie Mae Fowler has made me laugh, and made me cry, and made me understand some things about child abuse. The characters were so developed, I found myself 'looking' for Bird when I went out shopping! An outstanding contribution!
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Summary: Stunning
Review: This is a very moving story about a little girl, Bird, who is wise beyond her six years. There is a lot of harshness, violence and horror in her tale. I am assuming that the author survived a very tough childhood as some of the scenes are quite graphic and haunting. There is light, however, at the end of the tunnel, a chance for them all. This is a book that will play itself back in my mind, as it opened my eyes to an entirely different lifesytle.
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Summary: Don't borrow it BUY IT!
Review: This is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read. It's hard to imagine a little girl with such spirit as Bird. I will definately reread this many times, and I'm sure I will enjoy it just as much as the first time I read it. A few say it's too depressing and a little violent, but please don't let that stop you from reading this moving story. You won't regret buying this book.
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Summary: A novel full of pain
Review: Other reviewers do a good job of summing up what the book is about, so I won't try to do that. But I will point out that it is almost unremittingly harsh and violent. The book and the main character do, as the title suggest, soar beyond that, but this material can be hard to read. For those for whom this hits too close to home, every insult and slap will sting. For those who don't already have this kind of violence in their lives, you may not wish to bring it in. It's definitely something to consider before you jump in.
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Summary: Connie May teaches us to fly
Review: Connie May Fowler introduces us to a six year old girl, known as Bird because most people refused to believe someone was really called Avocet. Although Bird knows no other life, we readers immediately realise she's trapped in a dreadful existence - alcoholic, emotionally and physically abusive and desperately poor. Not a new story, but certainly not derivitive. We see the cycle of family dysfunction, brought on by lost dreams, violence, poverty, hopelessness and alcoholism from Bird's perspective as she desperately tries to make sense of it all. Adding to her confusion, she tries to find hope in religion, where even that is the cause of a family rift - the children are divided between the Baptist father and Catholic mother, and Bird is devastated when she finds she will never be a Bride of Christ, like her sister. Except for the extremes, Bird's childhood is not that different from many of ours. I'm sure I wasn't the only reader remembering the confusion of childhood, trying to make sense of adults' behaviour, the strange religious stories, and the weird stuff taught at school, wondering why everything that goes wrong is our fault, enduring the cruelty inflicted by other children, desperately longing to be loved and safe. But if we were lucky, we had a warm bed, food on the table, arms that hugged us and told us we were loved. Among the not so fortunate, Bird could take none these for granted. Although there are countless stories of difficult childhoods, deprived by abuse, alcoholism, poverty and endless other dysfunctions, there was something about Bird's voice that rang clear and true - perhaps because it was written from the perspective of a child, rather than an adult's recollection, perhaps because she never asked for pity, perhaps because you always knew someone so gutsy would survive. They say you don't need to have murdered to write of a murder, but as I was reading, I found it impossible to believe this story could be written without experiencing that childhood, and having read your interview with the author, I understand it is at least partially autobiographical. I also thought it would be an excellent choice for Oprah's Book Club, and now realise it was, obviously before I started watching Oprah. I picked up this book while browsing through the library in the (increasingly difficult) search for something I want to read and added it to my stack of books after flicking through and reading a few random paragraphs. What a wonderful accident! Now I've added a new author to my list.
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