Rating: 
Summary: Wonderfully moving, highly captivating book.
Review: I received, Before Women Had Wings, as a gift from my sister. Prior to this, I had never heard of Connie May Fowler, and I've come to realize she's a fairly new aurthor, as she's written only three novels.This book had me captivated from the very beginning. The characters were so rich and full of life, and Ms. Fowler's descriptions were so very humanistic -- she generates feelings within the reader and paints her canvas full of elaborate descriptions full of texture. A story about a darling six-year-old girl named Avocet Abigail Jackson, who is mainly called by the nickname "Bird", this story pulls at your hearstrings. It's about this six-year-old dealing with an abusive mother who, not only has a drinking problem, but has a tongue of steel. Added to this dysfunctional family is a loving, but equally alcohol-obsessed father (who later commits suicide), a warm, but absent brother (who flew the coop when he could and came back to visit later), and a coming-of-age older sister. Bird tries to sift through where she belongs in this world when her mother packs the two girls to a trailer home, where Bird meets Miss Zora, a highly spiritual soul who is a healer. Bird is one of the most charming young female characters I have come across in a long time. You not only feel for her, but for her sister, Phoebe and brother, Hank, as well. As for Mom (Glory Marie) and Pop (Billy), they were indeed lost souls. Billy was a well-meaning man and father, but just so lost. As for Glory Marie, she was so easy to dislike, but as her soul unraveled towards the end of the story, you hoped for her sake, as well as for her children's, that she would find her way. Miss Zora, who was like one of those strong but quiet souls, was almost like a fairly godmother to Bird and, in the end, to the whole family. This is one of those books that took you into it, and made you wish you could follow the characters to see how life continued to treat them. After reading this book, I realized that Connie May Fowler was truly a gifted writer and storyteller.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! I couldn't put it down!
Review: What a wonderful book! Ms. Fowler does a great job of seeing life through the eyes of children. The pain and suffering were depicted so well, I couldn't wait to see what happened on the next page. Every turn of the page I hoped someone would help the children. I actually got up at 4 am just to read this book. If I could I'd give it 10 stars!
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but not Pulitzer material either
Review: Fowler is a weaver of beautiful descriptions but the story generally left me flat. Perhaps I can't really identify with the characters (is it trendy to have been abused as a child? Seems many books these days use it as a theme) or the locale (I'm a suburban girl raised in the mid-70's). It was filled with rich descriptions, however, so I added another star.
Rating:
Summary: Sad but GREAT
Review: This was the saddest book! It made me so mad! But it was soooo good, second only to Rebecca Wells's books. It made me realize how lucky I am to have parents who are here and love me. This book has seriously impacted my life. I have been looking into volunteering at local children's homes, so I can be a Miss Zora to someone.
Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
Review: This book was incredible. I've never read a book that has captured by attention so easily. I chose to read this book for a critcial paper due in an honors English course. This tells a tale of the horrid life of two young girls whose mother holds on to life through the eyes of intoxication. It brought out an intense anger in me and emotion so powerful. Definetly a moving and inspiring book to read.
Rating:
Summary: This was great
Review: I thought that this book was sooo GOOD:) I read it last year in english class, and i think it was one of the best books that i have ever read! Read it!
Rating: 
Summary: This book depicts the lives of battered women's struggles.
Review: In a world where happiness is hard to come by and love comes with a price, where pain is felt regularly and cruelty is often a consequence, it's a wonder that beauty could live, kindness could thrive, and women could have wings. The main character, Avocet (known as Bird), is part of a disfunctional family made up of an older sister (Pheobe) who craves freedom from her family, an alcoholic mother whose hobby is beating her children, a father who is anything but devoted to his family, and a half-brother (Hank) who claims to love her but is never there. The mother is an outrage, beating them so badly that scars are not only left on the surface of their skin, but also in their souls. Before Women Had Wings perfectly illustrates the hardships of the bright yet unsung hero that lies in a little girl. It also shows that some people are put into other's lives to be an angel, and to give them wings to fly. We are five female English honors students from Colorado. This book was intense but fulfilling for all of us. It made us value our lives, as well as those in less fortunate situations. It is a tearjerker that will bring out a powerful anger from deep within you. People who deal with or have dealt with domestic violence or just want to read about the shocking realities of it should definitely read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Blasé
Review: I was not surprised to see Oprah's name on the cover of this book as it has all the Oprah ingredients: absentee fathers, poverty, alcoholism, sweet kids with bitter bruises, trite presentation of religion. Not a bad book, not a good book either.
Rating:
Summary: Oprah Winfrey Was Right..........Fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: The Boston Globe loved it, it won the Southern Book Critics Circle Award, Oprah loved so much she made it into a movie. Ellen Barkin loved it because the screen adaptation,(written by Connie May) and her stunning preformance as the abusive mother, won her an emmy for best actress! I found the writing lovely, the stoy compelling, a real page turner, I read it in one night!!
Rating:
Summary: An emotional and inspirational story that I'll never forget!
Review: Ms. Fowler does an excellent job in her character detail. I felt that I knew the entire family through the imagery that she created. Bird truly captured my heart and made me love her. I was torn between wanting to rescue, hold and protect her or encourage her through her struggles. She was so strong and wise beyond her years. I love the perspective that children have on the world and this book genuinely captured a childlike outlook at a very terrible situation. I also think the author did an outstanding job by describing the pain that the girls went through in dealing with the fact that they loved their mother despite her abuse. I think this was very realistic - and although I kept thinking "get out of there", in reality a child will still love its parent despite the treatment they receive. Bird's humorous view of the world reminded me of Scout in Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Her strength was similar to Ellen in Gibbons' "Ellen Foster." I would recommend all 3 of these to anyone that wants a book that sticks with your psyche for a while.
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