Before Women Had Wings: A Novel

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Summary: WOW!!!
Review: This is a powerful book! I haven't cried while reading a book in a long time. It isn't a good book to read on the bus. But do read this book!

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Summary: Ellen Foster Beats Bird's Butt
Review: Did anyone else find it hard to believe that after 240 pages of Mama being mean-as-hell and bad-to-the-bone that *one conversation* with Miss Zora (a woman Glory Marie hated and distrusted) suddenly turns her into a repentful, teary Mommy? Another thing got on my nerves: The overblown bird imagery that runs rampant throughout the book (two particularly painful examples: blackbird stealing her voice?--come on! and the final words of the novel : "They flew." Ugh!!!!)

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Summary: Exquisite pain, hope and love
Review: Connie May Fowler continues to amaze me with her ability to write prose which is not only beautiful but hauntingly real and poetic. It was hard to read about Bird's pain, knowing that this was a largely autobiographical piece. But all that changed with the appearance of Miss Zora, who was such a powerful symbol of unconditional love. Ms. Fowler has the ability to speak in the first- person of such a wide variety of characters (I strongly recommend the reading of her other books, "Sugar Cage" and "River of Hidden Dreams" for examples of this). "Before Women Had Wings" is a beautifully written story of the healing power of love.

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Summary: BWHW is very good. Be prepared to shed some tears
Review: Before Women Had Wings is a great journy through a troubled family. The main character, Bird a six year old tells the story of her life. The struggles. with her father's suicide, her tormented mother, and the child abuse she withstands. I felt like this book was full of emotions and if you like books with some meaning ( not just your regular murder, detective etc.) then this IS A MUST

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Summary: Avocet tells a wonderful story that all can learn from.
Review: This book changed my life. I was able to frogive my own mother. It was good to know that someone had gone through the same hardships as I had growing up. I could feel the pain that "Bird" felt everytime she reached out for love from her family and was refused. I laughed and I cried. Mostly I cried.

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Summary: It was heart-breaking but, exciting all at once.
Review: The way that "Bird" fancied Jesus as her own personal "boyfriend" was perfect. She really knew that she could turn to him. Also when Bird met Ms. Zora she really became in touch with the world and what it had to offer. Bird really at first despised her name Avocet, but she came to realize that it was beautiful. It was a fasinating book, I can relate to her almost exactly, it really inspired me to have more faith in what God has in store.

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Summary: O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D
Review: no, the book did not SUCK. but it was terribly derivative, employing the images and steretypes we've all encountered a million times before: dysfunctional families, abused children, spineless women who collapse without their men, unhealthy love affairs, the south.... and what novel about the paradox of bleakness and hope (violin music swells), forgiveness and redemption, would be complete without that random wise old black woman who comes along and saves the day? i'm surprised oprah did the movie (which i, thankfully, passed on) -- if her role was at all faithful to the book, she was nothing more than an insulting stereotype writ large and reiterated for the nth time. and that whole blackbird snatching the voice away thing? possibly the most ham-handed metaphor i've ever read in a published piece of writing. i'm glad i borrowed the book from the library, and didn't buy it. overall, a pulpy, marginally entertaining read with a deceptively classy art-house cover.

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Summary: i hate the feeling of being defeated
Review: i felt defeated reading the book, felt defeated for the characters, but most of all my wallet felt the defeat.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping, couldn't put it down but....
Review: I bought this book on a whim, and was not disappointed in the least. It held my attention to the end. I sobbed in a few places because some of the events hit home a little too close for me. However, I thought the ending came about just a little too sudden. For such a sad book to suddenly have a happy ending was a bit abrupt for my taste. I don't wish to end on a bad note, for it was a very good book. The character development was superb. Definitely worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: all I can say is:wow!
Review: This book, I swear, I think will be one of the must reads on child abuse, along with Bastard out of Carolina or The Color Purple. Bird's wise voice will stay with me for a long time. I can't wait untill the movie with Oprah Winfrey as Miss Zora and Ellen Barkin as Glory Marie. Read this book! It will change how you look on people who abuse their children.