After hearing Barbara Kingsolver speak, I was excited to read the novels of one of her winners.  When we had the last book club meeting, we decided to read The book of Dead Birds by Gayle Brandeis.  The title is a bit morbid and if I told you the plot, you would not think that it was an uplifting book.  After starting it last night, I can tell you that the story is compelling because at the core of the novel is a woman who is trying to discover who she is while trying to make the world a better place.  I like how the search for her own identity and sense of self is wrapped up in her mother.  You also get to glimpse into the mother's past which makes you root harder for these two amazing people to come to a deep connection. 

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I finished reading this book on Thursday night. While it may seem a bit nerdy to spend an entire evening reading a book, I could not think of a better way to spend time.  The story kept its promise throughout.  One of my favorite things about the book is how the author managed to slip in subtle references to big things. It reminded me of how in daily conversation, I touch on some big news story and wonder about the state of the world. Meanwhile, I am also concerned with how to complete the more mundane tasks in front of me like laundry.  It is lovely to find authors who can capture that feeling and present it back to you in a manner that fills you with hope.

Recommend to a friend: YES!