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The Bird Saviors
When a dust storm engulfs her Colorado town and pink snow blankets the streets, a heartbreaking decision faces Ruby Cole, a girl who counts birds: She must abandon her baby or give in to her father, whom she nicknames Lord God, and marry a man more than twice her age who already has two wives. She chooses to run, which sets in motion an interlocking series of actions and r...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
June 12th 2012
by Unbridled Books
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A world of plague and hope: A review of The Bird Saviors
REVIEW - From the February 04, 2013 issue High Country News
By Jenny Shank
The Bird Saviors
William J. Cobb
320 pages, hardcover: $25.95.
Unbridled Books, 2012.
In William J. Cobb's lyrical novel The Bird Saviors, a mysterious virus strikes the residents of Pueblo, Colo. Some blame wild birds for spreading the disease, which leaves victims incapacitated for weeks or eventually kills them. Employees of the D...more
A world of plague and hope: A review of The Bird Saviors
REVIEW - From the February 04, 2013 issue High Country News
By Jenny Shank
The Bird Saviors
William J. Cobb
320 pages, hardcover: $25.95.
Unbridled Books, 2012.
In William J. Cobb's lyrical novel The Bird Saviors, a mysterious virus strikes the residents of Pueblo, Colo. Some blame wild birds for spreading the disease, which leaves victims incapacitated for weeks or eventually kills them. Employees of the D...more
While infectious disease looms, issues of illegal immigration and violence show how people can treat one another in the midst of crisis. The societal backdrop of the novel serves as compelling and terrible power from page one. The way in which Cobb skillfully weaves all of these elements together throughout the novel illuminates the reality of this world: the beauty of it, mainly demonstrated through Cobb's lyrical and detailed descriptions of birds, is dying.
Rather than becoming hyperbolic as a...more
Rather than becoming hyperbolic as a...more
This story of several flawed but good-hearted characters and a few total jerks is set in a climate-ravaged central Colorado city of the near future. If there is a main character, it is Ruby, a teenage single mother who, along with most of the other characters, yearns to break free from the meaninglessness of daily life. She finds some hope in her job as an assistant to a scientist who has come to investigate the bird populations of the area after a major epidemic has wiped out a significant numb...more
In a time where the sci-fi genre is glutted by YA books also shelved in the "paranormal romance" section, the ideas behind The Bird Saviors are a welcome break to the norm. A dust bowl-like environmental catastrophe, avian flu returned with a vengeance, fundamentalist Mormons, and the scapegoated killing of birds combine in this near-future novel best categorized as post-apocalyptic to create an engaging plot and varied cast of characters. The problem with the book? It reads like a somewhat-lite...more
The premise of William J. Cobb’s The Bird Saviors sounds intriguing and timely. An in-depth reading of the novel, however, soon reveals just how far Cobb misses the mark.
Dead birds, massive climate changes, oil crises, viruses, uncertain futures, cults, religious fundamentalism, war in the Middle East–all of these are popular apocalyptic topics Cobb uses in his story. The Bird Saviors also becomes a coming-of-age tale with Ruby, a teen mom who loves her daughter, Lila, with all her heart and wou...more
Dead birds, massive climate changes, oil crises, viruses, uncertain futures, cults, religious fundamentalism, war in the Middle East–all of these are popular apocalyptic topics Cobb uses in his story. The Bird Saviors also becomes a coming-of-age tale with Ruby, a teen mom who loves her daughter, Lila, with all her heart and wou...more
If you're looking for a novel to read while the government is in the midst of this sequester craziness (since it looks like this is going to happen), you're in the right place.
Don't leave yet, though, because this book? Is fantastic and absolutely well worth the read, sequester or fiscal cliff or political shenanigans be damned.
Actually, there's a bit of damnation involved in The Bird Saviors, come to think of it.
The Bird Saviors is set in modern-day Colorado in a seemingly not-too-distant futur...more
Don't leave yet, though, because this book? Is fantastic and absolutely well worth the read, sequester or fiscal cliff or political shenanigans be damned.
Actually, there's a bit of damnation involved in The Bird Saviors, come to think of it.
The Bird Saviors is set in modern-day Colorado in a seemingly not-too-distant futur...more
Dystopia doesn't have to be some barely imaginable, distant future. It can be so close to reality that it is scary, and that's how this book felt to me. Not far off in the future but a more extreme version of what is happening now: killing drought, dust storms, pink snow, and the bird population decimated. That the setting is a part of Colorado very familiar to me made the story all the more realistic.
I loved Ruby from page one. I even wondered from the beginning if the domineering Lord God (Rub...more
I loved Ruby from page one. I even wondered from the beginning if the domineering Lord God (Rub...more
The Short of It:
When religion and love collide, what’s left?
The Rest of It:
When I first came across this book, the summary focused on the presence of a bird flu or some other phenomenon which was killing birds off over time. Me, being the doomsday lover that I am, quickly snatched it up thinking it was another end-of-the-world book which I seem to have a fondness for. About a quarter of the way through, I realized it was most definitely NOT that, but there was something about it that kept me rea...more
When religion and love collide, what’s left?
The Rest of It:
When I first came across this book, the summary focused on the presence of a bird flu or some other phenomenon which was killing birds off over time. Me, being the doomsday lover that I am, quickly snatched it up thinking it was another end-of-the-world book which I seem to have a fondness for. About a quarter of the way through, I realized it was most definitely NOT that, but there was something about it that kept me rea...more
Rating: 3 1/2 stars.
The Bird Saviors is close, in essence, to the writing of Richard Russo, but not quite on par. It is a thoughtful, provocative novel that keeps the reader’s attention despite the fact there are a few loose ends that need attention. Questions of logic arise, such as why Ruby did not leave home with her mother (a structurally weak ploy). Yet, it is redeemed by the author’s intriguing plot, character development and style of writing. The ending is a bit sappy, although probable....more
The Bird Saviors is close, in essence, to the writing of Richard Russo, but not quite on par. It is a thoughtful, provocative novel that keeps the reader’s attention despite the fact there are a few loose ends that need attention. Questions of logic arise, such as why Ruby did not leave home with her mother (a structurally weak ploy). Yet, it is redeemed by the author’s intriguing plot, character development and style of writing. The ending is a bit sappy, although probable....more
I got really into this story about a desolate Colorado town in the near future when climate change has wreaked its havoc, an avian flu is decimating the population and fundamentalists run rampant. In the midst of all of this, Cobb has created a cast of interesting characters who get into lots of trouble. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I only give it four stars because I felt it ended with way to many loose ends flapping in the wind. I'm a little mad about that right now.
Another DNF: I kept trying to like this, trying to understand how the threads would tie together, trying to care about the characters. And at first I did, but by halfway through, I realized that I never would.
This was promoted as having dystopian overtones, but all I saw was a fever and a dustbowl-like climate. The addition of the FLDS seemed a bit gratuitous, as Lord God would have been just as effective had be preached for any other denomination (and his preaching? didn't really play a role i...more
This was promoted as having dystopian overtones, but all I saw was a fever and a dustbowl-like climate. The addition of the FLDS seemed a bit gratuitous, as Lord God would have been just as effective had be preached for any other denomination (and his preaching? didn't really play a role i...more
The deliberate but subtle countervailing of stereotypes results in a narrative that doesn't quite go the way that the reader would expect it to. The story ends up not being so much an apocalyptic thriller, but rather a story about integrity and relationships. The author's style of trying to cut through facades to the warm hearted archetypes underneath reminded me a bit of Ken Kesey's approach to storytelling.
I didn't really like this book so much. First of all, it felt like when you started this book it had already started without you and so your missing a part of the story. It was disjointed. The second half of the of the book was better than the first half. But still that didn't really make up the for the book.
The Bird Saviors is an intriguing tale of the future that scarily feels like it's not so distant, if it isn't here already.
The characters are interesting, and there are quite a mix of them. It's not plot-driven, although there are many little plots throughout. Pieces of today echo in the future of this book.
The characters are interesting, and there are quite a mix of them. It's not plot-driven, although there are many little plots throughout. Pieces of today echo in the future of this book.
This book is set in Colorado(during a "dust-bowl" heatwave) about the near future. The "fundies" are either at war,or barley coexisiting. Everyone blames the immigrants, eachother, and the birds. The climate, both political and desert-like, was a bit too close for comfort. But I like the relevancy, and the atmosphere, and the survivors (with their laden hearts and their tormented souls).
Captures the feeling of open space and nature in the midst of telling a story of becoming. I really liked Ruby, and enjoyed her battle for independence and security. And the birds form a nature backdrop that appeals to anyone who senses nature through the sounds and flight of birds.
While it took me a bit of time to get into this dystopian tale, I'm really glad I stuck with it. The characters come alive through description and actions. These are real people, not perfect, but trying to do their best in a difficult world. I very much recommend this book.
Not a bad book. Only gave it three stars because it wasn't a book that really made me ignore my children crying so I could read it, but good enough that I wanted to find out what happened in the end. I finished it and felt just fine with it.
I'm not sure if I liked this book? I did not hate it, yet it felt like something was missing. I do know I did not like the ending. However, I did like the style in which it was written, kind of like a black and white movie wanting to be in color.
Grabbed it off the new books shelf sight unseen. Not bad. Reasonable dysfunctional characters, more or less regular human beans. Probably look for other books by this author.
I did not realise what the genre of the book was prior to reading it, which explains how I ended up reading a dystopian novel. I admit this is not a genre I typically enjoy and rarely read which is most likely why I can only give the book 3 stars. However, I enjoyed Cobb's well-written characters and would advise those who enjoy dystopian or post-apocalyptic novels to check out other reviews as I do not think I can give a fully unbiased review since I have few novels of this genre to compare it...more
Kind of dark, nihilistic, definitely dystopian. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it, but I found it's style compelling and ideas appealing, and wound up liking it.
Stole this off of Susan's shelf - sounds intriguing and different, and has mostly positive reviews on this site. Not due out until June.
Great storyline but the character development of Ruby and get father were very undeveloped. I needed more details to go on to believe his gentle side.
Kind of a strange one...
Dystopia. Old Testament style.
I thought this really was amazing (the caption for five stars). I was drawn in immediately by the story line, but what impressed me the most was that my feelings about characters changed as the story went. I felt like I myself was going through the greater understanding that the protagonist is supposed to go through.
Review removed due to Amazon's acquisition of Goodreads.
Great book. Loved it.
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William J. Cobb is a novelist, essayist, and short fiction writer whose work has been published in The New Yorker, The Mississippi Review, The Antioch Review, and many others. He's the author of two novels - The Fire Eaters (W.W. Norton 1994) and Goodnight, Texas (Unbridled Books 2006) - and a book of stories, The White Tattoo (Ohio State UP 2002). He reviews books for the Dallas Morning News, the...more
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