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The Bird House
by
Kelly Simmons (Goodreads Author)
From the critically acclaimed author of Standing Still comes a psychologically charged novel about the power and failure of family.
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
February 1st 2011
by Washington Square Press
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This book was so unbelievably good in a really subtle way. I love how the story line was being played out so quickly but you didn't even know it until you were almost done with the book, which I thought was so cool. I mean, it's like you didn't even know it was happening and then- BAM! It all came to get perfectly.
I really adored the characters. I really felt like Ann could be anybody's Grandma and it makes you appreciate the wisdom and knowledge a person has just from living life. Having worke...more
I really adored the characters. I really felt like Ann could be anybody's Grandma and it makes you appreciate the wisdom and knowledge a person has just from living life. Having worke...more
Reading this book, for me, was meant to be. Here's the funny back-story.
While on Twitter, I was involved in a conversation with other 'Twits' (I don't think we're actually called that - but, it's funny, so - I use it) about books we'd recently read and enjoyed. I mentioned that while it took me some time to finally get to it, I'd found Still Alice by Lisa Genova really good.
As Twitter is an open Social platform geared to conversation and connection ~ a woman named Kelly Simmons joined the conver...more
While on Twitter, I was involved in a conversation with other 'Twits' (I don't think we're actually called that - but, it's funny, so - I use it) about books we'd recently read and enjoyed. I mentioned that while it took me some time to finally get to it, I'd found Still Alice by Lisa Genova really good.
As Twitter is an open Social platform geared to conversation and connection ~ a woman named Kelly Simmons joined the conver...more
This is the story of a mother haunted by a secret she has long kept hidden. Now as she grows old, she finds she must come to terms with an act she committed as a young mother…the secret she kept will come out.
As Grandma Ann Biddle assists her 8 year old granddaughter Ellie with a school project, she finds herself questioning her memory of the past. She finds herself wondering what is actually a memory, and what is her impression of the event. Ann is no longer sure what really happened, or the wa...more
http://iwriteinbooks.wordpress.com/20...
All families have secrets; some are just more secret than others.
After a lifetime of disappointment and tragedy, Ann Biddle has found a small amount of peace in reconnecting with her eight year old grand-daughter, Ellie. Though Ann is in her golden twilight, a school project and an overzealous daughter-in-law begin to decode the lock on what Ann has kept hidden for years. Suddenly, less than golden past threatens to seep forward from the mist and dissipate...more
All families have secrets; some are just more secret than others.
After a lifetime of disappointment and tragedy, Ann Biddle has found a small amount of peace in reconnecting with her eight year old grand-daughter, Ellie. Though Ann is in her golden twilight, a school project and an overzealous daughter-in-law begin to decode the lock on what Ann has kept hidden for years. Suddenly, less than golden past threatens to seep forward from the mist and dissipate...more
What is true? What is real? What is forgotten and what can never be erased? In a lifetime of good intentions we all have our share of secrets, regrets, and undiscovered passions. And digging through old letters, connecting the importance of a ring with something said long ago, really looking at what is around you, well, it can change your entire view of your world.
The Bird House by Kelly Simmons (Washington Square Press) takes the reader on a mesmerizing journey into one woman’s past and beyond...more
The Bird House by Kelly Simmons (Washington Square Press) takes the reader on a mesmerizing journey into one woman’s past and beyond...more
The Bird House by Kelly Simmons,is one of those books I'm not even sure where to begin. I couldn't put this book down.It reads quickly, easily and elegantly. The writing is great, the plotting is amazing and the characters are intriguing.
The Bird House, at it's core is about family secrets. We get to see these secrets through the eyes of Ann who is a grandmother now and trying to connect with her granddaughter, Ellie through a school project at first and then just trying to keep the connection...more
The Bird House, at it's core is about family secrets. We get to see these secrets through the eyes of Ann who is a grandmother now and trying to connect with her granddaughter, Ellie through a school project at first and then just trying to keep the connection...more
I did enjoy this book but there were a couple of points that I thought were weak. I have read many books that had a main character who was dealing with Alzheimers. And the main character in this book, Ann, has an early onset version of it. Here's the odd part: I didn't really find it all that convincing. True, she forgets things here and there, but overall, the character seemed extremely lucid, and the reader really had no idea that she had it except for a few occasional mistakes. This was an od...more
I liked this book, and it was a little more interesting to me because it's based in the Mainline (elite suburban area outside Philadelphia). I technically have a Mainline address, but I am not Mainliner.
The story is told via Ann's diaries--the one from 1967 when she was a young mother of two, and current day where she is a 70 year-old grandmother trying to forge a relationship with her granddaughter, Ellie. The diaries are full of old and new family secrets including adultery, the death of a ch...more
The story is told via Ann's diaries--the one from 1967 when she was a young mother of two, and current day where she is a 70 year-old grandmother trying to forge a relationship with her granddaughter, Ellie. The diaries are full of old and new family secrets including adultery, the death of a ch...more
Mar 03, 2011
Staci
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Staci by:
TLC Book Tours
Shelves:
2011-reads,
tlc-tour-2011
"Beneath the surface of any problem, if you scrabble a bit, you'll find a secret.
It may take a while-decades perhaps-not for your excavation, mind you, but for your desire to appear; for that childlike curiosity to float up again. Indeed, you may need an actual child to summon it, as I did.
But this is what drives us--the historians, the trash pickers, the gossips, the shrinks. And yes, the readers of books. We're all rooting around, teasing out other people's hidden reasons." [p.1]
......I abs...more
It may take a while-decades perhaps-not for your excavation, mind you, but for your desire to appear; for that childlike curiosity to float up again. Indeed, you may need an actual child to summon it, as I did.
But this is what drives us--the historians, the trash pickers, the gossips, the shrinks. And yes, the readers of books. We're all rooting around, teasing out other people's hidden reasons." [p.1]
......I abs...more
I happened across this book, it was in a pile of novels passed over to me by a friend and looked like something I 'might' enjoy so I tossed it on my reading pile. I ran out of things to read due to my local library's wait-list and picked it up thinking I would read a page or two and ended up finishing it in a day. I often mention a book was a quick read for me when what I should say is 'I read quickly' haha. So this was another 'quick read' that surprised me. It moved along quickly enough to kee...more
Looking for a beautifully written and spellbinding novel? Well, look no further because Kelly Simmon's The Bird House is the novel for you. Startling, eloquent, and immersing, I was hooked from the first page until the very last, and even then I was close to begging for more, more, and more of these richly developed characters and the world they live in.
The Bird House tells the story of Ann Biddle, a woman whose dealt with more loss, death, and pain than any good person should, and now after mo...more
The Bird House tells the story of Ann Biddle, a woman whose dealt with more loss, death, and pain than any good person should, and now after mo...more
I have not read Kelly Simmons' other books, but that won't last long! "The Bird House" was a thoroughly enjoyable read. She allows the story to unravel in such a way that, as the reader, you are wondering what is going to happen, but you are so engrossed in the moment of the story that you don't want to happen too fast -- savoring the reveal was so enjoyable.
Her protagonist, Anne could very well have been someone I know, or at least, someone I want to know. The reader can't help but feel for Ann...more
Her protagonist, Anne could very well have been someone I know, or at least, someone I want to know. The reader can't help but feel for Ann...more
This is a story about memories, ageing, loving and guilt. Ann is a 70 year old widow. She developes a relationship with her grandaughter Ellie, who is 8 years old. Ann suffers from the early stages of dementia. Throughout the story we learn that Ann had a daughter that died and you have to read the story to find out how and why Ann suffers with the thought she is responsible. You have to read the book to the end to find out how she died. I will not spoil any parts of the book. It is a must read...more
I loved this novel! Written in such an honest, no holds barred way, this fictional account of a young mother struggling to raise her children, deal with cancer, all while married to an uninvolved, emotionally detached man, just touches the heart on so many levels.Many years later, as Ann is trying to nourish a relationship with her only grandchild Ellie, she has to grapple with her own long held secrets, along with secrets she learns about other family members. Add to the story that Ann is deali...more
Someone recommended this book to me or I never would have picked it up. I am so glad I did. The main character is an older woman, but she is so full of life! Her story, both past and present, is very interesting. Part of the book is about her growing relationship with her young grand daughter, Ellie and it was so beautifully written! I really feel this book is a treasure, and the ending was absolutely perfect. There is a mystery that made me want to keep reading, but I never felt the author was...more
I tried to win a copy of this book on Good Reads but was not one of the chosen few. Encouraged to read it, I downloaded a copy to my iPad yesterday. It was difficult to put it aside for sleep last night, and I have ignored all of today's chores in order to find out the remaining secrets.
Anne helps granddaughter, Ellie, with a school project that was meant to be simple interviews with grandparents. Working together, they uncover new family secrets, and Ann finally faces and fully comprehends deep...more
Anne helps granddaughter, Ellie, with a school project that was meant to be simple interviews with grandparents. Working together, they uncover new family secrets, and Ann finally faces and fully comprehends deep...more
First Sentence: Beneath the surface of any problem, if you scrabble a bit, you'll find a secret.
The book description makes it sound like the protagonist is a likable person. She isn't. She's bitter; she seems to have resented and maybe even disliked her children when they were small; she was unfaithful to her husband, and she is full of pettiness.
In spite of this, this novel is a tightly-woven tale that swings from past to present - a dark family drama that pits Ann, 70 years old, a graduate of...more
The book description makes it sound like the protagonist is a likable person. She isn't. She's bitter; she seems to have resented and maybe even disliked her children when they were small; she was unfaithful to her husband, and she is full of pettiness.
In spite of this, this novel is a tightly-woven tale that swings from past to present - a dark family drama that pits Ann, 70 years old, a graduate of...more
I started this book expecting a nice light read of a novel that I could read at the same time of taking two college classes. From the first pages though I felt closer to the characters than in many novels I've read and I had to keep reminding myself that it was in fact a novel and not a nonfiction book. What started out as a simple story about a grandmother and granddaughter getting to know each other and spending time with each other starts turning into a story about their relationship and the...more
So, I found the book very similar to "We Need to Talk About Kevin." I know a lot of people probably like the ambiguity of not knowing whether Ann's version was reliable but I did not like it, I guess it's a matter of preference. Overall, I liked the book because it was a fast, involving read but I felt like there was something missing from the explanation of Emma's personality. I understand that she was supposed to be a difficult child but I still felt like there was something missing. I really...more
This book is excellent. It kept me throughly engaged. I couldn't wait to get back to it. There is one bizarre thing in this book. It is fictional, but the grandmother in the book is commenting on the absurdly trendy names of the girls in her granddaughter's class...Ashley, Madison, and SLOAN...spelled the same as my daughter's...not the traditional spelling for the female form of the name. Sloan is 883rd out of 1000 names according to social security. I would hardly call it trendy...definitely n...more
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This is one of those books I'm not even sure where to begin. Just when you think you have gotten to the crux of the situation in this one, the author pulls another surprise out of her bag of tricks. I read this in one sitting, it reads quickly, easily and elegantly. The writing is great, the plotting is amazing and the characters are intriguing. What more can you ask for in a book?
The Bird House, at it's core is about family secrets. We get to see these secrets through the eyes of Ann who is a g...more
The Bird House, at it's core is about family secrets. We get to see these secrets through the eyes of Ann who is a g...more
Bird House had so much potential in the early chapters—a lovely story of a grown woman’s newly discovered relationship with her young granddaughter, and her coming to grips with the death of her daughter years ago. Something occurred mid-way through this book and this could-be wry novel turned into a Secret Gurney Potato Peal Society meets the YaYa Sisters on an Agatha Christie blackmail train gone bad. The author managed to touch upon almost every clichéd and stereotyped ever known. The book fe...more
Love, love, love this book! That's my highest rating. :) There are actually two stories within this book - the present, when Ann is trying to connect with her granddaughter and battling signs of dementia; and the past, with it's secrets. As the reader is enjoying the present story, bits of the past surface slowly enough to create intrigue and tension, but frequently enough to avoid frustration. Ms. Simmons is a master of pacing.
Frequent visitors know that Alzheimer's disease is an issue our fam...more
Frequent visitors know that Alzheimer's disease is an issue our fam...more
Overall, the story line isn't something overly original. It's a family drama. Mothers struggling with motherhood, fathers leaving their families or simply being absent in their presence, children wise beyond their years and secrets long ago buried that bubble to the surface over time.
But the voice in which she writes this drama is unique. Ann's voice is reflective, somber, bitter at times and peaceful. I respected her and that shows a promise of a good author. I recommend it..
But the voice in which she writes this drama is unique. Ann's voice is reflective, somber, bitter at times and peaceful. I respected her and that shows a promise of a good author. I recommend it..
I enjoyed The Bird House. It was a well written family drama about relationships, secrets, and the impact they may have for generations to come. Annie is a wonderfully written character. The "fun Grandma" who gets great joy from spending time with her Granddaughter and will not let anyone stop her from spending time with her. It was also very satisfying to see Annie put her controlling Daughter-In-Law in her place. While a little dry in some places, overall, The Bird House was a good read.
What a nice surprise. I didn't know what to expect when I started this book, and ended up charmed. On the surface, it seems like so little happens. But Simmons characters are so real, almost warm to the touch... that I couldn't help but follow along like I was listening to a friend talk about herself. And of course, underneath the calm, is a churn of emotions that fairly leap from the page. Quick read, loved the writing style, can't wait to pick up another of her books.
I liked Bird House, however it touched a cord..I am in my 60's and am having memory problems as well as health. Maybe it was just too real, which says something for how well Bird House is written. Until now, I would have not believed that all families had secrets, but they are coming home in my family too. We sit with a room full of secrets and I so identified with Annie. I loved Standing Still, and Bird House comes in second.
Who doesn't love a family secret??? I really liked this book. The writing was so well done and the story very well thought out. It is about Ann Biddle, widow, 70ish, intelligent, but a little lonely, I think. She gets the opportunity to spend some time with her 8 yr. old grandaughter, Ellie, to do a school project and a wonderful relationship evolves. It's a story of secrets, as I said before, and discoveries, too. I loved it!
Ann Biddle is growing older and struggling with her failing memory.
Her 8 year old grand-daughter, Ellie, needs her help with a school project called "Aspect". She chooses bird houses. This topic opens Ann's memories and uncovers a lifetime of secrets, regrets and long buried passions. This is a good book that explores one families complex relationships and the strong bonds that women form over the years and through the generations.
Her 8 year old grand-daughter, Ellie, needs her help with a school project called "Aspect". She chooses bird houses. This topic opens Ann's memories and uncovers a lifetime of secrets, regrets and long buried passions. This is a good book that explores one families complex relationships and the strong bonds that women form over the years and through the generations.
Simmons has created an appealing, if unreliable, narrator in grandma Ann. Having been scarred in childhood by her father's abandonment of her and her mother, Ann is only now coming to adore her grandchild, Ellie, the way most grandparents do. Ellie's school project about genealogy forces Ann to confront her past choices while continuing to avoid the consequences of her failing memory.
Ellie's mother, Tinsley, appears to be making choices similar to Ann's, and while Ann can't let her hurt her ador...more
Ellie's mother, Tinsley, appears to be making choices similar to Ann's, and while Ann can't let her hurt her ador...more
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DEBUTING THIS FEBRUARY: THE BIRD HOUSE, from Simon & Schuster. Hailed as a "great title for book groups who love strong female characters" by the Library Journal. Publishers Weekly called my first novel, Standing Still "An electrifying debut" in its starred review. I visit book clubs via Skype or in person. For book signing events or more information, see my website bykellysimmons.com. Or frie...more
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