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The Song of the Stork: A Story of Love, Hope and Survival
A Jewish girl finds refuge with a village outcast during WWII in this “elegantly crafted, beautifully written novel about love, survival and hope” (William Ryan). In a small Eastern European village, fifteen-year-old Yael is on the run from Nazi invaders. The so-called village idiot, Aleksei is a solitary mute who does not want for company. But as the brutal winter advances, he reluctantly takes Yael in. As she begins to win his trust, a delicate relationship develops between them. But beyond Aleksei’s remote homestead, the war rages on, and Yael cannot hide forever. A Jewish partisan group is organizing in the woods to mount a counterattack. Torn between her love and her need to fight, Yael must find her voice as the voices around her are being extinguished.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2017
6 people are currently reading
512 people want to read
About the author
Stephan Collishaw
6 books22 followersAgent: http://www.annettegreenagency.co.uk/
Author of The Last Girl and Amber. and The Song of the Stork.
A Child Called Happiness is out May 2018.
Praise for The Last Girl:
"Shockingly good, stylistically inventive and emotionally devastating. One of those truly surprising and accomplished first novels."
The British Council
"astoundingly complex..tense, vivid, effortlessly real...no layer is wasted. Each adds meaning, makes the whole more uneasy and disturbing - a feat few first-time novelists could pull off."
The Guardian
Read more:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...
http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-li...
Author of The Last Girl and Amber. and The Song of the Stork.
A Child Called Happiness is out May 2018.
Praise for The Last Girl:
"Shockingly good, stylistically inventive and emotionally devastating. One of those truly surprising and accomplished first novels."
The British Council
"astoundingly complex..tense, vivid, effortlessly real...no layer is wasted. Each adds meaning, makes the whole more uneasy and disturbing - a feat few first-time novelists could pull off."
The Guardian
Read more:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...
http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-li...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
March 26, 2017
A well-written novel with a great first half and a very disappointing second half crowned with a conclusion that has more loose threads than desirable.
The plot about an adolescent Jewish girl seeking and finding refuge at a remote farm owned by a young man born mute was guaranteed to catch my fancy from the start, and Stephan Collishaw's economical, spare and uncluttered prose delivered it very proficiently and aided in the story's lack of action being barely noticeable, if at all. It was all centred on the inside, on emotions, the personal development of the girl, Yael, and the slow-burn and drama-free growth of tender feelings towards Aleksei. And drama-free it may have been, but it could not stay unrealistically free of the dark side of a wartime setting and invading armies prowling nearby, so when the Wehrmacht set their boots in the quiet farm it was just natural that things would get shaken pretty hard.
But . . . Here's where the book rushes down to its unsatisfying ending. It would've been preferable that Yael had stayed where she was, and the challenges thrown at them to come from the occupying Germans and Aleksei trying to keep Yael safe in hiding. Instead, the plot moves elsewhere, a new male character is introduced halfway through about whose use to the plotline I have serious doubts, and two or so years of cruel fighting in the Eastern Front are hastily summed up in some pages, coming finally to a wrap-up of sorts that's just a perfunctory "and then this and then that happened" epilogue, without hints as to what happened to a character we'd come to like in the first half.
I don't expect everything to be answered in my fiction, and some mysteries are always to be left for the reader to solve mentally. But there's a difference between that and leaving threads loose or a sensation of it all having been just dropped, of a lack of polish and proper endings. So, I rate this 3.5 stars and not higher.
The plot about an adolescent Jewish girl seeking and finding refuge at a remote farm owned by a young man born mute was guaranteed to catch my fancy from the start, and Stephan Collishaw's economical, spare and uncluttered prose delivered it very proficiently and aided in the story's lack of action being barely noticeable, if at all. It was all centred on the inside, on emotions, the personal development of the girl, Yael, and the slow-burn and drama-free growth of tender feelings towards Aleksei. And drama-free it may have been, but it could not stay unrealistically free of the dark side of a wartime setting and invading armies prowling nearby, so when the Wehrmacht set their boots in the quiet farm it was just natural that things would get shaken pretty hard.
But . . . Here's where the book rushes down to its unsatisfying ending. It would've been preferable that Yael had stayed where she was, and the challenges thrown at them to come from the occupying Germans and Aleksei trying to keep Yael safe in hiding. Instead, the plot moves elsewhere, a new male character is introduced halfway through about whose use to the plotline I have serious doubts, and two or so years of cruel fighting in the Eastern Front are hastily summed up in some pages, coming finally to a wrap-up of sorts that's just a perfunctory "and then this and then that happened" epilogue, without hints as to what happened to a character we'd come to like in the first half.
I don't expect everything to be answered in my fiction, and some mysteries are always to be left for the reader to solve mentally. But there's a difference between that and leaving threads loose or a sensation of it all having been just dropped, of a lack of polish and proper endings. So, I rate this 3.5 stars and not higher.
March 6, 2017
Distinctive, memorable and poignant. How such a slim volume can pack this much emotional punch, I have no idea. Its vivid, life-shattering horrors seized a little more of my heart with every passing chapter.
During these uncertain times the contours of people’s bodies changed in tandem with the landscape; the deep ridges ploughed by German tanks mirror rib cages covered by streamers of shapeless rags, as persecuted human beings are reduced to scarecrows shivering in the fields they may have once owned.
Through exceptional and sensitive narration the unbearable grief of what is to come will stir your soul. The Song of the Stork will drag you into the thicket to crouch alongside Yael, a mere fifteen year old, alone and stricken by hunger and fear as war tightened its steely grip. And yet, even when all other doors have been firmly closed to her she found the courage to prospect for one that may be open.
Under circumstances less gruelling than these it would be difficult to conjure optimism, but to convey the infinite joy of finding shelter in a chicken coop is the work of a truly gifted author. The initial reception Yael received from the owner of the coop is neither welcoming, nor hostile. Aleksei simply shows her a pamphlet as a stark warning for those breaking the law by helping the Jewish community. This non-verbal communication is his first tentative step of acknowledging her presence.
Yael has heard the rumours of this young man, of course she has. People mocked him for never uttering a word anyone, saying he was crazy and should be left alone. Witnessing the thoughtful and perceptive progression of how he adapted to the disturbance of his guest's unexpected arrival was >a pure triumph.
In a ravaged world where tomorrow may never arrive, you would be forgiven for mistaking the modest luxuries of having a floor to sleep on, or having a shallow bath of warm water to relieve your itching skin, for security or even love. As an agreeable routine lays down its roots, it is quickly followed by the first shoots of fondness which miraculously flourishes into something profoundly beautiful. But this humble, isolated life is not free from danger as unforgiving enemies continually threaten to force their way in.
The Song of the Stork captures the very essence of survivors longing for the wind to change and bring whispers of hope with it. Until then they embrace the conviction to not only salvage what remains of life but to live it, however challenging that may prove to be. An extraordinary read. Truly extraordinary.
(My thanks to Legend Press for providing a copy of this title. It is my absolute pleasure to provide this unbiased review.)
During these uncertain times the contours of people’s bodies changed in tandem with the landscape; the deep ridges ploughed by German tanks mirror rib cages covered by streamers of shapeless rags, as persecuted human beings are reduced to scarecrows shivering in the fields they may have once owned.
Through exceptional and sensitive narration the unbearable grief of what is to come will stir your soul. The Song of the Stork will drag you into the thicket to crouch alongside Yael, a mere fifteen year old, alone and stricken by hunger and fear as war tightened its steely grip. And yet, even when all other doors have been firmly closed to her she found the courage to prospect for one that may be open.
Under circumstances less gruelling than these it would be difficult to conjure optimism, but to convey the infinite joy of finding shelter in a chicken coop is the work of a truly gifted author. The initial reception Yael received from the owner of the coop is neither welcoming, nor hostile. Aleksei simply shows her a pamphlet as a stark warning for those breaking the law by helping the Jewish community. This non-verbal communication is his first tentative step of acknowledging her presence.
Yael has heard the rumours of this young man, of course she has. People mocked him for never uttering a word anyone, saying he was crazy and should be left alone. Witnessing the thoughtful and perceptive progression of how he adapted to the disturbance of his guest's unexpected arrival was >a pure triumph.
In a ravaged world where tomorrow may never arrive, you would be forgiven for mistaking the modest luxuries of having a floor to sleep on, or having a shallow bath of warm water to relieve your itching skin, for security or even love. As an agreeable routine lays down its roots, it is quickly followed by the first shoots of fondness which miraculously flourishes into something profoundly beautiful. But this humble, isolated life is not free from danger as unforgiving enemies continually threaten to force their way in.
The Song of the Stork captures the very essence of survivors longing for the wind to change and bring whispers of hope with it. Until then they embrace the conviction to not only salvage what remains of life but to live it, however challenging that may prove to be. An extraordinary read. Truly extraordinary.
(My thanks to Legend Press for providing a copy of this title. It is my absolute pleasure to provide this unbiased review.)
April 15, 2017
This was such a beautiful read! Once I was fully immersed in the story, it was impossible to put it down!
This is a story about Yael, a Jewish girl who is on the run from the Nazis. She seeks shelter at a secluded house of an old aquaintance. What starts out as a wary and distant relationship between Yael and the mute Aleksei, turns into a sweet love.
But the main focus of the story wasn't on the romance but on the self-development of Yael. She is safe at Aleksei's house for a few years until the Germans come and she has to run again. She goes through a lot of difficult situations, meets new people and has to overcome some incisive obstacles. You couldn't help but FEEL for Yael and simply hope that everything turns out alright for her. Her character development is portrayed beautifully and very realistically.
Personally, I am a fan of WW2 stories, whether it's movies or books so this was a great read for me. It was a good and interesting depiction of the life of Jews on the run from the Nazi regime during WW2. You could truly feel the panic and the angst that they experienced in this book.
The writing was absolutely beautiful and it totally helped create that feeling of investment in the story and really connecting to the main character. It easily made you get lost in the story, too.
This could have been a perfect 5 star read. The only thing that bothered me were the loose ends that we were left with at the end of the book. We don't get to know what happens to one of the characters who plays a big part of the first half of the book! I would have loved to get at least a hint of an explanation and find out what happened to some of the characters that Yael met throughout the book.
Overall, this was still a wonderful read and I am giving this book 4 stars.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This is a story about Yael, a Jewish girl who is on the run from the Nazis. She seeks shelter at a secluded house of an old aquaintance. What starts out as a wary and distant relationship between Yael and the mute Aleksei, turns into a sweet love.
But the main focus of the story wasn't on the romance but on the self-development of Yael. She is safe at Aleksei's house for a few years until the Germans come and she has to run again. She goes through a lot of difficult situations, meets new people and has to overcome some incisive obstacles. You couldn't help but FEEL for Yael and simply hope that everything turns out alright for her. Her character development is portrayed beautifully and very realistically.
Personally, I am a fan of WW2 stories, whether it's movies or books so this was a great read for me. It was a good and interesting depiction of the life of Jews on the run from the Nazi regime during WW2. You could truly feel the panic and the angst that they experienced in this book.
The writing was absolutely beautiful and it totally helped create that feeling of investment in the story and really connecting to the main character. It easily made you get lost in the story, too.
This could have been a perfect 5 star read. The only thing that bothered me were the loose ends that we were left with at the end of the book. We don't get to know what happens to one of the characters who plays a big part of the first half of the book! I would have loved to get at least a hint of an explanation and find out what happened to some of the characters that Yael met throughout the book.
Overall, this was still a wonderful read and I am giving this book 4 stars.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
February 10, 2017
I really enjoyed this novel. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It's a beautifully written tale about a young girl's harrowing journey during the Second World War. It's about survival, love, friendship, and keeping faith and hope when the odds are stacked against you. It was haunting and eerie and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the story, but it was lacking a bit of emotional depth for me. I felt like I never became completely consumed with the story, like I usually get when reading books such as this. It also could have used more detail in a lot of areas. I found myself questioning things that were never addressed...wondering what the answers were. I also wish the ending gave us a little more. However, I really enjoyed it. Fans of WWII historical fiction should definitely read this.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/Legend Press in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/Legend Press in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2017
I really enjoyed this short but compelling novel set in Lithuania during WWII. It’s a poignant and moving story about a young Jewish girl on the run for her life who seeks shelter on an isolated farm with a village outcast. Well-crafted and well-paced, the book is a haunting tale of love and friendship, endurance and the survival of hope against all the odds. I very much appreciated the author’s rather understated style and the fact that he doesn’t spell things out but uses language and atmosphere to convey the emotions. The ending is at one level a devastating one but also a hopeful one, and not overly dramatic. War stories abound, as do Holocaust ones, so brave is the writer who tackles them, but Collishaw has risen to the challenge with a beautiful and haunting novel that will long remain with me.
February 28, 2017
The Song of the Stork is a tale of harrowing survival, poignant loss, and overcoming overwhelming odds in Russia during World War II. Yael is a young Jewish girl on the run who takes shelter with her neighbor Aleksei who is reluctant and mute. While forced into running again, Yael later joins a Jewish partition group which is fighting for their freedom.
While touching as most novels set in this time period are, I felt like the tale was rushed and bereft of enough depth that would allow me to really be enraptured with the story. The connections between the characters seem shallow and great time spans are brushed through quickly enough that friendships don't seem to be particularly realistic. And while Yael is going through a harrowing ordeal, I didn't particularly feel like she was finding a voice as the summary bills the story. Overall, the novel unfortunately didn't capture much of my interest and I was unable to really connect with any of the characters.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
While touching as most novels set in this time period are, I felt like the tale was rushed and bereft of enough depth that would allow me to really be enraptured with the story. The connections between the characters seem shallow and great time spans are brushed through quickly enough that friendships don't seem to be particularly realistic. And while Yael is going through a harrowing ordeal, I didn't particularly feel like she was finding a voice as the summary bills the story. Overall, the novel unfortunately didn't capture much of my interest and I was unable to really connect with any of the characters.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
February 13, 2018
I was torn somewhere between 2 and 3 stars for The Song of the Stork, but ultimately decided to go with 2. The writing was spare and pretty good, but there were narrative elements that really bugged me.
I received my copy of The Song of the Stork by Stephen Collishaw through a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway, in exchange for an honest review.
I received my copy of The Song of the Stork by Stephen Collishaw through a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway, in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is a gem of beauty. There’s something quite special about it, in the style of it, in the aesthetic of it all.
It felt like watching a Monet painting, to me.
Extremely detailed, very fluid, beautifully crafted, this story tackled a very hard topic of History, yet with incredible elegance. It was tough, intense, hard but hopeful.
A tale of survival.
Stephan Collishaw has a way with words, that’s a given. The respect he gives to them is plain on the paper, and his descriptions are exquisite.
There’s an “out of this world” air about this book, and I’m sure it’s one that won’t be forgotten easily.
This novel is a gem of beauty. There’s something quite special about it, in the style of it, in the aesthetic of it all.
It felt like watching a Monet painting, to me.
Extremely detailed, very fluid, beautifully crafted, this story tackled a very hard topic of History, yet with incredible elegance. It was tough, intense, hard but hopeful.
A tale of survival.
Stephan Collishaw has a way with words, that’s a given. The respect he gives to them is plain on the paper, and his descriptions are exquisite.
There’s an “out of this world” air about this book, and I’m sure it’s one that won’t be forgotten easily.
February 6, 2017
I was fascinated by the tone, it was suspenseful and read in sort of a haunting in a way. The writing captivated me. A compelling fable like story with sprinkles of love, and mostly of survival with an unforeseen ending that left me spinning.
*Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for and honest review* (Thank You!)
*Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for and honest review* (Thank You!)
July 20, 2017
In this tale, we find a young Jewish girl, Yael, escaping from the Nazis who are taking over Poland. On her own, she struggles to survive until she is taken in by the town’s ‘crazy man, only he’s not crazy, just mute. In the absence of words, the two bond, creating a romantic friendship in the midst of all the chaos. But when the Germans strike again, she’s forced to run from that love and struggle to survive on her own again.
This book caught my attention when I heard it took place during WWII, my favorite time period to read about. At first, the action of her struggling wasn’t too intense, but it still grabbed me into the book, slowing down when she finds shelter with Aleksei. It’s a nice change to watch their bond slowly blossom and with no dialogue. Takes some good writing to do that.
I knew she wasn’t going to be safe forever though, so when the Germans attacked, I kind of expected it. But besides that, the suspense of surviving after that, while finding herself distancing herself more and more from her love. It turns the story sadder, while still being happy for her at the same time.
This book caught my attention when I heard it took place during WWII, my favorite time period to read about. At first, the action of her struggling wasn’t too intense, but it still grabbed me into the book, slowing down when she finds shelter with Aleksei. It’s a nice change to watch their bond slowly blossom and with no dialogue. Takes some good writing to do that.
I knew she wasn’t going to be safe forever though, so when the Germans attacked, I kind of expected it. But besides that, the suspense of surviving after that, while finding herself distancing herself more and more from her love. It turns the story sadder, while still being happy for her at the same time.
March 6, 2017
*I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley*
The Song of the Stork is a tale of survival, loss, fear and finding hope and joy in the unlikeliest of places. The story is set during the WWII and follows the journey of a young, Jewish girl called Yael, trying to escape the clutches of German soldiers. she finds a safe haven in Aleksei's farm. He's a mute and solitary creature, who fears any interaction with people. He reluctantly takes her in. Later in the book, she's forced to escape the farm, after the arrival of German soldiers. She joins a Jewish partisan group, where she makes a place for herself.
"Is it possible, she thought, that here, in the middle of war, as on all sides of carnage and murder stalk the world, is it possible that there can exist this pocket of peace? of joy? of sanity?
The writing was simple and decorous, yet beautiful. I really liked the silent interactions between Yael and Aleksei. It was sweet and endearing. Yael was such an understanding and compassionate character with her efforts to put Aleksei at ease. It would have been great if their relationship was explored further. I also loved the dynamics of the partisan group, how they relied on each other for their mutual survival. Anna was a delightful character! I wanted to see more of her. I thought it was going to be a 5-star read for me, but the ending left a lot to be desired! I was really frustrated and unsatisfied; left me curious about the fates of Aleksei, Maksim and so many other characters.
I really enjoyed the book, but I wish the characters and story were explored further! This book felt me feeling melancholy, with a lot of unanswered questions.
My rating : 3.5\5 ☆
The Song of the Stork is a tale of survival, loss, fear and finding hope and joy in the unlikeliest of places. The story is set during the WWII and follows the journey of a young, Jewish girl called Yael, trying to escape the clutches of German soldiers. she finds a safe haven in Aleksei's farm. He's a mute and solitary creature, who fears any interaction with people. He reluctantly takes her in. Later in the book, she's forced to escape the farm, after the arrival of German soldiers. She joins a Jewish partisan group, where she makes a place for herself.
"Is it possible, she thought, that here, in the middle of war, as on all sides of carnage and murder stalk the world, is it possible that there can exist this pocket of peace? of joy? of sanity?
The writing was simple and decorous, yet beautiful. I really liked the silent interactions between Yael and Aleksei. It was sweet and endearing. Yael was such an understanding and compassionate character with her efforts to put Aleksei at ease. It would have been great if their relationship was explored further. I also loved the dynamics of the partisan group, how they relied on each other for their mutual survival. Anna was a delightful character! I wanted to see more of her. I thought it was going to be a 5-star read for me, but the ending left a lot to be desired! I was really frustrated and unsatisfied; left me curious about the fates of Aleksei, Maksim and so many other characters.
I really enjoyed the book, but I wish the characters and story were explored further! This book felt me feeling melancholy, with a lot of unanswered questions.
My rating : 3.5\5 ☆
March 22, 2017
*I received a digital copy for Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 star rating. I read this book in one sitting. The writing was great and I found it easy to get into, even though this was a new author for me. It really created an atmosphere of suspense. Even though there isn't a lot happening in some sections the writing and character development really pull it through. The first half was definitely stronger than the second half, in my opinion. I was a little disappointed that an intriguing character I liked during the first half was never heard from again in the second half - we don't get any idea of what happened to him. Apart from that, I thought this was a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it.
3.5 star rating. I read this book in one sitting. The writing was great and I found it easy to get into, even though this was a new author for me. It really created an atmosphere of suspense. Even though there isn't a lot happening in some sections the writing and character development really pull it through. The first half was definitely stronger than the second half, in my opinion. I was a little disappointed that an intriguing character I liked during the first half was never heard from again in the second half - we don't get any idea of what happened to him. Apart from that, I thought this was a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it.
March 19, 2017
I received this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't think this book was very bad, but it was also nothing special. It was a quick read and it kept me interested enough to continue, but I didn't connect to any of the characters and the story remained rather superficial. The book is quite short but still covers 4 years of the war, and I didn't feel there was much depth to the characters or their decisions.
I didn't think this book was very bad, but it was also nothing special. It was a quick read and it kept me interested enough to continue, but I didn't connect to any of the characters and the story remained rather superficial. The book is quite short but still covers 4 years of the war, and I didn't feel there was much depth to the characters or their decisions.
March 4, 2022
I’m reading a short book called “The song of the stork” by Stephan Collishaw. It is an outstanding story of love, hope, and survival. It is a simple story where Stephan writes the connections, a female character, where Yael, 15, and a Jewish girl who is on the run from the Nazis. She finds a shelter on a farm and meet Aleksei. He is mute. They formed a friendship where he took her in his home and to feel safe and sheltered, of having food and water to wash, of being able to sit in front of a warm fire through the winter. The German comes back, Yael force and join the Parisian in the forest to find another place to shelter. I read all afternoon and I couldn’t put it down. I love a romance story because the story was riveting read from the first sentence to the last sentence.
February 7, 2017
I'm so reluctant to write anything here because nothing I say can do this novel justice - it's a heartstopping tale of a child coming to adulthood in the most awful of circumstances, finding hope in a war ravaged landscape where none seems to be.
It's written in elegant, spare language and it almost broke my heart.
Seventy years later and there are Yaels in refugee camps all over the world. Shame on us all.
Go now and pre-order this book (it will be published on 1 March) - it will be one of the multi award winning novels of 2017/18.
Many thanks to Legend Press, NetGalley and to the author for the advance review copy.
It's written in elegant, spare language and it almost broke my heart.
Seventy years later and there are Yaels in refugee camps all over the world. Shame on us all.
Go now and pre-order this book (it will be published on 1 March) - it will be one of the multi award winning novels of 2017/18.
Many thanks to Legend Press, NetGalley and to the author for the advance review copy.
February 11, 2022
Maybe it’s just me but it seems we often get so caught up in “lyrically written” and “beautifully crafted” that we lose sight of the goal — to write a complete story. This was a fast read but the author was so caught up in his poetry that his characters were set aside and the story unfinished.
July 14, 2017
The Song of the Stork is the complete package as far as beautiful books go. The cover is stunning and the title is really striking and the perfect fit for the story inside. Stephan Collishaw’s storytelling was built on atmosphere and tension, the unnerving feeling that something bad is going to happen without it being spelt out to us. The prose is dark and intense and my fear for what could happen to the characters I quickly cared for had me refusing to put the book down.
Set around World War II, in The Song of the Stork we meet Yael, a fifteen year old Jewish girl who is on the run, seeking shelter from the Germans. All alone, and with the belief that there is nobody left to wonder where or how she is, Yael’s life is now driven by the hope that her brother Josef is alive and how they could be reunited. In the meantime she gradually wins over recluse Aleksei into giving her shelter from the outside world.
Aleksei is mute but that didn’t stop me from completely falling for his character. I found him to be inspired and I loved his way of communicating with Yael and how protective he was. I think he showed great strength in character as he accepted his fear of the situation he was in – his life was under threat as he hid Yael in his home – but still did everything in his power to keep Yael safe. I loved everything about Aleksei’s character and felt for him and his frustration at not always being able to get through to Yael or express himself to her. Yael is a more outgoing character and keeps Aleksei on his toes, and the gradual love story that builds between them was wonderful to read.
I think the author represents the time period, and therefore the war, in this book really well. There is danger lurking on every page and every chapter where things seemed relatively safe for Yael and Aleksei made me feel more aware that bad things were coming. One thing I particularly loved about this book was the feeling of hope that runs through its core. As much as this is a survival story and you are aware that happy endings in this era often went unfounded, there was a level of hope about this book, within the characters and within the reader, and this gave a slightly different feel to the experience of reading a World War II story. I found I was always clinging onto hope, despite fearing for the characters’ lives, and this kept me glued to the pages to see how everything would turn out.
I really did take to this book but my one complaint is with the ending. It just didn’t feel right to me. I felt like someone had ripped the last couple of chapters out of my book… I never feel like I need every loose end to be tied up, I don’t really mind an open ending, but this one was way too open for my liking. To have been invested in something so much throughout the course of the book to find no closure whatsoever was a shame as I finished the book still dying for answers about something in particular.
Despite that, The Song of the Stork is a book that will long remain on my mind. I absolutely loved this book as it was truly beautiful and powerful. The language and tone made this harsh story incredibly readable. I loved the atmospheric detail from the snow to the storks. Everything was very expressive and it gave the book more impact. The Song of the Stork is a haunting yet compassionate story built with love and a level of hope that the future for the characters within the book is not as bleak as can be feared.
Set around World War II, in The Song of the Stork we meet Yael, a fifteen year old Jewish girl who is on the run, seeking shelter from the Germans. All alone, and with the belief that there is nobody left to wonder where or how she is, Yael’s life is now driven by the hope that her brother Josef is alive and how they could be reunited. In the meantime she gradually wins over recluse Aleksei into giving her shelter from the outside world.
Aleksei is mute but that didn’t stop me from completely falling for his character. I found him to be inspired and I loved his way of communicating with Yael and how protective he was. I think he showed great strength in character as he accepted his fear of the situation he was in – his life was under threat as he hid Yael in his home – but still did everything in his power to keep Yael safe. I loved everything about Aleksei’s character and felt for him and his frustration at not always being able to get through to Yael or express himself to her. Yael is a more outgoing character and keeps Aleksei on his toes, and the gradual love story that builds between them was wonderful to read.
I think the author represents the time period, and therefore the war, in this book really well. There is danger lurking on every page and every chapter where things seemed relatively safe for Yael and Aleksei made me feel more aware that bad things were coming. One thing I particularly loved about this book was the feeling of hope that runs through its core. As much as this is a survival story and you are aware that happy endings in this era often went unfounded, there was a level of hope about this book, within the characters and within the reader, and this gave a slightly different feel to the experience of reading a World War II story. I found I was always clinging onto hope, despite fearing for the characters’ lives, and this kept me glued to the pages to see how everything would turn out.
I really did take to this book but my one complaint is with the ending. It just didn’t feel right to me. I felt like someone had ripped the last couple of chapters out of my book… I never feel like I need every loose end to be tied up, I don’t really mind an open ending, but this one was way too open for my liking. To have been invested in something so much throughout the course of the book to find no closure whatsoever was a shame as I finished the book still dying for answers about something in particular.
Despite that, The Song of the Stork is a book that will long remain on my mind. I absolutely loved this book as it was truly beautiful and powerful. The language and tone made this harsh story incredibly readable. I loved the atmospheric detail from the snow to the storks. Everything was very expressive and it gave the book more impact. The Song of the Stork is a haunting yet compassionate story built with love and a level of hope that the future for the characters within the book is not as bleak as can be feared.
July 14, 2017
*I've won this book through Goodreads giveaway *
So, what this book is about ? A Jewish teenage girl, who goes into hiding from German soldiers. She found shelter at the house of a mute young guy. At first , mute wanted nothing to do with runaway girl. Eventually they warmed up to each other. So much do that the girl finds out she's pregnant. But she learned of her condition while , once again, hiding in the forest from Germans. A group of partisans rescued her, and took her in. She was given a simple chores to do and in return, they'd let her stay with the group. While listening to partisan's conversation, the girl learns that her brother is a leader of another partisan group. She writes a letter to him, and asks fellow partisan to forward it to her brother, if it's even possible. The group of partisans she stayed with had a leader, to whom the girl eventually developed warm feelings. They had something in common. Both had left behind someone they loved. Once, two of them kissed, but it didn't go any further. This man helped the girl to give birth , by bringing a local doctor. As a result young Jew became a mother to a baby girl. After, the nice again, she went into hiding, living with a woodcutter. She left him at one of the German checkpoints, for she had no documents. Finally, she and the baby make their way back to place she was from. Her house was there, but it was already occupied by somebody else. The two of them located the house of baby's father, but it was empty and no signs of the man anywhere. But there's also good news -- it turned out the lost brother was alive and well. The three of them met, eventually, and came to a conclusion that all is well ...
Now, I'm sorry to say it, but...here comes... I did not like the book. It didn't move me. I always love stories about WW2 , but not this time. I found it disturbing, to read how Jewish runaway came into bed with the mute. Another situation , with Eva, when our main character almost forced her out of the house, because she felt threatened by her beauty , gave me a negative feeling. In addition, I found it horrible, how the main character seemed intimate relationship ( at least thought about it) with a leader of partisan group she stayed with... At one point, I wanted to call it quits, but read it to me very last page. I loved the language, the writing style of the author, but I didn't like the book.
So my rating is 3 stars...
So, what this book is about ? A Jewish teenage girl, who goes into hiding from German soldiers. She found shelter at the house of a mute young guy. At first , mute wanted nothing to do with runaway girl. Eventually they warmed up to each other. So much do that the girl finds out she's pregnant. But she learned of her condition while , once again, hiding in the forest from Germans. A group of partisans rescued her, and took her in. She was given a simple chores to do and in return, they'd let her stay with the group. While listening to partisan's conversation, the girl learns that her brother is a leader of another partisan group. She writes a letter to him, and asks fellow partisan to forward it to her brother, if it's even possible. The group of partisans she stayed with had a leader, to whom the girl eventually developed warm feelings. They had something in common. Both had left behind someone they loved. Once, two of them kissed, but it didn't go any further. This man helped the girl to give birth , by bringing a local doctor. As a result young Jew became a mother to a baby girl. After, the nice again, she went into hiding, living with a woodcutter. She left him at one of the German checkpoints, for she had no documents. Finally, she and the baby make their way back to place she was from. Her house was there, but it was already occupied by somebody else. The two of them located the house of baby's father, but it was empty and no signs of the man anywhere. But there's also good news -- it turned out the lost brother was alive and well. The three of them met, eventually, and came to a conclusion that all is well ...
Now, I'm sorry to say it, but...here comes... I did not like the book. It didn't move me. I always love stories about WW2 , but not this time. I found it disturbing, to read how Jewish runaway came into bed with the mute. Another situation , with Eva, when our main character almost forced her out of the house, because she felt threatened by her beauty , gave me a negative feeling. In addition, I found it horrible, how the main character seemed intimate relationship ( at least thought about it) with a leader of partisan group she stayed with... At one point, I wanted to call it quits, but read it to me very last page. I loved the language, the writing style of the author, but I didn't like the book.
So my rating is 3 stars...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2022
This book held much promise, and although some of his descriptive prose was prettily done and the start was intriguing, the middle and the end were unconvincing. For me, this was badly imagined through the male lens and left way too many loose ends for the book to score anything other than below average.
I’m sceptical of male authors that lead with a female protagonist. Very few get the voice, realism and ability to convince right. In this case, I found Collishaw's portrayal of Yeal lazy and woefully lacking. Telling this story through the eyes of a woman by a man that views the world through what is clearly, a patriarchal lens was a mistake. The continual need for the author to write Yeal as a ‘damsel in distress’ with an overbearing reliance on men to save her was infuriating. Did Collishaw ever once consider that real women during this horrific time in our history spent their war saving themselves and not hanging out in ivory towers waiting to be rescued?
The part where he plays the two women on the run off each other halfway through the book was so anger-inducing that I nearly threw the book across the room. Writing women like this, reducing them to only sexually driven emotions, perpetuating the male narrative of women that reduces them to bitchy harridans incapable of supporting one another in a time of great need, is damaging and wrong. I note both of his female editors, Annette Green and Lauren Parsons, failed to save this book from itself, which surprised me even more.
I also have to discuss Collishaw's weird, unnecessary sexualisation of scenes in the book that disturbed me. A half-starved woman living in the filth of a chicken coup hiding from the nazis and then describing her having a bath for the first time in a year with water dripping from her ‘pink nipples’ is just odd! Why can’t she just have a bath, and why can’t Aleksei just cry on Yael's shoulder in a moment of vulnerability? Why do his tears have to be ‘tracing a line between her breasts’? Once you notice this, you can’t stop seeing it throughout the book.
Maybe Stephan Collishaw should sign up with Mills & Boon and try his hand at a bit of soft porn writing. I think he’d be really good at it.
Ps, there is no such thing as a quiet baby JFYI
I’m sceptical of male authors that lead with a female protagonist. Very few get the voice, realism and ability to convince right. In this case, I found Collishaw's portrayal of Yeal lazy and woefully lacking. Telling this story through the eyes of a woman by a man that views the world through what is clearly, a patriarchal lens was a mistake. The continual need for the author to write Yeal as a ‘damsel in distress’ with an overbearing reliance on men to save her was infuriating. Did Collishaw ever once consider that real women during this horrific time in our history spent their war saving themselves and not hanging out in ivory towers waiting to be rescued?
The part where he plays the two women on the run off each other halfway through the book was so anger-inducing that I nearly threw the book across the room. Writing women like this, reducing them to only sexually driven emotions, perpetuating the male narrative of women that reduces them to bitchy harridans incapable of supporting one another in a time of great need, is damaging and wrong. I note both of his female editors, Annette Green and Lauren Parsons, failed to save this book from itself, which surprised me even more.
I also have to discuss Collishaw's weird, unnecessary sexualisation of scenes in the book that disturbed me. A half-starved woman living in the filth of a chicken coup hiding from the nazis and then describing her having a bath for the first time in a year with water dripping from her ‘pink nipples’ is just odd! Why can’t she just have a bath, and why can’t Aleksei just cry on Yael's shoulder in a moment of vulnerability? Why do his tears have to be ‘tracing a line between her breasts’? Once you notice this, you can’t stop seeing it throughout the book.
Maybe Stephan Collishaw should sign up with Mills & Boon and try his hand at a bit of soft porn writing. I think he’d be really good at it.
Ps, there is no such thing as a quiet baby JFYI
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2017
The author skims around the edges of the horrific suffering - we see the persecution and rejection of the Jews and there are occasional shots fired and bodies falling by the wayside, but there are no scenes of graphic violence or cruelty. The prose is sparse and understated and it reminded me at times of The Secret Diary of Anne Frank, which hints at the barbaric events going on in the world without ever displaying them in all their technicolour horror. The writing is hauntingly beautiful and poetic, focusing on hope for the future and delight in the resistance of humanity against all odds, with terror, unspeakable cruelty and hopelessness constantly gnawing away at the edges, like wolves baying for blood and trying to find a way in.
full review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
full review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
March 22, 2017
There’s a certain calming charm to the prose of Collishaw and it doesn’t lose momentum even if certain scenes are distressing. From the desperate opening to a starved Yael in the woods and then to Aleksei’s tremor of nerves, the story flows like a calm river on an overcast day. I was moved by the simple grace of the story, and somehow the exchanges of silence between characters seemed louder than any dialogue. If the book doesn’t lure you in the first few pages, then it might impress you further on. Despite this book being a short read, it is packed with meaningful and beautiful ideas of love, life and hope.
Our young heroine, Yael has only thoughts survival, and is quick to act whenever food or shelter became available to her. Snippets of her family and what her life was before are offered grudgingly in the beginning. It’s not until she finds refuge with Aleksei that her character develops. By learning to earn his trust, she’s able to find a piece of stillness in a world of violence, and where she can finally think of her family. It’s also in a way a coming of age story, as Yael enters womanhood as she grows stronger in health and mind. She learns about her body in a way that some might find disturbing. Yet it’s also a way that she finds her confidence again, and that helps her survive when she’s separated from Aleksei.
Please read my full review on my blog, LittleGreatReads:
https://littlegreatreads.wordpress.co...
Our young heroine, Yael has only thoughts survival, and is quick to act whenever food or shelter became available to her. Snippets of her family and what her life was before are offered grudgingly in the beginning. It’s not until she finds refuge with Aleksei that her character develops. By learning to earn his trust, she’s able to find a piece of stillness in a world of violence, and where she can finally think of her family. It’s also in a way a coming of age story, as Yael enters womanhood as she grows stronger in health and mind. She learns about her body in a way that some might find disturbing. Yet it’s also a way that she finds her confidence again, and that helps her survive when she’s separated from Aleksei.
Please read my full review on my blog, LittleGreatReads:
https://littlegreatreads.wordpress.co...
December 19, 2021
This book was shaping up to be a great book at the start but then the third act was just so clumsy it brought the whole book down
Yael didn't need to have a surprise pregnancy. It's one of my most hated tropes. There are not many books that can do the surprise pregnancy well and this was not one of them.
Up until to the surprise pregnancy trope it was a nice story about a Jewish girl's survival in WWII ,that type of story does not need an surprise pregnancy.
And the third act left many questions, what happened to aleksi? Aleksi was not given closure, it was like the author went "can't think of anything to do with him, let's write them out" even though that makes song of the stork look poor as a story.
2/5
Yael didn't need to have a surprise pregnancy. It's one of my most hated tropes. There are not many books that can do the surprise pregnancy well and this was not one of them.
Up until to the surprise pregnancy trope it was a nice story about a Jewish girl's survival in WWII ,that type of story does not need an surprise pregnancy.
And the third act left many questions, what happened to aleksi? Aleksi was not given closure, it was like the author went "can't think of anything to do with him, let's write them out" even though that makes song of the stork look poor as a story.
2/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2023
We follow the brutal and heart splintering story of a young girl called Yael as she finds herself trying to adjust to a new world, one where the Germans are making the rules and being Jewish is a death sentence.
The story is hard to read in places and really fast paced, allowing you to feel as she would during the gut wrenching post apocalyptic Word War 2.
Where to find friends is unknown, to trust could be signing a death sentence and to live is a fight for survival every day.
Yet we are shown the world from this young woman's eyes as she battles her growing maturity to the situations around her and the never ending hope of a new world waiting to be born.
Cried at places. Laughed at others. I loved it.
The story is hard to read in places and really fast paced, allowing you to feel as she would during the gut wrenching post apocalyptic Word War 2.
Where to find friends is unknown, to trust could be signing a death sentence and to live is a fight for survival every day.
Yet we are shown the world from this young woman's eyes as she battles her growing maturity to the situations around her and the never ending hope of a new world waiting to be born.
Cried at places. Laughed at others. I loved it.
March 11, 2017
The Song of the Stork is a relatively short but very powerful story of survival against all odds during World War Two. Yael is a 15 year old Jewish girl in Lithuania who has been forced to flee for her life when the Germans raided her village. Finding herself alone, she seeks refuge with Aleksei who is mute and very much distrusted by his community. Together these two outsiders grow closer and support each other through a harsh winter until once more the Germans come and Yael is forced to find another place of safety, this time with a Jewish partisan group sheltering in the forest.
This book is beautifully, hauntingly written as the devastation of the villages and the landscapes as well as personal devastation is evocatively described. I found it took me a while to get involved with the story but once I was emotionally invested in the well-being of Yael, I couldn't put it down. For me the strongest part of the book was when Yael was living with the partisans in the forest and in the face of danger began to find hidden strengths that she didn't know she had.
The author has vividly described the random cruelty and savagery of war. He brings home strongly the immense courage of those who did help and shelter Jewish people during the war at tremendous personal risk. I cannot imagine the fear and the bravery which must have been felt by both those being sheltered and those who were helping. It made me question whether I would have been brave enough to stand up for what was right and I suspect, like many, the answer is probably not.
Without giving away the ending, I felt there was much unresolved. However, I suspect this reflects the truth that for many Jewish refugees, there were many questions after the war and that they just didn't know what had happened to so many people. I found Yael's thoughts particularly poignant: "...all the absences fell upon her. All the worlds that had been taken. All the lives that had gone......The towns unpeopled. Histories unwritten." And yet, it is not a completely desolate ending as she realises "It hasn't gone.....they did not manage to completely destroy our world."
Haunting, moving and harrowing, The Song of the Stork shows both the worst and the best of humanity in this powerful novel.
This book is beautifully, hauntingly written as the devastation of the villages and the landscapes as well as personal devastation is evocatively described. I found it took me a while to get involved with the story but once I was emotionally invested in the well-being of Yael, I couldn't put it down. For me the strongest part of the book was when Yael was living with the partisans in the forest and in the face of danger began to find hidden strengths that she didn't know she had.
The author has vividly described the random cruelty and savagery of war. He brings home strongly the immense courage of those who did help and shelter Jewish people during the war at tremendous personal risk. I cannot imagine the fear and the bravery which must have been felt by both those being sheltered and those who were helping. It made me question whether I would have been brave enough to stand up for what was right and I suspect, like many, the answer is probably not.
Without giving away the ending, I felt there was much unresolved. However, I suspect this reflects the truth that for many Jewish refugees, there were many questions after the war and that they just didn't know what had happened to so many people. I found Yael's thoughts particularly poignant: "...all the absences fell upon her. All the worlds that had been taken. All the lives that had gone......The towns unpeopled. Histories unwritten." And yet, it is not a completely desolate ending as she realises "It hasn't gone.....they did not manage to completely destroy our world."
Haunting, moving and harrowing, The Song of the Stork shows both the worst and the best of humanity in this powerful novel.
September 6, 2017
2.5*
A definite page-turner that I enjoyed (for the most part) while I was reading it, but very frustrating at the same time. To begin with I liked the sparse, fast-paced nature of the story, but then it just felt like the story was under-developed; like it was a quick summary of a deeper, longer, more fleshed out story. If this story had more time put into it it could become a beautiful epic war time saga, but as it is it is just too short and rushed. And that ending just felt like a door slamming in my face! The story and the characters deserved a better ending than that! Like I say I did enjoy it, but it could have been so much more.
A definite page-turner that I enjoyed (for the most part) while I was reading it, but very frustrating at the same time. To begin with I liked the sparse, fast-paced nature of the story, but then it just felt like the story was under-developed; like it was a quick summary of a deeper, longer, more fleshed out story. If this story had more time put into it it could become a beautiful epic war time saga, but as it is it is just too short and rushed. And that ending just felt like a door slamming in my face! The story and the characters deserved a better ending than that! Like I say I did enjoy it, but it could have been so much more.
October 22, 2017
This book is an amazingly beautiful especially in displaying the bleakness of humanity. A lot of this book is spent talking about what is left of humanity when hope is gone and how evil anyone can become and this book never lets you forget how horrible the world is. It also creates incredicbly real, reable characters that truly drives the story. It isn't a book of happy endings and romance, it is a book of harsh realities and this is what makes it so good.
I would recommend this book to anyone who can read and please tell me your own thoughts on the Song of the Stork.
I would recommend this book to anyone who can read and please tell me your own thoughts on the Song of the Stork.
February 6, 2021
An original story written with subtle lyrical beauty based in the time of World War II. It describes the desperate need to survive at all costs in an oppressive age while still finding some beauty in the tragedy.
3.5 stars and not 4 because there was one loose ending that I felt didn’t have a satisfying ending
3.5 stars and not 4 because there was one loose ending that I felt didn’t have a satisfying ending
February 15, 2017
I kind of found the telling of this to be a bit boring... interesting story of course but it didn't really grip me... the main characters weren't amazingly likeable to me and I didn't care much for the romance.
May 1, 2021
it started quiet boring but at the chapter 10 its started to get good. the story journey during the Second World War was damned and amazing but i couldn't understand much. this book still there’s something quite special about it, in the style of it and aesthetic.
July 17, 2024
This book had so much potential, and for the first half it really delivered. The relationship between Yael and Aleksei was beautifully written, but by the end there was no closure. What happened to Aleksei? The ending felt rushed, despite being a sweet reunion either Yael’s brother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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