Accidental Birds of the Carolinas

by Marjorie Hudson

Like birds blown off course, the characters in these stories need a place to roost-somewhere to settle long enough to repair their ragged hearts-and they find it near the banks of the mythical Sissipahaw River. In the centerpiece story, an eighteenth-century Eno Indian tells of the fiery fate of his adopted father, English explorer John Lawson. In the surrounding stories, the age-old conflicts between newcomer and old-timer play out as twenty-first century retirees, carnies, runaways, heartbroken women, and farmers stumble into new lives and new insights in Ambler County, North Carolina. "Hudson's prose is pure as birdsong," says novelist Doris Betts. "These fine stories of change and discovery are a field guide to the human species in transition."

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Book Club, Southern, Literary Fiction

218 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

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A Native American child burial is found in a cliff by the river, revealing dire Southern history and raising vengeful spirits. Three families' lives are turned upside down - they will not survive the coming storm without joining forces.

"Superb"
—FOREWORD REVIEWS

"Mesmerizing"
—SUE MONK KIDD

“An impressive, sprawling novel about love and hate, life and death, sin and redemption, one worth any reader’s time.”
—SOUTHERN LITERARY REVIEW

“Sparkles with a powerful sense of place ... compelling ... hard to put down.”
—MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

“The best damned book I have ever read.”
—RANA SOUTHERN, BRANCH MANAGER, MT. AIRY PUBLIC LIBRARY

“Spectacular! Everybody read this book!”
—HELEN LITTLE, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY PODCAST, iHEARTRADIO

SIR WALTER RALEIGH AWARD
CROOKS CORNER PRIZE FINALIST
NATIONAL WOMEN'S BOOK ASSOCIATION GREAT GROUP READ

Marjorie Hudson was born in a small town in Illinois, grew up in Washington, D.C., and now writes and lives in Chatham County, North Carolina. She is author of story collection ACCIDENTAL BIRDS OF THE CAROLINAS, a PEN/Hemingway Honorable Mention, and the first book of Ambler County stories, and SEARCHING FOR VIRGINIA DARE, a North Carolina Arts Council Notable Book, both from Press 53.

Hudson's work explores the links between history, the human spirit, and the natural world, and reviewers have compared her work to that of Thomas Hardy and Isabel Allende.

ANDRE DUBUS III says, "This woman writes like a dream!"

Follow her online for updates on events and media and to make a book club visit request.

WEBSITE: www.marjoriehudson.com
FACEBOOK: marjorie.hudson1
INSTAGRAM: marjoriehudsonwriter
TWITTER: @marjoriehudson1

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From John Lawson in the wilderness to the latest snowbirds finding their way to the Sandhills, these stories chronicle what calls people to a new place and what allows them to stay. One of my favorite stories has a wonderful moment in which a young girl sees a man illuminated by the sun and thinks he might be one of the "angels unawares" that her strict religious family speaks of entertaining. These stories bring bright angels into our lives.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an excellent beach weekend read - and such a clever concept to create a variety of souls searching for home in Carolina. I just bought 5 copies to share with sisters and friends, knowing they'll love Emma Skurnick's cover art and the satisfying collection of stories.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of short stories, thanks to Marjorie Hudson's exceptional writing. Hudson must believe in magic, and uses it in her writing, creating magical scenes, magical effects, vivid dreams, mysterious events. The place in each story is vital to the person and the story, and almost all the places are off back roads, deep in the woods, anchored in ancient land and bursting with nature. Each story deals with loss or longing, escape, refuge. Each lost soul connects to the natural world for healing and solace. Hudson teaches writing workshops in the Chapel Hill area, encouraging aspiring writers to just let go and write.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the smooth, almost lyrical prose. The settings and characters from one story who peek out of another serve to subtly emphasize the commonality of our human experience. A delightful, thought-provoking example of modern Southern Literature with mystical overtones.

[Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific collection of stories this is! From the first story ("The Clearing") to the novella that brings the collection to an end ("The Outside World"), these linked fictions are as engaging as any you will read. Linked by their setting--Ambler County, a slow-moving rural spot in North Carolina--and by the occasional recurring character, the stories explore what it means to be an outsider. The language is fluid and beautiful, and each story is filled with surprises.

[Janet Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent vivid writing. The stories about people who moved to the Carolinas encompass a variety of characters, and some of the stories are linked with common characters. Hudson manages to fully describe her characters in each short story, not an easy thing to do in a short story. At the end of each story, I felt I really knew the main character.

[Tom M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories (and one not-so-short story) from a North Carolina-based writer that are told with wisdom and insight. These are stories of people who have found themselves in the south more by accident than intention.

[Alison Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book of short stories from an author in Chatham County. The characters were very well-developed. I've never really been a short story fan, mainly because I never want a good story to be over. But this book really worked for me. Beautiful writing.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection short stories. Totally enjoyed reading.

[Sarah Hanawald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. There were parts that were beautiful. Ultimately though, weaknesses such as patronizing tones and over-simplification were flaws I couldn't get past.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I don't usually go for short stories, but it was kind of fun to see how they were inter-related.

[Elisabeth Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!!!!!

[Katrina V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt agrees, worst cover art ever. That said, the first two stories have been lovely.

[Terry Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet collection of characters that are craftily drawn and very memorable. I live in this part of the world and the author has captured so well the environment that accommodates such individuals.

[Druie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first two stories are stunning and made my heart ache. 4+ stars so far.

[Lanakila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11522259

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good writing. Ms. Hudson has a beautiful grasp of the English language and a great feeling for "the accidental birds" of the south. I would suggest this one to everyone.

[Barb Shade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Each short story develops characters with distinct personalities and voices.

[Beth Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't know why it took me so long to read this wonderful book. Tender, compelling short stories by one of NC's finest writers. Loved it.

[Carol Small · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice short stories

[Gerry Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story collection. I'll be looking for more from this writer.

[Ruby Reviews Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ambler county - a place to forget troubles.

Welcome to Ruby reviews books, reviews from a cat who cannot read. She may not understand the words, but she sure likes books. Today’s book is Accidental Birds of the Carolinas by Marjorie Hudson. A collection of fiction set in the apocryphal Ambler Country, North Carolina, (Hudson’s version of a Yoknapatawpha county) each story is a sketch of rural paradise. Built with the recurring leitmotifs of birds, Gooley pines, and 19th century poetry, most stories begin with a Yankee in search of refuge. Whether they come to escape failed relationships or to find community, Ambler plays a restorative role, allowing characters to pick and piece together a new future. In some ways, this idyll serves as foil to the poignant requiems of characters in crisis, such as a widower lamenting that his death did not come first. In others, it can stand out as a highly telegraphed and obvious symbol of what’s wrong with the protagonist’s life, like a half burned down house or a struck dead deer. As a setting, Ambler is out of step with time, which is deliberate framing of place. Quarryville’s quaint charm lies in the idea that it is old and old-fashioned. Yet the book also seems willfully blind to the less charming implications of an unchanged America. With the exception of one brief scene that addresses bigotry before ending the confrontation without any resolution, it seems that we’ll only ever be shown the good side of small town. There’s no obligation for Hudson to use her stories to take on racism or the unresolved social and political tensions of America, but it’s weird to have these stories read like an explorer landing in an undiscovered paradise. I can’t help but think that there’s an unspoken qualification about the types of people which Ambler country provides comfort to. This isn’t intentional, but when you don’t speak to the bad as well as the good, you cede that part of the conversation to the context in which the work is being read. The writing is good, but not good enough to bridge these gaps. Rated three stars and three rubs.

[Gabriela Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a book like this is not just cheap entertainment--it is like a spiritual experience. The way Hudson artfully tells stories about people and places in this part of the world you can tell she put her whole soul into each and every word on the page. The result is a kind of magic, difficult to fully describe until you experience it yourself by immersing yourself in these stories. Despite each story being separate and distinct from each other, they are expertly woven and pieced together in such a way that you want to keep reading long into the night. I could not put this book down the first time I read it and I can't wait to rediscover it in preparation for Hudson's next book!

[Olivia Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating collection of stories and characters. Especially enjoyable as an accidental bird of North Carolina myself.

I enjoyed this book, but I didn't love this book. Several of the stories felt unfinished or lacked closure. My three favorite stories were: Rapture, Accidental Birds of North Carolina, and The Outside World.

[Chaitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I liked the first couple of stories and the title story - which is not, as the blurb seems to suggest, the one where an Eno Indian recounts the story of his adoptive father. But the rest were only so-so, and I really didn't care for the novella.

[Bibliomama · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was five stars until the last story.

[Cathy Couch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed these short stories about different people living in central NC. Lovely prose.

[Barbara Clendinning · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only short story I really liked was titled Accidental Birds of the Carolinas. The others, not so much.

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

#36: Accidental Birds of the Carolinas
I really wanted to like this book. It is a collection of short stories that I think were well written. However, the tone is so sad and depressing so I went with only 3 stars.

[Emily Newberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely written short stories that evoke real places and people. Sometimes a little cliched but overall a good read.