Bird

by Courtney Collins

'You walk and the harvest moon casts the clearest of shadows. You are nervous. With a moon like that, it is not a night for escaping. It is a night made better for hunting runaway girls.'

Unknown Year
'Ten thousand strands of trouble,' is what Bird's father says, watching as Bird's sister braids her hair. On the eve of her fourteenth year, that trouble finds Bird. Fleeing her home to escape an arranged marriage, she attempts to vanish into a crowd of pilgrims - not knowing that violence is circling, and that it already has its eyes on her. In search of her own life and her own truth, she could never imagine how long and how far it would take her.

Present Day
Waking in a hospital bed, Bird tries to remember what brought her here. A man whose gaze she knew to fear, a stolen car, a plastic gun, and a real bullet in her shoulder. Kindness is being offered here, so why is her instinct always to run? Strand by strand, she begins to remember . . .

A masterful and profoundly moving novel about a girl determined to live on her own terms, no matter the cost. Bird is an unforgettable story of hope, resilience, the power of connection and the most elemental bonds.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2024

Reviews

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 actually

[Georgia H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bird, a 14 and nine month old girl decides that there’s more to life than what’s going for her. In a dual timeline, we see her escaping her every day reality in Darwin, Australia and from an arranged marriage in the Himalayas. The story is written in a way that left me wanting more, after each chapter, after each event.

Bird demonstrates how at any age or situation, young women are strong, resilient and confident. Searching for the truth has no bounds. I am of the view that the best stories leave readers rooting for the characters and Courtney has captured this perfectly.

I have seen online that other readers have compared BIRD to the work of Margaret Atwood and I completely agree. The themes and dystopian vibe definitely are similar.

Thank you to the little birdy from Hachette for my advanced reader copy.

[nina.reads.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bird by Courtney Collins is an inventive and highly engaging book that will have you turning the pages to understand the connections across distant timelines.

We follow Bird, a 14 year old girl in an unknown year in the Himalayas where girls get married to the men that are chosen for them. Bird though is a girl who knows her mind so to avoid her arranged marriage she escapes with her friend Teshi and follows a pilgrims path to a scared mountain. Soon though trouble finds Bird again.

Alongside this storyline we meet Bird, a 14 year old girl in Darwin in the present day who has got herself into trouble alongside her best friend T. She's in hospital under police guard with a gunshot wound in her shoulder. Her mother is MIA but her nurse Margie is showing her kindness.

These two "Birds" have strange parallels and connections between their lives and it will take some unravelling of the past to understand just how the connections work.

Collins has come up with such a unique plot that it's impossible to imagine where it will take you. It was magical and almost dreamlike in its approach and reminded me a bit of Trent Dalton's All Our Shimmering Skies as well as Holly Ringland's books. The writing is moving and emotional and I really enjoyed reading it. This is an Australian novel I'd recommend if you like stories with heart and a bit of imagination.

Thank you @hachetteaus and @cc_writer for my #gifted copy.

[marlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Popopopopo si je pouvais mettre 30 étoiles je mettrai 30 étoiles, quel IMMENSE banger une lecture savoureuse et delectable pitié LISEZ LE vous ne le regretterez pas c'est une masterclass

[Dallace Wills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one.

[Elle Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody loved this. So clever

[Tash Freeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written! This story transported me to another time, another place. What a wonderful connection of threads through time and space! Do not sleep on this!

[Jessica Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Hachette and Courtney Collins for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book… wow. What an incredible, unique, beautiful story. I loved reading about Bird’s journey and I adored the writing style. I have never read a book like it and it was very intriguing.

I highly recommend checking this one out. You won’t regret it. Bird is such a beautiful character and the ending made me tear up.

[Scatterbooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bird by Courtney Collins has a wonderful dreamlike quality to it. The novel explores thought provoking topics like reincarnation and the connections between people, and the prose sparkles.

In the Himalayas, fourteen year old Bird escapes from an arranged marriage with her best friend Teshi.

In present day Darwin, Bird wakes up in hospital after being shot by the police. Should she trust the nurse who is being kind to her?

I found this book to be so well written. The author’s use of ‘you’ to tell the story was an interesting choice and made the novel feel more personal. Almost as though she was telling me a story about myself. Or perhaps a previous self!

I loved being transported to Darwin and the Himalayas and found each chapter left me wanting more. I wanted to find out what happened next to all of the well fleshed out characters. I did find one of the relationships between Bird and her mother in Darwin could have been fleshed out a little bit more but that didn’t take away from the main story.

Bird had me pondering whether I believe in reincarnation and how different people are connected to me. I’d like to think that it’s true that we’ve been here before.

I also loved the focus on strong women and female friendships.

Highly recommended if you like a touch of magic and strong women in your books!

[Great Escape Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Review...

Did you love Trent Dalton’s “Lola in the Mirror” or Craig Silvey’s “Honeybee”? Maybe you’re looking for a gripping holiday read that offers a little more philosophical depth than your typical romance drama? Then, the latest novel from Stella shortlisted author, Courtney Collins’ is a must-read.

Set between the Himalayas in an Unknown Year and Darwin in the present day, “Bird” is story of two strong and resilient young women who are determined to find their own truth and happiness.

Collins’ prose is equally beautiful and immersive; switching between first and second person perspective, it is one of those books you tell yourself you’ll read ‘one more chapter’ and end up finishing it in one sitting. With a cast of strong female characters, Collins’ explores fate, memory, the courage to shirk the status quo and the salience of true friendship.

Fans of Anna Burns’ “Milkman”, Emily Bitto’s “The Strays” and Hannah Kent’s “Burial Rites” will want to add this to their ‘to read’ piles.

Review by Katina @ Great Escape Books

[Book My Imagination · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐦Whilst reading this beautiful story of determination, loss, shuttered memories, and connections through time, I found myself quite often thinking that it reads like a fluid dream.
I had this sense of otherness, like that feeling of not quite awake, not quite sleeping, and this is a beautiful quality in writing, that dreamy state.

🐦Told through dual timelines, following BIRD through her teenage years, living her life, her way.
🐦Her sense of needing to find out where she came from and what she must do to connect to her memories.
🐦This beautifully told story takes the reader through time, discovering the history of BIRD.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and almost gave it a 5. But then I thought, a 5 to me is The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding or Honeybee. This isn’t on that level, so I settled on a 4. That said, it was right up my alley with its themes of past life connections, and I loved how the characters intertwined (no spoilers!).

However, I didn’t feel deeply invested in the characters—there wasn’t that emotional punch that makes me cry or linger long after finishing. If this was a late stage draft, it’s got all the right foundations and with more work it could’ve got close to a 5.

Anyway, it’s a really enjoyable read, would recommend. A solid 4 for me.

[Misha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great concept and a captivating book. The writing is in 2nd person, which made for a great unique pulling into the story (I haven't read a book in 2nd person since my read-your-own-adventure days). The only thing I wanted was more! I think there could have been more storylines and more writing dedicated to each of the characters. Collins has made some delicious characters and I want to know so much more about them and to travel further with them. I smashed this book out in under 24hrs (I did sleep and feed my children promise) and it was a wonderful weekend read, but it left me with a bit of whiplash - what?? That is the end??

[Andie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read, but lacked the depth that I enjoy in a novel. I would have liked to know more about the motivations of some of the characters other than Margie and Bird and to explore some relationships a bit more as they didn’t seem completely real to me. But the storyline was creative and intriguing, and I particularly enjoyed Margie’s character and storyline.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this book, the sense of love and loss conveyed perfectly through two different times with the same characters. the idea of inter generational trauma following someone even through reincarnation was super interesting - the resolution of the mother/daughter relationship and bird’s regained ability to cry made me cry!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rare success of second person narration. "You", Bird are searching for something across dual timelines. Bird, in the Himalayas, unknown year is escaping a forced marriage. "You", Bird in Darwin, expresses her search for 5 girl through graffiti. You are both 14yrs. Theme of reincarnation and sisterhood. Author narrates the audio (beautiful voice). Very lovely story.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book. I found it to be a page turner I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens. Interesting and different plot. Possibly not 100% believable, but with just the right amount of imagination. I enjoyed it

[Barbara Burstall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book, but found it disappointing in the end. Over long and repetitive

[Shellie O'Meara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliance! I loved every word of this book, beautiful writing and imagery from start to finish!! Will definitely seek out more of her work

[Brooke Lyndall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this book

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow, long and uneventful. The lead character is so unlikeable that I found my interest constantly waning. Incredibly dull.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

[Lillian Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bird is such a beautiful, intoxicating storyline that is so very hard to put down. I wish it could have gone on and on. The characters and cleverly woven plot lines will stay with me for a long time.

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stopped at page 87… in my dnf era

[Bloominwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick & compelling read. A young girl simultaneously discovering her present and past. Highly recommended.

[Grace Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Jomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Lucy Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and mystical story, I finished it quickly

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one for a book club I am going to. Really original concept. Very intriguing plot. I look forward to discussing it in book club!