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Let the Willows Weep
“Sometimes life is just like paper wings—fragile, easily torn apart, and too often left in pieces too small to gather.”
In the tradition of the best Southern fiction—from Bastard Out of Carolina to Where the Crawdads Sing—Sherry Parnell’s Let the Willows Weep is a haunting portrait of Birddog Harlin, a girl whose world is marked by fierce love and quiet betrayals.
Through Birddog’s tender yet unflinching voice, we witness the harsh beauty of rural a world of broken promises, family secrets, and unexpected moments of grace. Both devastating and redemptive, this story lingers long after the last word is spoken.
In the tradition of the best Southern fiction—from Bastard Out of Carolina to Where the Crawdads Sing—Sherry Parnell’s Let the Willows Weep is a haunting portrait of Birddog Harlin, a girl whose world is marked by fierce love and quiet betrayals.
Through Birddog’s tender yet unflinching voice, we witness the harsh beauty of rural a world of broken promises, family secrets, and unexpected moments of grace. Both devastating and redemptive, this story lingers long after the last word is spoken.
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First published July 9, 2010
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About the author
Sherry Parnell
2 books70 followersAn avid reader since I was a child, I have always been drawn to a good story well told. I loved being able to explore other worlds and live other lives through these stories. So, I began writing as a means to give my imagination a home upon the page. For me, well-written fiction has the power to teach and transport, and that’s what I aspire to do every time I sit down to create a new character, setting or story.
My novels Let the Willows Weep and Daughter of the Mountain examine the struggles, complexity, and resilience that define many lives in the rural American South. With a focus on female characters, I'm driven to share stories that reveal the strength women display when forced to rise above limited opportunities, economic injustice, and generational trauma.
When not writing, I’m spending time with my family, walking my dog, and, of course, reading. I’m excited to connect with you here and share the books and stories that have moved, taught, or inspired me.
My novels Let the Willows Weep and Daughter of the Mountain examine the struggles, complexity, and resilience that define many lives in the rural American South. With a focus on female characters, I'm driven to share stories that reveal the strength women display when forced to rise above limited opportunities, economic injustice, and generational trauma.
When not writing, I’m spending time with my family, walking my dog, and, of course, reading. I’m excited to connect with you here and share the books and stories that have moved, taught, or inspired me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
March 25, 2021
Beautiful!
“Let the Willows Weep” is beautifully written coming of age story. A very sad story of loss and loneliness and lost opportunities.
This plot line surrounds the trials of mining family and their struggles with the lates struggles poverty
Strong characters! The characters in the story were very relatable. Birddog, the main character is loved by her father; bullied by her brother Caul; protected by her older brother Denny and her mother's greatest "disappointment". That mix is a fantastic opportunity for character interplay and it works.
The pace quickens and fate betrays this dysfunctional family. The father is killed in a cave- in, Denny goes to work in the mines.
Needless to say, Birddogs life gets even worse as she tries to manage to stay strong no matter what.
Overall this was a well written novel with a strong female main character. Her life was full of confusion and sorrow but at the end, she was able to have hope.
On a personal note, I associated with these were characters. I could have recognized them and their struggles from ministry among the Appalachian mining people.
My highest recommendation!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“Let the Willows Weep” is beautifully written coming of age story. A very sad story of loss and loneliness and lost opportunities.
This plot line surrounds the trials of mining family and their struggles with the lates struggles poverty
Strong characters! The characters in the story were very relatable. Birddog, the main character is loved by her father; bullied by her brother Caul; protected by her older brother Denny and her mother's greatest "disappointment". That mix is a fantastic opportunity for character interplay and it works.
The pace quickens and fate betrays this dysfunctional family. The father is killed in a cave- in, Denny goes to work in the mines.
Needless to say, Birddogs life gets even worse as she tries to manage to stay strong no matter what.
Overall this was a well written novel with a strong female main character. Her life was full of confusion and sorrow but at the end, she was able to have hope.
On a personal note, I associated with these were characters. I could have recognized them and their struggles from ministry among the Appalachian mining people.
My highest recommendation!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 21, 2020
An emotional coming-of-age story about how one seeks to keep going through hard times. Sad and yet hopeful—filled with prose so beautiful and delicate, it often felt like reading poetry.
“My mother’s greatest talent was her ability to cause pain with her words. It was also her greatest weapon, and she rarely held back without wielding it at me.”
Birddog is a victim of her parent’s circumstances. She is a disappointment to her mother at every turn, and abandoned by a father who couldn’t take her mother’s wrath any longer. It is a heartbreaking reminder of how much power parents have over their children, whether in the presence or in their absence. In some ways, her father leaving sealed her mother’s rage. The ghost of a better life seemed to hang over the story, feeling as though each decision took Birddog further into a dark existence.
“For us, time had stopped. The life within these walls was nothing more than snaps of pictures twisted and trapped in a moment that refused to move forward.”
Her older brother Denny is her protector, a contrast to their other brother Caul who has their mother’s anger and viciousness. But their mother sees all the good in her sons and all of the disappointment in Birddog. At times, Birddog’s loneliness almost broke me. This is a girl who life and grace seem to have cast aside. And though I knew I should empathize with the mother as well, it was nearly impossible to as I watched her focus her grief in the form of anger and meanness on Birddog.
And yet there are moments of hope. Even the most damaged among us can find love. And even love that cannot happen, can awaken resilience in us. This is truly a story about moving forward even when everything is against us, knowing that there is always something to live for. How the moments of kindness from others mean so much more than many will ever know.
“Sometimes we can’t cry enough for all the pain we feel. So, we let the willows weep.”
Thank you TLC Book Tours and Sherry Parnell for my copy. Opinions are my own.
“My mother’s greatest talent was her ability to cause pain with her words. It was also her greatest weapon, and she rarely held back without wielding it at me.”
Birddog is a victim of her parent’s circumstances. She is a disappointment to her mother at every turn, and abandoned by a father who couldn’t take her mother’s wrath any longer. It is a heartbreaking reminder of how much power parents have over their children, whether in the presence or in their absence. In some ways, her father leaving sealed her mother’s rage. The ghost of a better life seemed to hang over the story, feeling as though each decision took Birddog further into a dark existence.
“For us, time had stopped. The life within these walls was nothing more than snaps of pictures twisted and trapped in a moment that refused to move forward.”
Her older brother Denny is her protector, a contrast to their other brother Caul who has their mother’s anger and viciousness. But their mother sees all the good in her sons and all of the disappointment in Birddog. At times, Birddog’s loneliness almost broke me. This is a girl who life and grace seem to have cast aside. And though I knew I should empathize with the mother as well, it was nearly impossible to as I watched her focus her grief in the form of anger and meanness on Birddog.
And yet there are moments of hope. Even the most damaged among us can find love. And even love that cannot happen, can awaken resilience in us. This is truly a story about moving forward even when everything is against us, knowing that there is always something to live for. How the moments of kindness from others mean so much more than many will ever know.
“Sometimes we can’t cry enough for all the pain we feel. So, we let the willows weep.”
Thank you TLC Book Tours and Sherry Parnell for my copy. Opinions are my own.
September 29, 2021
Birddog Harlin, grows up in a coal mining town in America, she has two brothers Denny and Caul. Her mother is unhappy, she deserves more than to be married to a poor dirty coal miner, and she takes her frustration out on Birddog.
Nothing Birddog does is right, her brother Caul loves tormenting her and getting her into trouble with her mother. Her father and Denny love her and she loves them. Her daddy dies when a mine collapses, Denny’s dreams of a better life are shattered, he starts working in the dangerous mine and slowly he loses hope.
Life for the Harlin’s gets harder, Birddog falls in love, and each member of the family goes their separate ways. Let The Willows Weep is a story about a girl called Birddog, I would have liked her real name to be included in the narrative, it's about hardship, cycle of poverty, and the consequences of falling in love, and three stars from me.
Nothing Birddog does is right, her brother Caul loves tormenting her and getting her into trouble with her mother. Her father and Denny love her and she loves them. Her daddy dies when a mine collapses, Denny’s dreams of a better life are shattered, he starts working in the dangerous mine and slowly he loses hope.
Life for the Harlin’s gets harder, Birddog falls in love, and each member of the family goes their separate ways. Let The Willows Weep is a story about a girl called Birddog, I would have liked her real name to be included in the narrative, it's about hardship, cycle of poverty, and the consequences of falling in love, and three stars from me.
May 19, 2020
Let the Willows Weep by Sherry Parnell is the story of a young girl named Bird dog. It is a story of a hard life in the past in rural America. It is life of exhausting work, disappointments, rejection, fear, and prejudice.
This is a well written, if sad, tale. It tells of the hurt people can inflict on each other and the hope provided by one kind gesture.
Although this book brims with sadness, there is a thread of hope and possibility woven into the story.
If you enjoy well written fiction that speaks to the heart, you will like this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens. My review is voluntary.
This is a well written, if sad, tale. It tells of the hurt people can inflict on each other and the hope provided by one kind gesture.
Although this book brims with sadness, there is a thread of hope and possibility woven into the story.
If you enjoy well written fiction that speaks to the heart, you will like this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens. My review is voluntary.
May 25, 2020
This book was an emotional journey for the main character, as much as it was for me. I felt anger, incredible sadness, empathy, disappointment, love and hurt. Wow. It packed a punch throughout, with incredible writing and storytelling ability. A coming of age story of a young girl Bird Dog, and her hardscrabble life. That something so tragic and heartbreaking could be written with such tenderness is worth yelling from the tree-tops. Don't despair, there is hope. I received an advance review copy of this book for free from BookSirens and the author for an honest review.
March 21, 2020
I look at some books and picture them as "seasonal reads" -- something better suited for the heat of Summer or perhaps during the freezing winds of Winter. Let the Willows Weep would be a wonderful read in any season. For much of the time while reading, however, it was raining outside and the soft splatter of the drops against the window were a constant reminder that for some, hardships and disappointments in life are like a never ending rain cloud.
This was a beautiful coming-of-age story about a girl nicknamed "Bird Dog". As for most little girls, her Daddy was her hero. He worked the coal mines and doted on his wife, even when she constantly complained about how little they had. She adored her Daddy and every day he made her feel special. As hard as she tried, Bird Dog could never receive the recognition and appreciation she so desperately needed from her Momma. Her older brother tormented her beyond words while her oldest brother tried to shelter her from life's storms. Life isn't always easy and for Bird Dog, like in the coal mines, there wasn't even a little glimmer of light at the end at the tunnel. Her loneliness and sorrow touched me so deeply as I read. The trials and tribulations she endured made my heart feel weighted. I just wanted to reach in through the pages and hug her close to my heart.
The story walks through her life as a child, a young teen and a young woman. Each episode in her life almost seemed darker than the previous one and yet she kept moving forward -- her eyes always seeking a change for the better.
It is said that the willow trees weep for a reason. When our hearts cannot withstand the hurt inflicted upon us, one needs to just bury your burdens beneath the willow and let the tree do your weeping. What a wonderful thought and even if it is not true -- one can hope. For without hope, what do we have? I shall never look at a weeping willow tree the same and will forever say a prayer of thanks for all they may be enduring so that others may live without sorrow.
This was a beautiful coming-of-age story about a girl nicknamed "Bird Dog". As for most little girls, her Daddy was her hero. He worked the coal mines and doted on his wife, even when she constantly complained about how little they had. She adored her Daddy and every day he made her feel special. As hard as she tried, Bird Dog could never receive the recognition and appreciation she so desperately needed from her Momma. Her older brother tormented her beyond words while her oldest brother tried to shelter her from life's storms. Life isn't always easy and for Bird Dog, like in the coal mines, there wasn't even a little glimmer of light at the end at the tunnel. Her loneliness and sorrow touched me so deeply as I read. The trials and tribulations she endured made my heart feel weighted. I just wanted to reach in through the pages and hug her close to my heart.
The story walks through her life as a child, a young teen and a young woman. Each episode in her life almost seemed darker than the previous one and yet she kept moving forward -- her eyes always seeking a change for the better.
It is said that the willow trees weep for a reason. When our hearts cannot withstand the hurt inflicted upon us, one needs to just bury your burdens beneath the willow and let the tree do your weeping. What a wonderful thought and even if it is not true -- one can hope. For without hope, what do we have? I shall never look at a weeping willow tree the same and will forever say a prayer of thanks for all they may be enduring so that others may live without sorrow.
January 16, 2021
***NOVEL THOUGHTS***
++Thanks to Book Sirens for this ARC in exchange for an honest review++
...."she spat out commands and insults that tore your heart out. I guess my father left before there was nothing left of his."
From the first page, I was gobsmacked by the depth of heartbreak that this story brings to its pages. The despair and desperate need for love and acceptance of her mother by the protagonist Birddog, is so palpable, it makes you cry, which I did several times. The story opens as Birddog's husband is walking out of the marriage and Birddog's daughter is shocked but not surprised and in one gesture of connection with her mother, Birddog returns in memory to her dysfunctional and unhappy childhood.
Growing up in a small Southern mining town with her Daddy, Mother, brothers Denny and Caul, it is obvious that her life was a hardscrabble existence and for some reason which is never completely explained, Mother blamed it on Birddog. Even though she is known by this nickname, the reader never knows her given name as if her existence has no real value which her Mother emphasizes by berating, belittling and depreciates. Her mother constantly calls her a "disappointment." Denny is the shining star in Mother's eyes but Birddog can do no right. Denny instinctively becomes Birddog's champion, being the nurturer whenever Mother's wrath is on her. By contrast, Birddog has a loving and supportive relationship with her Daddy but all that is lost when a tragedy occurs at the mine and now she is left with nothing but Mother's anger, tripled now because the breadwinner is gone. Fifteen year old Denny is suddenly thrust into manhood and the wonder of childhood and prospects of a different future than the mines is gone as he has to take on the mantle of caring for the family. It is a moment of profound change in his personality and innocence. Even Caul whose shield against his mother's abuse has been to be mean or bully especially vulnerable Birddog more harshly than just typical sibling teasing is also affected by the sudden loss of Daddy. In their own ways, each child tries to protect themselves from Mother's biting words and actions: Denny, the pacifier, Caul, who hits first before he can get hit, and Birddog, who tries to be as invisible as possible, never asking for anything or trying to be who she is. This family dynamic is so hurtful and damaging. Often, the chapter ends with Birddog repeating that "she is nothing." It truly broke my heart that the author needed to tell this story.
At 17 yrs old, two events happen which opens her world: Birddog graduates from high school and is told by Mother that she will now have to earn her keep. She finds a job working as a seamstress along side of septuagenarian Miss Tarmar, who is sweet, funny and patient as she teaches Birddog how to sew and, Birddog meets Samuel and Samuel's family and sees for the first time what a loving, supportive and giving family can look like. She finds warmth from Samuel's Mama and basks in her loving words of encouragement and advice. She watches as Mama strokes her boys' egos and builds them up with kindness. Maybe she is attracted to Samuel for himself, but I think also, she wants to be around Mama. But just when life looks promising, she is again facing another tragedy which rocks her world. At the same time, it is eye opening and a way for her to take control of her own life, far from the cold, hard fists of Mother. Even a gesture Birddog makes at Christmas giving Mother a handmade quilt, is met with such distain and derogatory comments, left me feeling so sad. Mother couldn't even say "thank you." I wanted to slap her.
As the story ends, Birddog, having recalled her own tragic life, she realizes she still has time to reverse her own daughter's memories of childhood and not to repeat Mother's cruelties, that her greatest ability was to cause pain with her words.
Themes of this book include poverty, love, racism, intolerance, shame, verbal and physical abuse and family dysfunction. I also wonder if Mother might have had some kind of mental health issues. Also what bothered me so much was that Daddy never demanded that Mother treat Birddog better and later on, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in Denny's relationship with his wife just as Birddog seems to model her own behavior of her mother within her marriage as well.
This is not an easy book to read as far as subject matter is concerned. Though the writing is often poetic and there are wonderful sayings and aphorisms about life, the words and actions are cruel. But I am grateful that there is hope and redemption, and a lesson for us all that words can hurt more deeply, sometimes more than physical hurt.
++Thanks to Book Sirens for this ARC in exchange for an honest review++
...."she spat out commands and insults that tore your heart out. I guess my father left before there was nothing left of his."
From the first page, I was gobsmacked by the depth of heartbreak that this story brings to its pages. The despair and desperate need for love and acceptance of her mother by the protagonist Birddog, is so palpable, it makes you cry, which I did several times. The story opens as Birddog's husband is walking out of the marriage and Birddog's daughter is shocked but not surprised and in one gesture of connection with her mother, Birddog returns in memory to her dysfunctional and unhappy childhood.
Growing up in a small Southern mining town with her Daddy, Mother, brothers Denny and Caul, it is obvious that her life was a hardscrabble existence and for some reason which is never completely explained, Mother blamed it on Birddog. Even though she is known by this nickname, the reader never knows her given name as if her existence has no real value which her Mother emphasizes by berating, belittling and depreciates. Her mother constantly calls her a "disappointment." Denny is the shining star in Mother's eyes but Birddog can do no right. Denny instinctively becomes Birddog's champion, being the nurturer whenever Mother's wrath is on her. By contrast, Birddog has a loving and supportive relationship with her Daddy but all that is lost when a tragedy occurs at the mine and now she is left with nothing but Mother's anger, tripled now because the breadwinner is gone. Fifteen year old Denny is suddenly thrust into manhood and the wonder of childhood and prospects of a different future than the mines is gone as he has to take on the mantle of caring for the family. It is a moment of profound change in his personality and innocence. Even Caul whose shield against his mother's abuse has been to be mean or bully especially vulnerable Birddog more harshly than just typical sibling teasing is also affected by the sudden loss of Daddy. In their own ways, each child tries to protect themselves from Mother's biting words and actions: Denny, the pacifier, Caul, who hits first before he can get hit, and Birddog, who tries to be as invisible as possible, never asking for anything or trying to be who she is. This family dynamic is so hurtful and damaging. Often, the chapter ends with Birddog repeating that "she is nothing." It truly broke my heart that the author needed to tell this story.
At 17 yrs old, two events happen which opens her world: Birddog graduates from high school and is told by Mother that she will now have to earn her keep. She finds a job working as a seamstress along side of septuagenarian Miss Tarmar, who is sweet, funny and patient as she teaches Birddog how to sew and, Birddog meets Samuel and Samuel's family and sees for the first time what a loving, supportive and giving family can look like. She finds warmth from Samuel's Mama and basks in her loving words of encouragement and advice. She watches as Mama strokes her boys' egos and builds them up with kindness. Maybe she is attracted to Samuel for himself, but I think also, she wants to be around Mama. But just when life looks promising, she is again facing another tragedy which rocks her world. At the same time, it is eye opening and a way for her to take control of her own life, far from the cold, hard fists of Mother. Even a gesture Birddog makes at Christmas giving Mother a handmade quilt, is met with such distain and derogatory comments, left me feeling so sad. Mother couldn't even say "thank you." I wanted to slap her.
As the story ends, Birddog, having recalled her own tragic life, she realizes she still has time to reverse her own daughter's memories of childhood and not to repeat Mother's cruelties, that her greatest ability was to cause pain with her words.
Themes of this book include poverty, love, racism, intolerance, shame, verbal and physical abuse and family dysfunction. I also wonder if Mother might have had some kind of mental health issues. Also what bothered me so much was that Daddy never demanded that Mother treat Birddog better and later on, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in Denny's relationship with his wife just as Birddog seems to model her own behavior of her mother within her marriage as well.
This is not an easy book to read as far as subject matter is concerned. Though the writing is often poetic and there are wonderful sayings and aphorisms about life, the words and actions are cruel. But I am grateful that there is hope and redemption, and a lesson for us all that words can hurt more deeply, sometimes more than physical hurt.
April 1, 2013
A unique emotionally moving experience.
If you like a book with raw emotion and that feeling like you are walking in the shoes of the main character, you will find it in this novel. Accompany the main character Birddog Harlin in Let the Willows Weep as you travel back through time to when she is a little girl and everything is pure and simple. Birddog is a free-spirited child who longs for the love her mother cannot seem to provide her, instead she searches for that love and attention from others. Birddog the youngest of three, is the only daughter of a demanding and mentally unstable mother and a mineworker father, who is tender and adoring to his daughter. From the start of the book you get the sense that Birddog has a deep appreciation of nature, her life and those around her. But her childhood is taken from her to early, as feelings of abandonment slowly sweep into her innocence, tearing her apart. Will she ever get past her pain and hurt? In the end Birddog has to learn how to overcome her bitterness if she is to move past those demons that keep her rooted to her past, if not for herself, but for the most important people in her life.
I have found the distinctive qualities of the characters fascinating and Parnell provides such fine details during their introspection, something I have never come across from another author. Not only do you get to know them physically but you can easily perceive their pain, fear, abandonment and love for each other. In no way did I find this book predictable and there are a few unexpected twists weaved into this story that I have found to be absolutely wonderful.
At times I found Let the Willows Weep to be so moving, that I had to break away from the page, as memories of my own childhood experiences flooded through my mind, and strong emotions overtook my senses. I feel Birddog is the perfect main character and her daily antics and experiences are ones many can relate to as children. I found Birddog can represent different things to different readers depending on childhood experiences. For me she is the voice of all the children who are never perfect enough in the eyes of a parent, the child who tries the only way they know how to make their parents proud. It represents those scars that we carry from our childhood into our adulthood, affecting our daily lives and our relationships with others profoundly as adults, unless we can find a way to forgive and move on.
If you like a book with raw emotion and that feeling like you are walking in the shoes of the main character, you will find it in this novel. Accompany the main character Birddog Harlin in Let the Willows Weep as you travel back through time to when she is a little girl and everything is pure and simple. Birddog is a free-spirited child who longs for the love her mother cannot seem to provide her, instead she searches for that love and attention from others. Birddog the youngest of three, is the only daughter of a demanding and mentally unstable mother and a mineworker father, who is tender and adoring to his daughter. From the start of the book you get the sense that Birddog has a deep appreciation of nature, her life and those around her. But her childhood is taken from her to early, as feelings of abandonment slowly sweep into her innocence, tearing her apart. Will she ever get past her pain and hurt? In the end Birddog has to learn how to overcome her bitterness if she is to move past those demons that keep her rooted to her past, if not for herself, but for the most important people in her life.
I have found the distinctive qualities of the characters fascinating and Parnell provides such fine details during their introspection, something I have never come across from another author. Not only do you get to know them physically but you can easily perceive their pain, fear, abandonment and love for each other. In no way did I find this book predictable and there are a few unexpected twists weaved into this story that I have found to be absolutely wonderful.
At times I found Let the Willows Weep to be so moving, that I had to break away from the page, as memories of my own childhood experiences flooded through my mind, and strong emotions overtook my senses. I feel Birddog is the perfect main character and her daily antics and experiences are ones many can relate to as children. I found Birddog can represent different things to different readers depending on childhood experiences. For me she is the voice of all the children who are never perfect enough in the eyes of a parent, the child who tries the only way they know how to make their parents proud. It represents those scars that we carry from our childhood into our adulthood, affecting our daily lives and our relationships with others profoundly as adults, unless we can find a way to forgive and move on.
October 25, 2020
A repeatedly devastating personal history of a young girl named Birddog, the youngest of three children and her parents' only daughter. While her father loves her fiercely, her mother sees in her no more than a love of mud, bugs, and other unladylike things, diminishing Birddog to little more than a burden. By the time Birddog grows into a young woman, she has completely done away with any hope of winning her mother's approval and has all but perfected the art of staying out of her mother's way. But the years have not been easy on Birddog or her family, and with each new sorrow Birddog has to decide whether she will continue to try to push forward to face the world or resign herself to becoming to herself what she has always been to her mother: a disappointment.
A touching story about love in many forms, Parnell's novel is a wonderful story for those who enjoy works such as Where the Crawdads Sing or Steel Magnolias.
A touching story about love in many forms, Parnell's novel is a wonderful story for those who enjoy works such as Where the Crawdads Sing or Steel Magnolias.
October 23, 2012
I'm biased in my review of this book because my cousin Sherry wrote the book! :) Good read. The best part of the this book is that it leaves you wanting to know more. That makes me look for a sequel and also makes me not want to put the book down. Lots of good twists and the ending lets you in on how she breaks the cycle before its too late. The book brings to light that in a day when times where simpler, there were a lot of things that were not so simple and it was very tough and rigid. I enjoyed the detail about all the characters in the book. You fall in to their lives a little.
March 8, 2020
I received a free ARC electronic edition of this southern novel from BookSiren and Sherry Parnell. Thank you so much for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I will keep Sherry Parnell on my favorite author's list. Her words ring in your mind like a gospel song. There is at least one place in every chapter that brings me near to tears with just the picture of the southland with all her trials and gifts.
I could not in this novel solidify the period, the years - this is an anytime picture of the deep south, a heritage we all hope has evolved, as did our mothers, our grandmothers. It is a slice out of time that bridges into our modern age but doesn't quite reach the ground on this side. Something we all have to keep working on, that bridge.
We are situated in this tale in a small Southern town with dirt roads and everyone employed works at the local coal mine. BirdDog is the nickname coined by big brother Denny for our leading lady in this first-person tale. She has other nicknames - her nemesis at school called her Peacock, brother Caul never used her name as he abused her, and her mother called her a disappointment. She was a Daddy's girl through and through, and when he died in a cave-in at the mine when she was nine, she was adrift with no help, no hope but Denny - who has to quit school and work at the mine to support the family. And in time, she was finished with school, still living with just her mother and working as a helper to the town seamstress, Ms. Tarmara. Denny was now a man, married to a woman too much like their mother who discouraged any contact with his family, and she had no one. Until she met Samuel and his brother, Diggs. And maybe Ms. Tarmara...
Author gift
Reviewed on Goodreads, AmazonSmile, BarnesNoble, BookBub, and Kobo. Not available at GooglePlay.
I could not in this novel solidify the period, the years - this is an anytime picture of the deep south, a heritage we all hope has evolved, as did our mothers, our grandmothers. It is a slice out of time that bridges into our modern age but doesn't quite reach the ground on this side. Something we all have to keep working on, that bridge.
We are situated in this tale in a small Southern town with dirt roads and everyone employed works at the local coal mine. BirdDog is the nickname coined by big brother Denny for our leading lady in this first-person tale. She has other nicknames - her nemesis at school called her Peacock, brother Caul never used her name as he abused her, and her mother called her a disappointment. She was a Daddy's girl through and through, and when he died in a cave-in at the mine when she was nine, she was adrift with no help, no hope but Denny - who has to quit school and work at the mine to support the family. And in time, she was finished with school, still living with just her mother and working as a helper to the town seamstress, Ms. Tarmara. Denny was now a man, married to a woman too much like their mother who discouraged any contact with his family, and she had no one. Until she met Samuel and his brother, Diggs. And maybe Ms. Tarmara...
Author gift
Reviewed on Goodreads, AmazonSmile, BarnesNoble, BookBub, and Kobo. Not available at GooglePlay.
July 30, 2020
Absolutely beautiful book. This had me in tears. Sherry Parnell did an absolute beautiful job.
September 16, 2020
'Birddog' is the nickname her brother gave her when she was a baby. She's now old enough to realize that her brother, Denny, and her father are the only people in her world who truly care for her. Her mother is always critical and cruel to her and her other brother is a bully. Her mother is always nasty to her father for not bringing home enough money and causing them to live in a small shack and he works as many hours as possible at the coal mine to try to make life better for her. The only person that her mother appears to love is her older brother Denny. Denny is also her best friend and her protector. Overall this is a totally dysfunctional family. Then the worst thing possible happens, her father is killed in a cave- in at the mine and to support the family, Denny gives up his dreams of a better life and goes to work in the coal mines. After her father dies, Birddogs life gets even worse. Her mother is more critical of her and her brother is no longer around to help protect her. She wants to find someone to love her and by accident, she meets a man at the cemetery who is interested in her. She begins to blossom and feel good about herself but that feeling quickly disappears as life in her small town becomes violent.
I thought Birddog was a well written character who lived in a sad home with an overly critical mother who didn't love her. She managed to stay strong no matter what life threw at her until the last terrible act that determined how she was going to handle the rest of her life. I'd have liked a little more information about her mother and why she was so critical of her daughter and husband but on the other hand it would have taken away from Birddog's story. Overall this was a beautifully written Southern novel with a strong female main character. Her life was full of confusion and sorrow but at the end, she was able to find redemption.
I thought Birddog was a well written character who lived in a sad home with an overly critical mother who didn't love her. She managed to stay strong no matter what life threw at her until the last terrible act that determined how she was going to handle the rest of her life. I'd have liked a little more information about her mother and why she was so critical of her daughter and husband but on the other hand it would have taken away from Birddog's story. Overall this was a beautifully written Southern novel with a strong female main character. Her life was full of confusion and sorrow but at the end, she was able to find redemption.
October 10, 2020
This is a beautiful written book that provokes a strong emotional response from the reader.
I liked the way the author used colors for the description of feelings in the characters lives and space in time.
You will cry with Bird dog, the main character of the book, but also smile with her, but most importantly cheer for her.
I received this book for free and leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked the way the author used colors for the description of feelings in the characters lives and space in time.
You will cry with Bird dog, the main character of the book, but also smile with her, but most importantly cheer for her.
I received this book for free and leaving this review voluntarily.
March 26, 2020
This was a heartbreaking read! It is the story of a girl, known to her family as "Birddog", who continues to suffer tragedy and heartache as she transitions into adulthood. It begins and ends from the perspective of the woman's daughter as she tries to make sense of her father's abandonment and her mother's despair. The bulk of the book is a flashback of the mother as she recounts her life as a young girl growing up with grief and betrayal.
There are many themes of morality, loyalty, judgment, forgiveness, grief, acceptance, and adversity. Birddog relies on the words of her father as she navigates familial relationships, romantic interests, and eventually becoming a mother. She is often disappointed as she remains loyal to people who do not remain loyal to her. Again and again she forgives, but often finds herself wondering where and with whom she truly belongs.
"Mama sighed and said, 'I like her just fine, but we both know it ain't a matter of likin' her. It's a matter of...' Whispering the word at the same time, Mama and I said, 'Belonging.' At that moment, I knew that as much as I wanted to belong--I never would."
Birddog endures insurmountable grief as people exit her life either by choice or by death. Ultimately, she must make the choice to press forward with rage and unravel or to overcome her pain and find gratitude in opportunity she had to experience love and happiness before losing it.
Unfortunately, there were a few parts of the book that I felt were lacking. For one, I have no idea where this story takes place or what time period. It was mostly left to the imagination, but considering it addresses topics such as poverty, racism, and gender roles, it would have been nice to have a backdrop to make sense of it. Also, there were a few gaps in the story about certain characters or experiences that left me wondering why some of these individuals or events even occurred. It begins at a slow pace and ends rather rushed.
However, the writing was incredibly poetic and had amazing quotes that both made me cry and caused me to reflect on my own life. These quotes became relatable and I think drew me further into the story.
"Denny said that Mother was trying to give us a better life, but I thought she just wanted a better one for herself so she pretended the one we lived didn't exist."
"After Samuel's daddy died, Mama grabbed the tattered ends and sewed them up, tightly tying each to the other until they were enclosed insider a warm and loving home. My mother allowed the frayed threads to pull loose from her grasp, unstitching us from each other until we were left splintered and broken inside a cold and quiet house."
This is something that becomes evident in every member of the family as they grow up. This outlook on life seems to pass down to one another and eventually becomes a decision that Birddog must face on whether to continue this pattern or break the habit.
"I didn't mind that Mother forgot me in the prayer because I knew that God wouldn't. Or at least I hoped... Please God, if you can't make me what she wants then please make her want what I already am."
"My mother's greatest talent was her ability to cause pain with her words. It was also her greatest weapon, and she rarely held back when wielding it at me."
She seeks the approval of her mother, but shapes her identity from the words of her father:
"You're a good girl and as long as you do what is right and stay true to yourself then you'll always be respectable."
"We all make our own cages in this life, sweet girl. We build little metal bars from some decision or another until we're sittin' confused and trapped inside not knowin' how we got in... or knowin' how we can get out... The harder your heart, the harder those bars are to break. You can use these hands to make little metal bars or you can use them to free others from their cages."
Many quotes focus on accepting the difficulties of life and that there is nothing one can do about it. It is such a sad way to live, but I think many people have felt that way at one point or another:
"...sometimes life is just like paper wings. Fragile, easily torn apart, and often there are too many pieces to pick up."
"Sometimes in life you have to trade what you want for what you need."
"Watching it fall to the floor, I realized that no matter how tightly we hold on, sometimes things still slip from our grasp."
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would likely recommend it to others. It would prompt a great discussion to reflect on the unresolved traumas of our past and how we decide to press forward. I wish there was more information on the setting of the book, but it didn't take away from the story too much.
There are many themes of morality, loyalty, judgment, forgiveness, grief, acceptance, and adversity. Birddog relies on the words of her father as she navigates familial relationships, romantic interests, and eventually becoming a mother. She is often disappointed as she remains loyal to people who do not remain loyal to her. Again and again she forgives, but often finds herself wondering where and with whom she truly belongs.
"Mama sighed and said, 'I like her just fine, but we both know it ain't a matter of likin' her. It's a matter of...' Whispering the word at the same time, Mama and I said, 'Belonging.' At that moment, I knew that as much as I wanted to belong--I never would."
Birddog endures insurmountable grief as people exit her life either by choice or by death. Ultimately, she must make the choice to press forward with rage and unravel or to overcome her pain and find gratitude in opportunity she had to experience love and happiness before losing it.
Unfortunately, there were a few parts of the book that I felt were lacking. For one, I have no idea where this story takes place or what time period. It was mostly left to the imagination, but considering it addresses topics such as poverty, racism, and gender roles, it would have been nice to have a backdrop to make sense of it. Also, there were a few gaps in the story about certain characters or experiences that left me wondering why some of these individuals or events even occurred. It begins at a slow pace and ends rather rushed.
However, the writing was incredibly poetic and had amazing quotes that both made me cry and caused me to reflect on my own life. These quotes became relatable and I think drew me further into the story.
"Denny said that Mother was trying to give us a better life, but I thought she just wanted a better one for herself so she pretended the one we lived didn't exist."
"After Samuel's daddy died, Mama grabbed the tattered ends and sewed them up, tightly tying each to the other until they were enclosed insider a warm and loving home. My mother allowed the frayed threads to pull loose from her grasp, unstitching us from each other until we were left splintered and broken inside a cold and quiet house."
This is something that becomes evident in every member of the family as they grow up. This outlook on life seems to pass down to one another and eventually becomes a decision that Birddog must face on whether to continue this pattern or break the habit.
"I didn't mind that Mother forgot me in the prayer because I knew that God wouldn't. Or at least I hoped... Please God, if you can't make me what she wants then please make her want what I already am."
"My mother's greatest talent was her ability to cause pain with her words. It was also her greatest weapon, and she rarely held back when wielding it at me."
She seeks the approval of her mother, but shapes her identity from the words of her father:
"You're a good girl and as long as you do what is right and stay true to yourself then you'll always be respectable."
"We all make our own cages in this life, sweet girl. We build little metal bars from some decision or another until we're sittin' confused and trapped inside not knowin' how we got in... or knowin' how we can get out... The harder your heart, the harder those bars are to break. You can use these hands to make little metal bars or you can use them to free others from their cages."
Many quotes focus on accepting the difficulties of life and that there is nothing one can do about it. It is such a sad way to live, but I think many people have felt that way at one point or another:
"...sometimes life is just like paper wings. Fragile, easily torn apart, and often there are too many pieces to pick up."
"Sometimes in life you have to trade what you want for what you need."
"Watching it fall to the floor, I realized that no matter how tightly we hold on, sometimes things still slip from our grasp."
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would likely recommend it to others. It would prompt a great discussion to reflect on the unresolved traumas of our past and how we decide to press forward. I wish there was more information on the setting of the book, but it didn't take away from the story too much.
September 17, 2020
3.5
Let the willows weep is a beautifully told story of life growing up in the south and an emotional coming of age story for the main character, Birddog. Birddog is the youngest of three kids born to their miner dad and mother. Let the willows weep paints a picture of what it was like growing up in a working class family during this era and displays the types of prejudices that existed. Birddog endures a lot of hardships in her life, including loosing family members, abandonment and more. This story is depressing but the storytelling was really well done.
•
I do recommend this one but definitely recommend reading it when you’re ready for a sad story. Read this if you like coming of age stories & historical fiction! I also wanted to mention content warnings for loss of a parent, miscarriage, abandonment, racism
Let the willows weep is a beautifully told story of life growing up in the south and an emotional coming of age story for the main character, Birddog. Birddog is the youngest of three kids born to their miner dad and mother. Let the willows weep paints a picture of what it was like growing up in a working class family during this era and displays the types of prejudices that existed. Birddog endures a lot of hardships in her life, including loosing family members, abandonment and more. This story is depressing but the storytelling was really well done.
•
I do recommend this one but definitely recommend reading it when you’re ready for a sad story. Read this if you like coming of age stories & historical fiction! I also wanted to mention content warnings for loss of a parent, miscarriage, abandonment, racism
February 8, 2021
Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let the Willows Weep is really your typical Southern drama. The book follows Birddog Harlin as she grows up in a poor, dysfunctional family.
Obviously this is a deeply sad story and even though the book is only about 200 pages long it deals with some very heavy themes.
It took me a while to get used to the writing style. The prose – especially at the beginning of the book – is very simple and at first this kind of put me off because I was reading at the same time as another book with a very different tone. But actually this simplicity fits the story really well and there are some beautiful and truly heartbreaking lines in the book.
Let the Willows Weep is really your typical Southern drama. The book follows Birddog Harlin as she grows up in a poor, dysfunctional family.
Obviously this is a deeply sad story and even though the book is only about 200 pages long it deals with some very heavy themes.
It took me a while to get used to the writing style. The prose – especially at the beginning of the book – is very simple and at first this kind of put me off because I was reading at the same time as another book with a very different tone. But actually this simplicity fits the story really well and there are some beautiful and truly heartbreaking lines in the book.
February 22, 2020
I felt I had just started reading Let The Willows Weep by Sherry Parnell when it ended rather abruptly.
I spent some of that time a little confused. The first chapter was laid out just fine, no surprises, but the first paragraph of the second chapter had me wondering if the narrator had switched to the mother and if the book would continue in that vein. Every other chapter showing the other's point of view. Even after reading that section several times, as it did not seem to happen again, I decided I must have misunderstood. Until the last chapter, where it happened again. So, here I am again, in a state of confusion, what happened to who? It is hard to explain when I don't want to spoil the story. Here's one sore spot, at the end of the story, who did they visit in the willows? Or rather, whose past, Birddog's or Mother's? We don't have a lot of insight into why Mother is the way she is. Actually, if the narrator is only Birddog that makes sense since, especially as the child she wouldn't know but if Mother steps in a "guest" narrator we should be able to to find clues even if she herself is unaware of why.
There is no overt indication of when this (or these) story (ies) take place but I possibly the 50s or so. We also are not told where it takes place but perhaps it is Kentucky or West Virginia?
On a positive note, there are many instances of beautiful thoughts concerning life particularly sorrow.
Let The Willows Weep by Sherry Parnell has garnered many fans and many reviews full of high praise. It just isn't my cup of tea. I think the confusion I felt may have gotten in the way.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I spent some of that time a little confused. The first chapter was laid out just fine, no surprises, but the first paragraph of the second chapter had me wondering if the narrator had switched to the mother and if the book would continue in that vein. Every other chapter showing the other's point of view. Even after reading that section several times, as it did not seem to happen again, I decided I must have misunderstood. Until the last chapter, where it happened again. So, here I am again, in a state of confusion, what happened to who? It is hard to explain when I don't want to spoil the story. Here's one sore spot, at the end of the story, who did they visit in the willows? Or rather, whose past, Birddog's or Mother's? We don't have a lot of insight into why Mother is the way she is. Actually, if the narrator is only Birddog that makes sense since, especially as the child she wouldn't know but if Mother steps in a "guest" narrator we should be able to to find clues even if she herself is unaware of why.
There is no overt indication of when this (or these) story (ies) take place but I possibly the 50s or so. We also are not told where it takes place but perhaps it is Kentucky or West Virginia?
On a positive note, there are many instances of beautiful thoughts concerning life particularly sorrow.
Let The Willows Weep by Sherry Parnell has garnered many fans and many reviews full of high praise. It just isn't my cup of tea. I think the confusion I felt may have gotten in the way.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 23, 2020
Let the Willows Weep recounts the story of "Birddog" Harlin through her childhood and early adulthood as she grows up in a dysfunctional family. Beautifully written, the novel explores the complicated relationships Birddog navigates with abusive family members, a romance that cannot be, and the very few people she can count on for love and warmth.
I really enjoyed the writing style used by Parnell; it was artistic in a way, and conveyed a lot of emotion. Her characters are also multi-faceted and believable. This book is incredibly sad, but almost too much. At the beginning, my heart would continually break for little Birddog, but as the story continued I almost became desensitized to it despite still feeling connected to her. I think the author did a moderately strong job of weaving issues of racial and economic inequality into the story, but some elements either went over my head or were described in a way that information was left out.
Overall, this is worth a read despite the few drawbacks I mentioned. Good writing and length, and a lot of potential discussion material for those reading as a group.
Edit: I did get this ebook for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the writing style used by Parnell; it was artistic in a way, and conveyed a lot of emotion. Her characters are also multi-faceted and believable. This book is incredibly sad, but almost too much. At the beginning, my heart would continually break for little Birddog, but as the story continued I almost became desensitized to it despite still feeling connected to her. I think the author did a moderately strong job of weaving issues of racial and economic inequality into the story, but some elements either went over my head or were described in a way that information was left out.
Overall, this is worth a read despite the few drawbacks I mentioned. Good writing and length, and a lot of potential discussion material for those reading as a group.
Edit: I did get this ebook for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2020
Let the Willows Weep by Sherry Parnell is a very highly recommended, beautifully written, heartbreaking novel written in the tradition of rural Southern fiction.
"Sometimes life is just like paper wings. Fragile, easily torn apart, and often there are too many pieces to pick up."
Birddog Harlin lives in the rural South by a small town with her parents and two brothers. Her father makes a hardscrabble existence by working in a coal mine while her mother is ever full of disappointment and bitterness over their poverty. Denny, her older brother is her idol and protector. Caul, the brother closest to her in age, is her tormentor. She is her verbally abusive mother's greatest disappointment. But Birddog (a nickname given to her by Denny) is her daddy's girl, and her father loves and cherishes her. After her father dies in a cave-in, the dysfunctional family spirals into self-destruction.
The opening chapter and the concluding chapter are set in the future, through the eyes of Birddog's daughter. After the opening where the mother is harsh to her daughter, then we jump back in time to Birddog's childhood, and her mother treating her even worse. Truly, children learn to parent from their parents, good or bad. This is Birddog's story. Although a time period is not mentioned, I found it relatively easy to place it during a basic time in history based on the story. (There were many period clues, for example segregated housing, the brothers leaving school to work, girls wore dresses all the time, etc..)
Let the Willows Weep is an excellent novel. Parnell's writing is simple gorgeous, descriptive, poetic, and sublime. Even while describing difficult, hurtful, abusive situations, the sentences are perfectly crafted and the reflections are unflinchingly told. Birddog is a memorable, very well-developed character. This novel is through her point-of-view, and her self-examination about her mother and her resulting attitude. Additionally, Let the Willows Weep is an emotional novel and I teared up, or cried during scenes throughout the novel. Yes, it explores the line between destruction and redemption, but the journey covers a myriad of emotions that exist between those two points.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Sherry Parnell.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2020/0...
"Sometimes life is just like paper wings. Fragile, easily torn apart, and often there are too many pieces to pick up."
Birddog Harlin lives in the rural South by a small town with her parents and two brothers. Her father makes a hardscrabble existence by working in a coal mine while her mother is ever full of disappointment and bitterness over their poverty. Denny, her older brother is her idol and protector. Caul, the brother closest to her in age, is her tormentor. She is her verbally abusive mother's greatest disappointment. But Birddog (a nickname given to her by Denny) is her daddy's girl, and her father loves and cherishes her. After her father dies in a cave-in, the dysfunctional family spirals into self-destruction.
The opening chapter and the concluding chapter are set in the future, through the eyes of Birddog's daughter. After the opening where the mother is harsh to her daughter, then we jump back in time to Birddog's childhood, and her mother treating her even worse. Truly, children learn to parent from their parents, good or bad. This is Birddog's story. Although a time period is not mentioned, I found it relatively easy to place it during a basic time in history based on the story. (There were many period clues, for example segregated housing, the brothers leaving school to work, girls wore dresses all the time, etc..)
Let the Willows Weep is an excellent novel. Parnell's writing is simple gorgeous, descriptive, poetic, and sublime. Even while describing difficult, hurtful, abusive situations, the sentences are perfectly crafted and the reflections are unflinchingly told. Birddog is a memorable, very well-developed character. This novel is through her point-of-view, and her self-examination about her mother and her resulting attitude. Additionally, Let the Willows Weep is an emotional novel and I teared up, or cried during scenes throughout the novel. Yes, it explores the line between destruction and redemption, but the journey covers a myriad of emotions that exist between those two points.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Sherry Parnell.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2020/0...
December 14, 2020
I received Let the Willows Weep from NetGalley and the publisher in return for my honest review.
“Sometimes life is just like paper wings. Fragile, easily torn apart, and often there are too many pieces to pick up.”
In a word, grief is the overarching theme of this book. The recurring loss the main character endures will yank on your heartstrings. It's a coming of age story wrapped up in family relationships and to a degree, ia about what it's like to be poor in rural America. This story investigates how hardship, disappointment, and loss can change and mold a young girl and concludes with how she endures.
What I Did Like
This story kept my attention from beginning to end. The characters were believable and the events and responses to what occurred, plausible. I loved the way nature was noticed and described throughout the book.
Some people don't like it when they cry as they read. I think that is the mark of a good author to be able to evoke a physical response to a story. I was in tears more than once as I worked my way through this novel. Although that's not the nicest feeling, it certainly got me hooked and kept me reading.
What I Didn't Like
There isn't much, I can pinpoint that I didn't like about this story. I think it could use a few more details about the brothers and why what was going on in their heads, but the story isn't really about them.
Additionally, I don't really understand why the mother felt such animosity toward her daughter. It's never clear where the disappointment stemmed from or why she treated her with such disdain and a complete lack of love. I kept expecting to find out Birddog wasn't really hers - I cannot imagine hating one of your own children so much, and showing such favor to your others.
Should You Read It?
I enjoyed reading Let the Willows Weep quite completely and recommend it. It's not a happy "warm-fuzzy" type of story at all, but does transport you into another world for the duration and will likely touch your heart.
“Sometimes life is just like paper wings. Fragile, easily torn apart, and often there are too many pieces to pick up.”
In a word, grief is the overarching theme of this book. The recurring loss the main character endures will yank on your heartstrings. It's a coming of age story wrapped up in family relationships and to a degree, ia about what it's like to be poor in rural America. This story investigates how hardship, disappointment, and loss can change and mold a young girl and concludes with how she endures.
What I Did Like
This story kept my attention from beginning to end. The characters were believable and the events and responses to what occurred, plausible. I loved the way nature was noticed and described throughout the book.
Some people don't like it when they cry as they read. I think that is the mark of a good author to be able to evoke a physical response to a story. I was in tears more than once as I worked my way through this novel. Although that's not the nicest feeling, it certainly got me hooked and kept me reading.
What I Didn't Like
There isn't much, I can pinpoint that I didn't like about this story. I think it could use a few more details about the brothers and why what was going on in their heads, but the story isn't really about them.
Additionally, I don't really understand why the mother felt such animosity toward her daughter. It's never clear where the disappointment stemmed from or why she treated her with such disdain and a complete lack of love. I kept expecting to find out Birddog wasn't really hers - I cannot imagine hating one of your own children so much, and showing such favor to your others.
Should You Read It?
I enjoyed reading Let the Willows Weep quite completely and recommend it. It's not a happy "warm-fuzzy" type of story at all, but does transport you into another world for the duration and will likely touch your heart.
October 20, 2020
The fiction of this book is set in the past century of Southern part of America. Although I am calling it a fiction, it holds sad truths of the society at that time.
I am from a different time and culture than that of this story, but I could relate many things from my childhood and from the past generations of my culture. A little girl adorably called as "birddog" by his dear elder brother was painted perfectly in this book. Society expects manner from this girl, but she disappoints them in every way. Not that she wants to disappoint anybody, but to fulfill everyone's demand is not on a little girl's ability. As a lonely girl, she seeks refuge from her dear elder brother who backs her always. Time ticks and the girl becomes a young woman. Her journey from girlhood to womanhood showed how difficult it is to adjust to a life that never stops being cruel.
What I liked most about the writing is, every scene was portrayed with just enough details and emotion that you can picture and sense the wind around it. Not too much, not too less. I very much liked how the writer painted a girl's childhood insecurities. That was very relatable. Also, the writing was very soothing to me. It entwined simple truths about life with small incidents of the story. I am sharing some of those quotes that made me nod...
If you want to read a book that is not so heavy with contents but connects the reader to the story, then this book can be a good option.
I am grateful to BookSirens for providing me the ARC. It is my second book from them. My expectation was average and the book exceeded my expectation!
I am from a different time and culture than that of this story, but I could relate many things from my childhood and from the past generations of my culture. A little girl adorably called as "birddog" by his dear elder brother was painted perfectly in this book. Society expects manner from this girl, but she disappoints them in every way. Not that she wants to disappoint anybody, but to fulfill everyone's demand is not on a little girl's ability. As a lonely girl, she seeks refuge from her dear elder brother who backs her always. Time ticks and the girl becomes a young woman. Her journey from girlhood to womanhood showed how difficult it is to adjust to a life that never stops being cruel.
What I liked most about the writing is, every scene was portrayed with just enough details and emotion that you can picture and sense the wind around it. Not too much, not too less. I very much liked how the writer painted a girl's childhood insecurities. That was very relatable. Also, the writing was very soothing to me. It entwined simple truths about life with small incidents of the story. I am sharing some of those quotes that made me nod...
As we sat silently we knew there was nothing more to say because sometimes life is just like paper wings. Fragile, easily torn apart, and often there are too many pieces to pick up.
The only thing poor people can't afford but seem to have plenty of is pride.
"Sometimes in life you have to trade what you want for what you need."
If you want to read a book that is not so heavy with contents but connects the reader to the story, then this book can be a good option.
I am grateful to BookSirens for providing me the ARC. It is my second book from them. My expectation was average and the book exceeded my expectation!
February 22, 2020
I received this book as an ARC and am giving it my honest review.
This is a beautifully written book. The prose just flows and is often poetic. Ms. Parnell really knows how to turn a phrase in a way that is so succinctly descriptive and sweepingly emotional. I admit I did have to go back an re read the first chapter and the last when I had finished the book. The ending was a little abrupt and a teeny bit disjointed. I was left with so many questions.
This is BirdDog's story. The youngest child, only girl and a very emotionally damaged member of a coal miner's family. Their life is so bleak and dysfunctional. The Mother of the family is so damaged that she projects that damage onto her entire family. Rather than pulling them together, she breaks then apart. Her desperation for a better life that she will never have, seeps into each family member. The reader can literally feel the desperation build to the breaking point as each change to the family structure occurs. This is a tragic story. So tragic I had to set it down for a few days before I could face the remainder of it. I knew it wasn't going to get any better. But I was wrong. The book did end on a note of hope and for that I am relieved.
I found much of the plot predictable, although I was surprised about 3/4 of the way through by one revelation. Predictability is usually a death knell for me as far as a book is concerned, but I am going to forgive it here because the prose was just so well done.
Highly recommended.
This is a beautifully written book. The prose just flows and is often poetic. Ms. Parnell really knows how to turn a phrase in a way that is so succinctly descriptive and sweepingly emotional. I admit I did have to go back an re read the first chapter and the last when I had finished the book. The ending was a little abrupt and a teeny bit disjointed. I was left with so many questions.
This is BirdDog's story. The youngest child, only girl and a very emotionally damaged member of a coal miner's family. Their life is so bleak and dysfunctional. The Mother of the family is so damaged that she projects that damage onto her entire family. Rather than pulling them together, she breaks then apart. Her desperation for a better life that she will never have, seeps into each family member. The reader can literally feel the desperation build to the breaking point as each change to the family structure occurs. This is a tragic story. So tragic I had to set it down for a few days before I could face the remainder of it. I knew it wasn't going to get any better. But I was wrong. The book did end on a note of hope and for that I am relieved.
I found much of the plot predictable, although I was surprised about 3/4 of the way through by one revelation. Predictability is usually a death knell for me as far as a book is concerned, but I am going to forgive it here because the prose was just so well done.
Highly recommended.
March 26, 2021
This story here is told by the life of the girl where she lived as a daughter of a coal miner daughter,where the mother was very disappointed in her daughter and let her know every single day! We All come from dysfunctional families how much is hers? They have their struggles and her protectors are her older brother and father until things changed! You go from home life to school...Verbal abuse is worse than physical cause the scar stays inside. Everything she does is always wrong. You travel with this girl as she grows up to a adult and to see how this effects her life! The tragedies she faces will they make her strong or does she fall apart? What happens when she falls in love? You feel All of the emotions that the characters have and you better have the tissues. I didn't want to finish the book and then I did, hoping the story would change and it did,but you will have to read this for yourself to see how her life turns out! Received this from Net Gallery and the characters are so real that you really know the family. We All come from dysfunctional families It's just some are worse than others,you tell me where you think this family is?? It's a very much read !!🙈🙉🙊
April 14, 2020
The years of our youth form the times of our elder years. Between those years is the experiences that Sherry Parnell explores in her book “Let The Willows Weep”.
A youth learns from harshness and kindness while finding her own self awareness within the story. Family is the basis for such growth for a young girl who experiences the range of these characteristics between her Mother,Father and brothers. She grows and develops but how does all her early treatment during childhood shape her and influences her choices as an adult?
Parnell writes with an emotionally strong style. She wraps her words around your heart and takes you through a tale that makes you examine your own lives’ experiences. Backdropped in the Deep South the book is an experience well worth investing ones time.
I hope anyone looking for a truly stirring, soul searching story, that will keep ones attention from beginning to end, will find a copy of “Let The Willow Weep” to have as their own.
I was given this ARC copy for a fair and unbiased review.
A youth learns from harshness and kindness while finding her own self awareness within the story. Family is the basis for such growth for a young girl who experiences the range of these characteristics between her Mother,Father and brothers. She grows and develops but how does all her early treatment during childhood shape her and influences her choices as an adult?
Parnell writes with an emotionally strong style. She wraps her words around your heart and takes you through a tale that makes you examine your own lives’ experiences. Backdropped in the Deep South the book is an experience well worth investing ones time.
I hope anyone looking for a truly stirring, soul searching story, that will keep ones attention from beginning to end, will find a copy of “Let The Willow Weep” to have as their own.
I was given this ARC copy for a fair and unbiased review.
April 21, 2020
Let the Willows Weep by Sherry Parnell is a touching, dramatic and heartbreaking novel about Birddog and her family in the rural south. Birddog is a daddy's girl, who loves her fiercely back. That's a good thing, as she is her mother's "greatest disappointment." Birddog has two brothers, Denny who is her guardian and Caul, who torments her at every turn. When tragedy strikes, the family is unable to recover and falls apart.
The book is skillfully written, with the first and last chapters through the eyes of an adult Birddog. The rest is about Birddog and her coming-of-age story. Beautifully written, phrases come off as poetry, lyric and descriptive. The reader will come to love Birddog through the story, taking her side and wondering at the cruelty of a mother. Tears are shed, and Birddog's first love story will break your heart.
Let the Willows Weep is an emotional read, one that will question a mother's love, but that reminds us that everyone can change.
The book is skillfully written, with the first and last chapters through the eyes of an adult Birddog. The rest is about Birddog and her coming-of-age story. Beautifully written, phrases come off as poetry, lyric and descriptive. The reader will come to love Birddog through the story, taking her side and wondering at the cruelty of a mother. Tears are shed, and Birddog's first love story will break your heart.
Let the Willows Weep is an emotional read, one that will question a mother's love, but that reminds us that everyone can change.
August 7, 2020
While the protagonist of this book, Birddog, was endearing, the rest of the characters - minus one or two - were completely unlovable. Also, the author forces you to come to a lot of conclusions that are not clearly stated in the book. When the story begins, you're introduced to one character and it confusingly jumps way back in time to the actual main story. Also, there's not a sense of closure or conclusion throughout.
That being said, the characters you do get to know well are mostly wonderful. The writing was beautiful and made Birddog very relatable. She pulls at your heartstrings, especially when you're seeing her life through her eyes, living with a mother who will always be impossible to please.
I would definitely recommend the book to someone who loves this genre, but would caution them against getting super high hopes.
That being said, the characters you do get to know well are mostly wonderful. The writing was beautiful and made Birddog very relatable. She pulls at your heartstrings, especially when you're seeing her life through her eyes, living with a mother who will always be impossible to please.
I would definitely recommend the book to someone who loves this genre, but would caution them against getting super high hopes.
June 28, 2020
A coming of age story about a young girl named Birddog. Her life is anything but easy and full of disappointments. The story flashes back in time. Told in true southern grit that I love. This breathes heartache and hit me to the core. I shed tears. The writing is brilliant and so poetic. So many lines just come to life and linger. A hauntingly beautiful tale. What a remarkable read.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
April 12, 2024
“Sometimes we can't cry enough for all the pain we feel. So, we let the willows weep.” 😢🥺
A heartbreaking little coming of age story, full of Southern melancholy. A full circle story, with a lot of hurt but also love.
A heartbreaking little coming of age story, full of Southern melancholy. A full circle story, with a lot of hurt but also love.
December 16, 2020
Loved this story
This story was full of loss and sorrow. It was hard to find the pockets of happiness. It was a reminder that life is not always kind. I loved the story.
This story was full of loss and sorrow. It was hard to find the pockets of happiness. It was a reminder that life is not always kind. I loved the story.
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