Billy Bird

by Emma Neale

Moving, insightful, lyrical and also at times very funny, this novel is a supple, disarmingly frank exploration of parenthood.

Liam and Iris have one son: Billy, a bright ‘toddler puddling about [. . .] leaving surrealist art installations all over the house— a tiny cow in a teapot in a hat on the doorstep, of course! A stuffed crocodile in a silk camisole perched beside a woollen chick in a beanie on the bread-bin, why not!'

Just as they are despairing about being able to conceive another child, Jason comes into their family. He arrives under fraught circumstances, but might just make a perfect sibling for Billy. Jason is a ‘ lovely, poor, sad, unfortunate, ordinary, annoying, delightful nuisance of a ratbag of a hoot of a kid ' and the boys grow close over the ensuing years. But after a terrible accident, Billy turns into a bird. He utterly believes it: and as his behaviour becomes increasingly worrying, Liam and Iris must find a way to stop their family flying apart.

When extracts of Billy Bird won the NZSA/Philip and Dianne Beatson Fellowship, the judges said the project was ‘inventive, joyful and beautifully written'. Ripe with playfulness, yet also unforgettably poignant, this novel will unstitch — and then mend — your heart several times over.

Genres: Fiction, Mental Health

330 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

New Zealand novelist & poet Emma Neale's first work was published in 1998 and her writing has been featured extensively in magazines, newspapers and journals, and several anthologies.

Daughter of writer Barbara Else.

Abridged from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Rosie Carnahan-Darby · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT. It was an emotional journey with two parents desperate to do the best for their kids, but with tragedy and life getting in the way. Billy's unique approach to trauma was heartwarming and tear inducing.

[Irene Nagy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Neale has quite a way with words,they truly do draw you in.I couldn't put Billy Bird down and finished it in two days,I would have done it in less had life not gotten in the way.If this book hadn't been gifted to me by my aunt I wouldn't have picked it up,but I am glad to have had the opportunity to devour it. A fascinating story about how everyone deals with loss a different way and how they react to each other. Her poetry was a much enjoyed addition to the novel.

[Tash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book...Very satisfying and very Kiwi. Loved it being set in Dunedin.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time last week I was still in the after glow of the going west book + writers festival. Unbeknown to me it has been going for 20 years but this was my first one. I have long wanted to go to a reader, writers festival but some how time, study etc have just not made them possible. I asked around among my bookish friends, sadly nobody was available to join me. So I decided what the heck I'm a big girl I will go alone. Wow I will definitely not let company stop me from doing something again - totally positive experience. I was mainly there for the third speaker of the night and had assumed I would politely listen to the first two. Yeah - nah.....the first two speakers both totally blew me away. Albert Went and Emma Neale. Emma read her poetry and spoke of her reverence for those who had come before her. Her prose was moving, catchy and beautifully lyrical. She was captivating yet so real, I am ashamed to say I not heard of either of them.

I was so enthralled with the whole evening I walked away spending hard earned dollars on both authors work, Albert's will be another review in a while, I chose to read Emma's first. Not really knowing what to expect from her novel I dived in immeadiatley, straight after finishing the book I was reading. Which weirdly related to birds as well and I am not sure if there is some symmetry to that or not, definitely worth pondering though. Anyways Billy Bird is delightful, insightful and really good.

Iris and Liam unintentionally start a family and are keen for more, however this was not be. The grief and loss was not ever really mourned as Liam's brother Pete dies and his son comes to live with Iris, Liam and Billy. Not wanting to give things away I will stop there with the plot summary I am not one for spoilers and don't want to fudge it.

The use of language is in places exquisite. Equally impressive is how playful Emma is with words, despite the beauty and subject matter its very refreshing to read. The subject is sensitive but done with such insight and awareness I loved it.

Another book I would highly recommend.

[Rhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Neale's 'Billy Bird' broke my heart and healed it over and over, throughout my reading of it. It reads sort of like a poetic stream-of-consciousness, slipping seamlessly between the characters' minds while remaining in third person. It's gentle, sad, funny, sweet - and ultimately uplifting. I'm so excited to read more of Emma Neale's work.

(I suppose TW for bereavement and anxiety?)

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

One theme I’ve been studiously avoiding in my reading over the last couple of years is the subject of grief.  I’ve had my own mourning to do and I certainly haven’t wanted to read about anybody else’s. But Billy Bird by New Zealand author got under my radar because it was nominated for the 2018 Dublin Literary Award longlist, and although it took a bit of fortitude to finish it I can see why it’s a popular book.
It’s not just about grief, because it’s about parenthood too: it’s about a young family falling apart because of successive bereavements and (like most of us) not having the resources to deal with it.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/12/07/b...

[Judith Yeabsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and so raw and real. I found it tough going only because I felt so bad for all the main characters. They were all struggling but unable to draw on each others strengths. What an honest and believable snap shot of an ordinary family placed under inordinate pressure. Billy was beautiful!

[Carl Sagstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cute Kiwi classic, some food for thought on labelling people and what the process of grief can be like (and for different people).
Read it as it’s set in my home town, but really enjoyed it on its own merits. Neale is a wonderful writer and I’ll have to explore her other works.

[MaryM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. The characters are so real that I worried about them. This family trying to deal with tragedy, their own individual reactions and their inability to communicate with each other is a delight.

[Vicki Klemm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of Bev's books. Fabulous story of loss and recovery.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attended Emma Neale's interview at last years Marlborough Book Festival. A shame it took me 12 months to read the book she spoke about. I really enjoyed this book.

[Sally Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really quirky account of the seriousness of grief and the family dynamics surrounding the often fragile journey......an easy and compelling read..

[Inger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Improved as I read and glad to have read it. Moving

[Pauline Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully lyrical book of a family under stress
Book Club book

[Pauline Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully lyrical book of a family under stress
Book club book

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting ideas. A feasible story. A quick read

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me of From the Cutting Room of Barney Kettle and The ACB with Honora Lee. Both amazing NZ books, only this one I wouldn't really give to an under-12.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written, joyful, imaginative, clever, a joy to read. I laughed, I cried, and I will definitely be searching out more works by this author. One of fhe best books I have read

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt a bit slow to start, and the subject matter meant I found it difficult to get into, but definitely rewarded persevering.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely novel about a family dealing with the aftermath of grief.

[Dale Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. thoroughly enjoyed it.