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Fishing for Birds
Fiction. Women's Studies. Winner of the 2019 Best Book Awards (American Book Fest) for Women's Fiction. Kate, a somewhat clumsy widow of thirty-two, flees her stifling hometown on Vancouver Island to live alone on an even smaller island in the Salish Sea. In so doing, she has vague expectations of solace and sanctuary, despite past experience. Instead she meets Ivy, a woman who through their conversations transports her to the intoxicating world of 1926 Cuba. Within the context of their friendship, Ivy's past begins to unravel from a long-held silence, just as Kate finds herself confronting her relationship with the colourful community she's known all her life, along with an unexpected visitor who threatens to remove all peace from her chosen refuge. Told from the perspectives of three Ivy, Kate, and Kate's mother Nora, FISHING FOR BIRDS is a novel that juxtaposes the expectations we cling to so fiercely and the unexpected and sometimes unconventional things that turn up. The novel challenges traditional constructs of time, ethnicity, and relationship. Set against the tropical beauty of 1920s Cuba and the Northwest Coast of contemporary time, both the landscape and unique character of island life underscore the experiences of three very different women.
300 pages, Paperback
Published May 24, 2019
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136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 19, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed Fishing for Birds by Linda Quennec. I was really enthralled by the unfolding descriptions of Kate, Nora and Ivy’s lives. I loved Ivy’s sense of adventure, uncompromising nature and independence; and was reminded again that every elderly person has lived a life with stories worth sharing. I was moved by Kate’s journey through grief and acceptance, to be able to forgive herself; and laughed at Nora finally breaking the status quo.
I loved the descriptions of the islands, and island life and I particularly enjoyed the contradictory feelings about those crucial events in our lives, that can seem to define us, but don’t define everything about us: they tell a part of the story, and are just a snapshot in time, but never reveal everything about us, and sometimes it’s a challenge to adapt our view of ourselves and others to incorporate the shifting sands of personality and how it relates to our experience.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
@lindaquennec
#fishingforbirds
#literaryfiction
#canadianauthors
#goodreads
#instareads
I loved the descriptions of the islands, and island life and I particularly enjoyed the contradictory feelings about those crucial events in our lives, that can seem to define us, but don’t define everything about us: they tell a part of the story, and are just a snapshot in time, but never reveal everything about us, and sometimes it’s a challenge to adapt our view of ourselves and others to incorporate the shifting sands of personality and how it relates to our experience.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
@lindaquennec
#fishingforbirds
#literaryfiction
#canadianauthors
#goodreads
#instareads
September 9, 2020
Audiobook: What a beautiful book! When listening to audiobooks the narrator sets much of the tone. This may be good or it may not be. In this case it was absolutely good. The narrator owned the story. The prose was so lovely that it felt atmospheric. And oh, the let-down when I tried to find the author's other works and realized this is a debut. I would have rated it five stars but for some feelings of confusion early on. There are three primary characters telling their stories but one tells hers from two different periods in her life. It took a few chapters to get a grasp on that and I have read others saying the same thing. But once I felt squared away, I relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed the remainder. Looking forward to future works from this author.
October 22, 2020
Lovely story of women finding their strengths in different ways, at different ages. I love the characters and the descriptions of islands, the acts of resistance giving way to ease. The end felt like it came quickly- I wanted even more of Ivy’s back story and Kate’s development and Nora and Neville’s friendship but then it could have gone on past the point of a clean ending, so maybe it’s just that I didn’t want it to end.
January 24, 2020
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book. Great character development, and beautiful language.
August 31, 2020
I think this book has beautiful prose, but awkward conversation. Switching from character to character got lost on me when I only really cared about Ivy and was irritated when we had to keep leaving her in Cuba to learn more about Kate and Norah. Credit to Kate's chapters, however, when we start to see things aren't as we thought they were, but we've all had sh*tty relationships and so let's hear more about young Ivy.
September 21, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! I was enthralled by the plot and felt like I knew the three women in this highly engaging debut novel by Linda Quennec. I was blown away by the author’s eloquent gift of storytelling; I laughed, cried and was left wanting more. I highly recommend this beautiful novel.
October 14, 2020
I just could not get into any of the characters in this book. There was too much jumping around from one woman's story to the next. Finally gave up about halfway through.
November 22, 2020
Both in language and depth, this book is beautifully written. I was enthralled with these women, so eager to discover their unfolding, interconnected story, I couldn’t put it down. The author weaves different generations, different locations, different times seamlessly; her characters are complex, beautiful, real. I am looking forward to her next book!
September 9, 2019
Author Quennec masters juxtaposition and paradox in this unassuming but powerful debut novel. The viewpoints of three Vancouverites—young widow Kate, her mother Nora, and Kate’s elderly friend Ivy—alternately diverge and converge as they explore the contexts of their lives and loves in a New Agey island community near the northwestern coast of Canada.https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Fi...#
September 20, 2019
Fabulous!
January 18, 2021
🦅FISHING FOR BIRDS by Linda Quennec: Kate, a somewhat clumsy widow of thirty-two, flees her stifling hometown on Vancouver Island to live alone on an even smaller island in the Salish Sea. In so doing, she has vague expectations of solace and sanctuary, despite past experience. Instead she meets Ivy, a woman who through their conversations transports her to the intoxicating world of 1926 Cuba. Within the context of their friendship, Ivy's past begins to unravel from a long-held silence, just as Kate finds herself confronting her relationship with the colourful community she's known all her life, along with an unexpected visitor who threatens to remove all peace from her chosen refuge.
🦅 My thoughts:
This book was a gush of fresh air! The author’s writing is strong, visceral, and moving. At times, I literally said aloud, “ooh, good word choice!” I love to chew on words that aren’t over-used and are perfection in the sentence. The 3 settings are gorgeous- Cuba, Vancouver Island, and a
a smaller island in the Salish Sea. The latter two were my favourite chapters because I have a soft spot for West Coast Canada, my home. All the characters are well-developed and by the end of the novel I was reluctant to let them go.
🦅 I read this book in print last year and have cherished it on my shelves. The audiobook showed up recently on @netgalley (thank you!); I couldn’t resist experiencing the story again via audio. The narrator reads well, never overacting the lines, using a soothing voice that fits the tone of the novel.
🦅 If you are in the mood for a gratifying piece of literature, I highly recommend Fishing for Birds. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🦅 My thoughts:
This book was a gush of fresh air! The author’s writing is strong, visceral, and moving. At times, I literally said aloud, “ooh, good word choice!” I love to chew on words that aren’t over-used and are perfection in the sentence. The 3 settings are gorgeous- Cuba, Vancouver Island, and a
a smaller island in the Salish Sea. The latter two were my favourite chapters because I have a soft spot for West Coast Canada, my home. All the characters are well-developed and by the end of the novel I was reluctant to let them go.
🦅 I read this book in print last year and have cherished it on my shelves. The audiobook showed up recently on @netgalley (thank you!); I couldn’t resist experiencing the story again via audio. The narrator reads well, never overacting the lines, using a soothing voice that fits the tone of the novel.
🦅 If you are in the mood for a gratifying piece of literature, I highly recommend Fishing for Birds. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 17, 2021
“The only literature worth reading is the kind that comes close to killing you a bit at a time. The kind that tells the truth. Life is a marriage of pain and happiness together they make joy, if you can see it.” - Linda Quennec, Fishing for Birds
I wholeheartedly agree with the quote above and found that this novel fits the description. Each of the three narrators provide insight into both universal pains felt by all people and the specific pains each woman feels at different phases of life in a way that made me question how I see my own life and the roles others play in it. I would highly recommend this book and don’t want to spoil it for anyone.
P.S. I want to be Ivy when I grow up, despite her difficulties in life, she faced her pain relentlessly and truly lived.
Thoughts about this book:
Things I love: Everything listed above I loved that the book took place only on islands and the unique challenges and supports of being enclosed in a community. I loved the Canadian accent of the narrator and northern culture that was highlighted, it felt familiar and authentic to me (living in Northeast Wisconsin). I loved the historical and natural details and research that went into the writing.
A few things I didn’t love: Some of the chapters felt a bit unnecessary to me. Though the prose was enjoyable and I enjoyed the description of island life.
Recommended for: Pretty much any woman. It was an engaging and accessible read that I feel like would speak to different women in different ways at different points in life. Would make a great book club read!
I wholeheartedly agree with the quote above and found that this novel fits the description. Each of the three narrators provide insight into both universal pains felt by all people and the specific pains each woman feels at different phases of life in a way that made me question how I see my own life and the roles others play in it. I would highly recommend this book and don’t want to spoil it for anyone.
P.S. I want to be Ivy when I grow up, despite her difficulties in life, she faced her pain relentlessly and truly lived.
Thoughts about this book:
Things I love: Everything listed above I loved that the book took place only on islands and the unique challenges and supports of being enclosed in a community. I loved the Canadian accent of the narrator and northern culture that was highlighted, it felt familiar and authentic to me (living in Northeast Wisconsin). I loved the historical and natural details and research that went into the writing.
A few things I didn’t love: Some of the chapters felt a bit unnecessary to me. Though the prose was enjoyable and I enjoyed the description of island life.
Recommended for: Pretty much any woman. It was an engaging and accessible read that I feel like would speak to different women in different ways at different points in life. Would make a great book club read!
February 1, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook for my honest review.
This is a delightful book that has elements about finding yourself and the journey of self-healing through 3 separate narrators. In this rotating narrative, the characters interact with each other from different points of view which was a really enjoyable experience. All of the characters were going through some form of identity crisis in a unique perspective to themselves. This book was very in touch with some of the difficulties that we as humans experience with personal relationships of different kinds. Something that set this book apart to me was that the author touched on prejudices that we may internalize without understanding why and how non of them matter when you actually get to know someone.
I am giving this book 4 stars. It starts as a very slow read with a prolonged build up and I was not intensely interested until about half the book was over. But because the second half was so palpable with emotional connections between the characters and the resolution was satisfactory, I look back on the overall experience positively.
This is a delightful book that has elements about finding yourself and the journey of self-healing through 3 separate narrators. In this rotating narrative, the characters interact with each other from different points of view which was a really enjoyable experience. All of the characters were going through some form of identity crisis in a unique perspective to themselves. This book was very in touch with some of the difficulties that we as humans experience with personal relationships of different kinds. Something that set this book apart to me was that the author touched on prejudices that we may internalize without understanding why and how non of them matter when you actually get to know someone.
I am giving this book 4 stars. It starts as a very slow read with a prolonged build up and I was not intensely interested until about half the book was over. But because the second half was so palpable with emotional connections between the characters and the resolution was satisfactory, I look back on the overall experience positively.
January 29, 2021
Told from the perspective of Kate, her mother Nora, and Ivy, the woman Kate helps to take care of, this dual-timeline narration focuses on perceived responsibility and its effect on happiness and fulfillment.
Kate is a widow who chooses to withdraw to a small island looking for peace. There she meets Ivy, a senior with an exciting and rocky past and a much different outlook on life. And across the entire story is Nora, Kate’s mother, a woman who lives her life by society’s rules and doesn’t appreciate anyone rocking the boat.
I loved how each character was portrayed and the ARC that they each went through as the book progressed. I didn’t feel that the relationships between any of the 3 were very strong so the tie-in’s of why they were all in the same story made little sense to me. It’s almost as if each woman had her own story and the author tried to mesh them all together with a few small links here and there.
The three stories separately were interesting but I think there could have been stronger links between the characters. The ending also felt a little rushed to me.
It was an overall good women’s fiction read. The narrator for the audiobook had a pleasant voice.
Thank you to #NetGalley for providing this book. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy and all views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Kate is a widow who chooses to withdraw to a small island looking for peace. There she meets Ivy, a senior with an exciting and rocky past and a much different outlook on life. And across the entire story is Nora, Kate’s mother, a woman who lives her life by society’s rules and doesn’t appreciate anyone rocking the boat.
I loved how each character was portrayed and the ARC that they each went through as the book progressed. I didn’t feel that the relationships between any of the 3 were very strong so the tie-in’s of why they were all in the same story made little sense to me. It’s almost as if each woman had her own story and the author tried to mesh them all together with a few small links here and there.
The three stories separately were interesting but I think there could have been stronger links between the characters. The ending also felt a little rushed to me.
It was an overall good women’s fiction read. The narrator for the audiobook had a pleasant voice.
Thank you to #NetGalley for providing this book. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy and all views expressed are only my honest opinion.
January 9, 2026
Fishing for Birds is a richly layered literary novel that explores grief, identity, and the unexpected connections that quietly reshape our lives. Through shifting perspectives and timelines, Linda Quennec weaves together the inner worlds of Kate, Ivy, and Nora, creating a story that feels intimate, reflective, and emotionally resonant. The juxtaposition of contemporary island life with the vibrant echoes of 1920s Cuba adds both texture and depth to the narrative.
What makes this novel especially compelling is its willingness to challenge conventional structures of time, relationships, and belonging while remaining deeply grounded in character. The landscapes themselves feel alive, mirroring the inner transformations of the women who inhabit them. Fishing for Birds is thoughtful, immersive, and quietly powerful, rewarding readers who appreciate literary fiction that lingers and invites reflection.
What makes this novel especially compelling is its willingness to challenge conventional structures of time, relationships, and belonging while remaining deeply grounded in character. The landscapes themselves feel alive, mirroring the inner transformations of the women who inhabit them. Fishing for Birds is thoughtful, immersive, and quietly powerful, rewarding readers who appreciate literary fiction that lingers and invites reflection.
August 23, 2022
I enjoyed reading this overall, Ivy's storyline was my favourite part of it. My main problem was that fake place names were used for the Canada storylines and it really threw me out of getting into the story. I live on Vancouver Island so I was really confused at first when I didn't recognize the names of the cities and smaller islands. Once I figured out the "real" locations (or what I believe was used for the inspiration), I just switched it in my mind while reading it.
December 29, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Each of the three main characters were very well developed and beautifully portrayed. Ms. Quennec brought both the characters and settings alive in a vibrant and engaging way, and I could readily identify with each of them on various levels.
This insightful and engaging story was suggested to me by a friend and I enjoyed it so much that I have since bought a copy to share with others!
This insightful and engaging story was suggested to me by a friend and I enjoyed it so much that I have since bought a copy to share with others!
March 29, 2021
This was an interesting listen about three women --Kate, Nora, and Ivy, who unravel their past and present. I loved listening to the audiobook and hearing the different voices and settings of each. What initially pulled me towards the book was its setting in Vancouver Island, a place not too far from my own city.
As for the characters, I loved hearing about Ivy. What started off as an exciting summer at her grandparents slowly turned and left me saddened on her behalf. With Kate and Nora, we see a bumpy start but with gradual growth which left me happy. The bond that Ivy and Kate formed was touching.
At times, I found it hard to keep up with the different audiobook characters and the storyline in general. It's very much a slice-of-life type of book. Overall though, this story came together in the end and I found it enjoyable for the most part.
Thanks NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for my copy of this book.
As for the characters, I loved hearing about Ivy. What started off as an exciting summer at her grandparents slowly turned and left me saddened on her behalf. With Kate and Nora, we see a bumpy start but with gradual growth which left me happy. The bond that Ivy and Kate formed was touching.
At times, I found it hard to keep up with the different audiobook characters and the storyline in general. It's very much a slice-of-life type of book. Overall though, this story came together in the end and I found it enjoyable for the most part.
Thanks NetGalley and ECW Press Audio for my copy of this book.
July 18, 2022
2.5 stars, audio listen with decent narration. I was unable to feel drawn to these characters lives and my interest in this story was minimal.
April 29, 2024
Despite the acclaim this book has received, I just didn’t connect to it. I started and stopped it numerous times. The writing was fine. It just didn’t float my boat.
October 2, 2024
I guess I’m the odd man out but I didn’t love it for three reasons. 1. I felt like the conversations were stilted, and not written as natural conversations would flow. 2. I was so irritated by how pathetically weak Kate was, and her character was so dragged out, that midway thru the book I started fast forwarding through her annoying chapters. 3. The book was absolutely on trend for its portrayal of crappy, abusive men, which I’m tired of. I really wanted to like it, but didn’t.
April 22, 2021
Beautifully descriptive of the shores of Canada and the isle of Cuba. Three generations of women - Kate, a widow at 32, who has endured mental abuse and is carrying around way too much guilt. She is trying to carve out a new life for herself as she learns to lose her anxiety and guilt - Ivy, an adventurous elderly women at the end of her life but with many stories to tell as she inspires Kate to grow and accept herself - Nora, Kate's mom, who is a bit overbearing and seems steadfast in her ways and thinking but we see her grow and learn to finally accept others and other perspectives as well. Quennec's prose is captivating and her chapters are short and compelling. An enjoyable novel of literary women's fiction.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews