L'espoir est cette chose à plumes

by Nina Berkhout, Sophie Cardinal-Corriveau (Translator)

Dawn, l’étoile montante du chant lyrique, la jeune diva qui a prêté sa voix aux plus grands rôles de l’opéra, la puissante Dawn Woodward... n’est plus rien. Une performance désastreuse l’a fait tomber de son piédestal, et elle doit maintenant trouver comment recoller les morceaux de sa vie – quitte à découvrir que ceux-ci s’assemblent d’une manière nouvelle, prenant une forme qui ressemble étrangement à celle d’un oiseau.

Plonger dans l’inconnu commence par de petites choses, comme accepter cette invitation improbable à prendre sous son aile une troupe de siffleurs du dimanche. Ou encore essayer d’apprivoiser Tulipe. Ou Tariq. Ou l’espoir.

Un roman empreint de bienveillance, qui nous invite à accueillir la lenteur nécessaire de la reconstruction et l’éclat précieux des amitiés inespérées.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Canada, Contemporary

364 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2020

About the author

Nina Berkhout is the author of three previous novels, most recently Why Birds Sing, which was described as a “must read” by the Globe and Mail, a Best Book of the Year (Canada) by Audible, and a Great Group Reads selection by the Women’s National Book Association (USA). Her young adult novel The Mosaic was nominated for the White Pine Award and named an Indigo Best Teen Book, and her novel The Gallery of Lost Species was named an Indigo and Kobo Best Book and a Harper’s Bazaar Hottest Breakout Novel. Berkhout is also the author of five poetry collections, including Elseworlds, which won the Archibald Lampman Award. Her poems have been featured in publications across Canada including the Best Canadian Poetry anthology. Originally from Alberta, she lives in Ontario.

Reviews

[Martha☀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend gave this book to me for Christmas, saying that the main character reminded her of me. She thought that the book would offer me insight for my current crossroads and the parrot would hold my interest through the tough parts (I have an absolute love for birds.)
And so I delved in, trying to see myself in Dawn, a talented Opera singer who has fallen on hard times. During her last performance, her voice gave out, a stagehand's dog crossed the stage during her aria, she tripped during the death scene and then exited through the fireplace. She obsesses over her humiliation and believes that this one performance has ruined her career. To top it all off, her manager tells her that she has a contractual obligation to instruct/coach a whistling troup while she recovers. The proverbial nail in the coffin.
When I saw Dawn's career caving in all around her, I tried to see myself in her. She is depressed, unlikable, obsessed with the past, reliving her mistakes and generally a Debbie Downer. While I am no Opera singer, I have been exhibiting all of Dawn's characteristics. But Dawn emerges through her connection to the whistlers and finally figures out what she really wants in life and how she is going to grab it.
If I hadn't been told that this book was written just for me, I might not have lasted through the flatness of Dawn's personality. Although you get a glimmer of the fantastic person she used to be, Dawn's character is repellent, bogging down the story a little much. But, seeing myself as Dawn, I can see that I have some serious choices to make about the direction of my career - and now I want a parrot too!

[Milana M (acouplereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Things don’t ever turn out the way you think they will.” - Why Birds Sing by Nina Berkhout

Some books you feel as if you’re observing while others you feel detached from but there’s always that one book that you feel as if you’re sitting across from the characters having a drink listening to them tell you their story. That’s exactly how I felt with Why Birds Sing. As if I was catching up with Dawn and she was recollecting her last year to me, catching up as old friends do. I was so engrossed and just took the time to take in this story.

Dawn, a struggling Opera singer, just wants to be left alone to wallow. Her performance mishap has left her with strained damaged vocal chords and an embarrassment she cannot get past. To add on top of her stress her husband announces that her brother in law Tariq is moving in with them while he undergoes cancer treatment. Along with Tulip, his temperamental parrot. And worst of all, Dawn has been assigned to teach a group of whistlers, The Warblers, how to whistle when she herself doesn’t whistle. Dawn’s got a whole lot of stress and very little energy to do it all.

What unfolds is a story about accepting that your journey in life will take unexpected twists and turns. It’s also about finding yourself when you truly hit your own rock bottom. I absolutely enjoyed this book. I had to read it slowly to take it all in. The book was at times a bit slow for me personally but I had to keep reminding myself that was it’s intention.

I definitely enjoyed how much I learned from this read. I learned so much about opera, music and birds. So many beautiful passages and metaphors regarding birds and life were leaping off the page at me. And that parrot had me tearing up, precious trouble making Tulip.

What a lovely read to finish off the year with. Thank you @ecwpress for sending a copy my way for an honest review, 4.5✨.

[Mary McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect book!!l

[Linda McCutcheon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why Birds Sing is just a lovely life affirming novel that needs to be read especially when you feel everything is not going your way. It might just give you cause to reflex that all our journeys have unexpected twists and turns that may lead to a better place.

Dawn is an opera singer who has an embarrassing moment on stage that causes her to shut down and lose her faith in herself. Her and her husband are having issues and her mother in law who has very strict customs from her Indian heritage is stressing her out. Then her estranged brother in law comes to live with them while getting cancer treatment and has the nerve to bring his parrot Tulip with him!

To add to Dawn's stress she has been given the task to work with a group of quirky competitive whistlers The Warblers. A slight problem is she can't whistle.

This novel is a quick read with distinct descriptive scenic prose. The characters are mostly likeably though we are seeing them through Dawn's eyes as this is her story.

This book was a delight to read. Dawn is so relatable when she feels nothing is going right and yet feels selfish when she does not want to deal with the problems of others in her life. Through music, friendship, love and a very special parrot we not only learn why birds sing but why humans should always have a song in their hearts.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Adeeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review on Netgalley.

Why Birds Sing was a very surprising book. I had never heard of it from before and I was drawn by the cover and description.

This book is written in first-person-POV from the perspective of our main character, Dawn, who is an opera singer and also married to a man of Indian ethnicity. The character of Dawn is not something you come across often. The fact that she is an underdog in the music industry and also wrapped up in a culture she is not familiar with was truly well-written.

Dawn finds herself struggling with her mother-in-law, Mina, who has so many different expectations for her and her son. And I found Dawn's character responses to be very realistic. She was never disrespectful, but deep inside, she was struggling with it all.

To top all of this off, Dawn has to accept that her husband's brother, Tariq, will be staying with them because he is fighting an illness. Tariq is quite a character. He is an affectionate, romantic soul and pets a parrot, Tulip. I think this was my favorite part of the story. Seeing Dawn get attached to Tariq, Tulip (the parrot) was such a beautiful addition to what family, companionship, destiny, situations, and other things mean.

The novel beautifully interweaves different aspects of Dawn's life: her life and responsibilities in the music world, her caretaking skills with Tariq, her respect towards her mother-in-law, and eventually the feelings of loss due to different things she cannot control.

This book was unlike anything I've ever read. It was realistic, heartwarming, and very different. The sense of urgency during the whole book was masterfully depicted.

I definitely think everyone should read this. There's something for everyone.

"There would be no finale or requiem. We were here to find our music."

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY BIRDS SING begins with Dawn’s husband Ashraf saying he wants his estranged older brother Tariq to stay with them. Tariq has cancer and is getting treatment. Tariq will live in their basement apartment and will be bringing his bird with him. Tulip is a Congo African grey parrot. Dawn agrees but wants Ashraf to make sure his brother is aware that she isn’t singing so she is no look touring.
Dawn is an opera singer. One disastrous performance ruins her career and her voice.
During her absence from the stage Dawn’s agent has found her a job teaching. She is to teach a class in whistling. The class is comprised of people who have formed a group called The Warblers. They are planning to enter a competition and want some professional guidance.
The Warblers turn out to be an interesting group of people. Despite their different ages and professions they have the love of whistling in common.
I loved WHY BIRDS SING. I was completely invested in the characters and their lives. Dawn’s story was beautifully told. There were sad moments and joyful moments.
WHY BIRDS SING is one of my favourite reads of this year.
Thank you to ECW Press for sending me an ARC for review.

[Janna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book hooked me right away. I had high hopes for this story, but in the end didn’t feel connected to the main characters. Dawn’s new openness seemed to develop overnight so wasn’t that believable for me. What I loved about the book were the new things I learned about opera, birds and whistling. I went to YouTube several times to see and hear some of the songs and whistling that were referred to in the story. I also loved the eclectic characters of The Warblers and their relationship as a group. There were great snippets in this book, but overall it fell a little flat for me.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sincere, singular, full of heart, charming oddball characters, and the most memorable bird I've ever encountered. It's also a beautiful (but restrained) love story, and a testament to the power of community. You can devour this book in a day, but it'll stay with you a long time.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

[GIFTED REVIEW] An intimate portrait of human connection, Why Birds Sing is a book that left me at a loss for words.
•
This beautiful novel follows Dawn, a disgraced opera singer, as she puts her life back together again with the help of a newfound whistling group she’s tasked with instructing, her ill brother-in-law, his pet parrot. The group’s shared love of music of all kinds brings them together in ways Dawn never thought possible.
Simply put, I was not expecting this novel to be such an emotional powerhouse. I loved the writing style, which left me feeling like an observer learning along with the characters. I also loved the erratic Tulip, Tariq’s pet parrot, group mascot, and fiercely loyal companion. I’ve never personally known a parrot, but I wholeheartedly believed Dawn’s arc from guileless host to expert parrot caretaker. One of the truly lovely aspects of animal-as-main character in this otherwise human drama is that she brings the group together in ways the reader can’t predict, and that the author doesn’t need to explain. I would have loved a bit more of an inside look into Dawn’s thoughts and feelings, but extending her reserved nature to the reader at times created a really unique experience. This moving novel is a wonderful four stars for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
Why Birds Sing is available now! Thank you to @ecwpress for sharing a finished copy with me in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase your own copy of Why Birds Sing on Bookshop.org through the link in my Instagram bio!
•
CW: cancer, loss, death, cheating
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Follow me on Instagram & Twitter @whatalexreads for book reviews, recommendations, and more!

[MargaretDH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Dawn, an opera singer temporarily out of work while waiting for a stressed and damaged throat to heal, is beset by a whistling class she's contractually obligated to teach, and a brother in law with cancer and an African Grey parrot. At the beginning of the book, Dawn floats through life at a remove, and by the end, she's figured out who she is and what she wants.

The plot isn't really the point here. It's about a woman finding herself, with the help of a charming and sometimes irritating cast of characters. Berkhout has some really lovely insights about what it means to be a human and build a relationship with someone or something, and what it means to perform, as she holds up singing aria with whistling them. Given that whistling as performance is slightly goofy, there's a lot of joy in this book. And Tulip the parrot is also a wonderful addition, bringing her own unvoiced, yet no less poignant insights to the story.

If you like character driven works, this is well worth picking up.

[Annastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad, yet hopeful, Nina Berkhout's novel 'Why Birds Sing' is a reflective piece of writing. It took me a few tries to get into it but I'm glad I stuck it out because the ending was worth it.

In the novel, we're introduced to Dawn, an ex-classically trained opera singer who has lost her career and purpose after a performance gone wrong. Without the use of her voice and feelings of failure and frustration in her marriage and personal life, she falls into a quiet, lonely depression.

At the same time, her husband's brother, Tariq, and his parrot Tulip come to stay with them. Although he is battling cancer, Tariq slowly comes to fill an emptiness in Dawn's life. Their unlikely connection opens Dawn up to a new way of seeing her life, her talents and her purpose. 

Like I said, it was hard for me to get into this book. It was hard for me to connect with some of the characters and it is a very sad story that incorporates so many tough topics - failing relationships, infertility, infidelity, terminal illness, and loneliness to name a few. So, reading this during a time when the world also felt very sad wasn't something I was always in the mood for. 

But there are lovely passages that make this tough read worth it. Certain lines read like poetry and make you pause and think. And while I'm not familiar with opera, listening to some of the songs mentioned in the text added a nice depth to the story.

A few recurring themes that were encouraging in the book were the idea of being open to new paths in life and also being vulnerable enough to let others in - getting close even when your initial instinct is to retreat. 

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and ECW for the eARC.
What a wonderful book this is, I absolutely loved it!
Dawn Woodward is an opera singer who had a disastrous failure on stage and has been miserably
staying home, until she gets the job of leading a group of whistlers, the Wharblers. She can't whistle herself, but practices secretly at home, as well as trying to get her singing voice back. Her husband, Ash, asks her to look after her estranged brother-in-law, Tariq, who has cancer. Tariq turns up with his parrot, Tulip. They now have to try and keep Mina, her grumbling mother-in-law, away, as she would be heartbroken to know Tariq may be dying.
Tulip, in my humble opinion, is one of the best and most lovable characters in literature. I can't remember another character I enjoyed as much as Tulip in my long reading history.
The Wharblers are a diverse and eccentric group. When Dawn's marriage crumbles, Tariq, Tulip, the Wharblers and even Mina, offer her a way into a new future,
The story is uplifting and has so many interesting facts about birds, the musical world, whales, parrots and many other topics, it blew my mind. Terrific!
Do yourselves a favour and read this book!

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

For clarity: I was given an ARC of this oddly heartwarming novel. I can’t remember the last time I met such a motley crew of idiosyncratic characters, appearing so vivid and genuinely human, in a work of fiction. I even grew to love the parrot! Also a wonderful glimpse into the often-impenetrable world of a struggling opera singer, not to mention the world of competitive whistling. Highly recommended.

[Kylie McCarthy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite possibly one of the most boring books I have ever read. All the main characters had zero depth and personality. I kept reading thinking it would get interesting or the main characters would have some sort of emotion. Nope. I had to quit reading it more than half way through due to total boredom.

[Rachel Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me cry. I love emotional novels

[Desiree Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn doesn’t need complications in her life. She’s busy brooding day after day over her flamed-out opera singing career, spending hours each day streaming her last, humiliating performance. It wasn’t what she expected for herself, but she’s on hiatus now while her voice heals, and at least now she and her husband of five years, Ash, have time to start the family they’ve always wanted. So the last thing she needs is her brother-in-law, Tariq, whom she barely knows, moving in with them. Nor does she want to tutor a bunch of quirky, amateur whistlers in need of a coach.

Tariq, who didn’t even attend their wedding, nor did he stay long at Ash and Tariq’s father’s funeral, shows up the very next day, with African Grey Parrot, Tulip, in tow. And Dawn, who storms down to her agent’s office after meeting with the whistling group, finds out that her contract with the opera company requires her to work or she doesn’t get paid. So, Dawn trudges back to meet with the amateur siffleurs (whistlers), angry and short-tempered in her dealings with them. And, she gets roped into taking Tariq to his chemotherapy appointments, as her husband can’t cancel his twice daily stops at his aging mother’s house, both breakfast and dinner, for a visit.
hat Tariq wished, without ever actually voicing his preference.

The novel is one of pain and loss, struggle and redemption, and finding that new path in life, as the one we thought we were on doesn’t always lead us where we thought.

#NinaBerkhout
#WhyBirdsSing
#NetGalley

[Louise Foerster · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much seemed to be right about WHY BIRDS SING by Nina Berkhout: terrific premise, interesting characters, and cultural divides that are daunting. However, the novel does not deliver on the fascinating question of how does a once-successful opera singer regain her voice both on-stage and in her real life when faced with a disastrous marriage, unrequited wonder, and the challenge of coming back after a horrific final performance. Instead, we are presented with the colorless slog through a closed-off, passive woman reacting in flat and ultimately predictable ways to both the horrors and wonders of the everyday world. I did not finish this book -- the only thing that kept me going was a bird, a blind man, and the possibility of a really fine writer pulling off a terrible story. Possibly this solid writer might write something more dimensional; her craft is solid and the characters are vivid, but given this experience, I will not read it. I am sorry that it worked out this way -- and do not recommend this story. I received an advance reader copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I loved this book. I already have a list of ten people I want to send it to, it literally has something for everyone. Opera, birding, whistling, a parrot, a love triange and a culminating competition. Flew through this and will be thinking about it for a while.

[Harold Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why Birds Sing is a love story … of sorts.

Speed of light summary: Dawn Woodward’s brother-in-law moves into her house — her husband’s estranged brother Tariq, and his African Grey parrot Tulip.

Complications follow.

Dawn is an opera singer with damaged vocal cords. Tariq is undergoing treatment for cancer. Tulip is devoted to Tariq.

Complications follow.

Dawn — and eventually Tariq and Tulip — meets a group of misfit whistlers. Yes, whistlers, siffleurs, who call themselves the Warblers.

Complications follow.

The whistlers become Dawn’s friends and it is from them that she learns why birds sing.

Listen:
Why do birds sing? Reno asked.
They sing to sing.

Birds sing because they can, and they sing joyously and hopefully. When she chooses, even Tulip can trill like a songbird.

The loveliest scene in this novel occurs while Dawn, Tariq, Tulip and the Warblers are in Tadoussac where the St. Lawrence River meets the sea. It reminds me of an image in Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man — a person dancing beneath a diamond sky with one arm waving free: “It was something, to see her (Tulip) perched and ready for flight, feathers blowing majestically.” (The image works for me. Perhaps it will for you.)

Let us not forget the complications though.

There is infidelity in this love story. There often is in any self-respecting love story, eh b’ys?

Oh, and, as you might expect, there is a mean ol’ mother-in-law.

Why Birds Sing is a love story in which a woman with a broken voice learns to … well, sing — as well as whistle — like a bird, joyously and hopefully.

Thank you for reading.

[Felicia *bookscatsandwine* · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Book Review✨
Nina Berkhout's inspiring novel, Why Birds Sing, is a remarkable story about learning to appreciate the little things in life.
💜
Dawn is a disgraced opera singer, wallowing in her misfortunes and current inability to sing. When she discovers that her brother-in-law, whom she barely knows, and his moody African Grey Parrot, will be moving into their home due to illness, she hates that her routine is about to be disturbed. To make matters worse, she's being asked to teach a class on whistling, an activity that she deems to be a complete waste of time. However, Dawn has a lot to learn about music, and people, if she is ever going to find true happiness.
💚
I would like to start by saying that I absolutely loved this story. I love birds and the songs they sing, so the many links and parralels made between birds and people warmed my heart. Throughout the entire novel, I could imagine the most beautiful bird sounds in the background, especially during the many descriptive scenes involving birds.
💙
At one point in the novel, the characters find themselves in Quebec, along the St. Lawrence River. These chapters are so beautifully written. I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of scenery and wildlife. Clearly, Berkhout has a soft spot in her heart for Tadoussac.
💛
I really can't think of a single thing that I didn't love about this novel. It is one of my favourite reads of 2020. Thank you @net and @ecwpress for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kareena | kareenbeanreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel follows an opera singer, Dawn, as her brother-in-law, Tariq, and his parrot move with her and her husband, due to a recent cancer diagnosis. This novel follows the relationship and friendship of Dawn and Tariq and how they bond over taking care of his parrot, Tulip. Additionally, Dawn gets tasked with teaching a whistling group called the Warblers, many of whom she befriends.

To be honest, there was so much going on in this novel that it is hard to eloquently explain a summary; however, I enjoyed the complexities. It was definitely different than other novels I have read, as it was mostly centered around a bird. It was fascinating to see the relationship between Dawn and Tulip develop throughout the novel the more time they ended up spending together. I also appreciated seeing the relationship between Dawn and Tariq grow - many stories bring up the effects that cancer has on immediate family members who have known the ill individual, but do not always bring up extended family who are not as close to the ill individual. I thought this was an interesting portrayal of that (similar to how Beth and William in the TV show This is Us end up becoming close).

Overall, I found this an entertaining and different read. The ending was eloquently put and I appreciated the way the author chose to end the novel.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for the gifted e-book in exchange for an honest review!

[Fe Licia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina Berkhout's inspiring novel, Why Birds Sing, is a remarkable story about learning to appreciate the little things in life.
💜
Dawn is a disgraced opera singer, wallowing in her misfortunes and current inability to sing. When she discovers that her brother-in-law, whom she barely knows, and his moody African Grey Parrot, will be moving into their home due to illness, she hates that her routine is about to be disturbed. To make matters worse, she's being asked to teach a class on whistling, an activity that she deems to be a complete waste of time. However, Dawn has a lot to learn about music, and people, if she is ever going to find true happiness.
💚
I would like to start by saying that I absolutely loved this story. I love birds and the songs they sing, so the many links and parralels made between birds and people warmed my heart. Throughout the entire novel, I could imagine the most beautiful bird sounds in the background, especially during the many descriptive scenes involving birds.
💙
At one point in the novel, the characters find themselves in Quebec, along the St. Lawrence River. These chapters are so beautifully written. I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of scenery and wildlife. Clearly, Berkhout has a soft spot in her heart for Tadoussac.
💛
I really can't think of a single thing that I didn't love about this novel. It is one of my favourite reads of 2020.

[mary ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

eARC provided by netgalley, thank you very much!

Trigger warning: cancer, death, illness.

I didn't expect to love this book, but I went in with enthusiasm and an open mind, and boy I'm so glad I did. This book is charming, with characters you genuinely root for and grow to love. It was a joy to read about their growing relationships, and the development that occurs over the months our main character spends teaching them.

I loved the music aspect of this book. I'll admit, I hadn't heard of professional whistling before reading, but having googled and watched clips of it, I can see why the Warblers were so enthralled! With the addition of the opera elements, it is a dream to read for anyone who enjoys the performing arts or who partakes in the performing arts.

Berkhout has a writing style that is a joy to read. The descriptions are lovely, but not too complex as to make it difficult to follow along. The book was fast paced, and I found myself flying through the first 100 pages without realising how quickly the time went. Ultimately, I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this charming novel, and would happily pick up another book by this author.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I probably wouldn't have read it if it wasn't for my library putting it on their summer reads list, and I greatly enjoyed it (to the point of even crying at the end), but I'm also not sure I liked it, y'know?

The pacing of the story was very interesting; often it seemed to dwell on small things and gloss over larger things. Entire conversations would be summed up into just a few sentence of "we talked about x". For that reason I felt that I missed a lot of context behind character motivation and decisions, and was often blindsided when a character would say something that was the opposite of what I was expecting.

That being said, I absolutely adored Dawn, Tariq, Tulip and the Warblers. They were all such sweet, realistic characters and I loved watching them all grow together in their own distinct ways. I especially love Dawn's growth, from someone who was doing something she was good at, but didn't overly enjoy and was straining herself to "stay on top", to someone who no longer cares what others think and can now stand out not only for her talent but because of her obvious love for what she does and who she does it for.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy from ECW, thank you.

This book is delightful, quirky, heartwarming, poignant, funny and sad all at once. The book covers friendship, ambition, and acceptance.
Dawn is a opera singer, who had a disastrous performance hurting her voice and her pride. She has sequestered herself at home with her husband Ash, who's a workaholic, so basically she's alone and in a rut. During her recuperation, her contract calls for her to teach a class at a local college. Reluctantly she agrees to this, and at the same time Ash tells her that his brother, Tariq, will be staying with them. Tariq is sick with cancer and Ash has offered that he stay with them. Tariq has a parrot that goes everywhere with him. When Dawn walks into the class she's going to teach, she finds a group calling themselves the Warblers. The Warblers are a group of mismatched characters, bonded by the love of whistling. Tariq and his parrot Tulip join the class, and what ensues is a heartwarming story of friendship, bonding, acceptance, and memories.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An opera singer who has “flamed out”, a suspect marriage, a brother-in-law with cancer and a remarkably interesting African Grey parrot that ties everything together made for a very enjoyable reading experience. Life can be so tricky – one day you are a sought-after Opera singer, the next day you are lucky to be teaching whistling. One day it is your fifth wedding anniversary the next day you are being assaulted by your brother-in-law’s Congo African Grey Parrot. You just never know what the next day is going to bring but Dawn is about to find out and I went along for the ride.

Nina Berkhout has given each of her characters a distinctive voice which range from aggravating to laugh out loud funny. Her descriptions of the narrator’s operatic disasters are so cringe worthy that you cannot help but pity poor Dawn Woodward in the most positive way. She has drawn equally strong characterizations of the major and minor characters and it just all works so well. Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press for a copy.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my honest and unbiased review of the novel, Why Birds Sing by Nina Berkhout, an advance reading copy of which was provided to me by ECW Press.

I really liked this book. The storyline was unique, the characters well executed, and unique unto themselves. The funny bits were unexpected and had me giggle-snorting often.

I won’t go into the plot or try to describe the novel in any depth. But I will say that this novel is more than just well written. There is something so compelling about this flamed-out, disgraced, not glamorous, but hardworking and modestly successful opera singer reduced to coaching a motley group of whistlers; a temperamental but intelligent parrot; and just a hint of family dysfunction.

This is a extraordinary story about ordinary people (and parrot), with real life ordinary issues and baggage told in such a humane, engaging and funny manner, I couldn’t put it down. I even shed a tear at one point; my point in mentioning that is any book that can make me laugh, cry, and think, is a book well worth reading.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day. This in and of itself gives testament to the fact that I loved it! Because I never read a complete book in one day! It held my interest throughout, to say the least. I kept returning to it, like a cup of comforting tea. The writing totally drew me in. I loved the eccentric cast of characters and the way they came together. I enjoyed the variety of interests and the passion they had for them (whistling, birds, singing). I appreciated the relationships, particularly the friendships that developed within an unexpected group. It led me to wish I had a community such as the Warblers, could develop a new hobby and find a new tribe of friends! Despite many traumatic events, the main character maintained her calm and remained strong; there were no emotional breakdowns for her (a refreshing change) - she was all about taking events in stride and carrying on - I loved that about her.
I hope lots of people find this book and enjoy it as much as I did!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Why Birds Sing; it was that type of lovely story where you get to know the characters and root for them along the way. Even Tulip, the parrot, had a personality all her own!

When I first started, I was a bit nervous the Opera themed references would be a hindrance (not having any background myself), but I simply glossed over some of the less obvious details and don't think I missed out one bit for having done so.

I really enjoyed the various Warbler characters; I liked they were each so unique and a bit like a band of misfits Dawn originally felt maybe punished by. But the bond they all formed and the way their lives were changed in a reasonably short time was great.

Although at times sad, it was charming and heartwarming and definitely recommended.

I reviewed this ARC from ECW Press - thank you!

[Jennifer Holloway Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dawn has been sidelined with her career in opera and as part of her contract, she ends up teaching a group of whistlers. At the same time, her brother in law has cancer and is living in her home with his parrot Tulip. I found the overall premise of the book to be unique, but felt that Dawn fell flat as a character. She ends up seeming like a doormat to the needs of those around her. The group and her brother in law seem to open something up in her, but her character really does not change. Her methodical and introvertedness just seem to close her off as a character.that anything can really change for. I really ended up liking the whistling group and felt that the bird stole the book in so many different ways. I wish that Dawn would have been a stronger character, but overall this was not a horrible read. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.