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Aviary
A masterful novel illuminating the rich and hidden facets of human character among the residents of a senior residence in Montana―and “a cleansing antidote to the last few years of political and cultural turmoil . . . if you have anything in the way of feelings, this novel will make you weep” ( New York Times ).
At the deteriorating Pheasant Run, the occupants keep their secrets and sadnesses locked tight behind closed apartment doors. Kind Leo Uberti, formerly an insurance agent, now quietly spends his days painting abstract landscapes and mourning a long-ago loss. Down the hall, retired professor Rydell Clovis tries desperately to stay fit enough to restart a career in academia. Cassie McMackin, on the same floor, has seemingly lost everything―her husband and only child dead within months of each other―leaving her loosely tethered to this world. And a few doors away, her friend, Viola Six, is convinced of a criminal conspiracy involving the building’s widely disliked manager, Herbie Bonebright. Cassie and Viola dream of leaving their unhappy lives behind, but one woman’s plan is interrupted―and the other’s unexpectedly set into motion―when a fire breaks out in Herbie’s apartment.
Called to investigate is the city’s chief fire inspector. With a gift and a passion for sorting out the mysteries of flame, Lander Maki finds the fire itself, and the circumstances around it, highly suspicious. Viola has disappeared. So has Herbie. And a troubled teen, Clayton Spooner, was glimpsed fleeing the scene. In trying to fit together the pieces of this complicated puzzle, Lander finds himself learning more than expected about human nature and about personal and corporate greed as it is visited upon the vulnerable.
Beautifully written and long awaited, from a writer “with extraordinary emotional acuity and with a keen sense of the small detail that says it all” ( Chicago Tribune ), Aviary weaves a compelling tapestry of crisis, grief, and the mysteries of memory and old age.
At the deteriorating Pheasant Run, the occupants keep their secrets and sadnesses locked tight behind closed apartment doors. Kind Leo Uberti, formerly an insurance agent, now quietly spends his days painting abstract landscapes and mourning a long-ago loss. Down the hall, retired professor Rydell Clovis tries desperately to stay fit enough to restart a career in academia. Cassie McMackin, on the same floor, has seemingly lost everything―her husband and only child dead within months of each other―leaving her loosely tethered to this world. And a few doors away, her friend, Viola Six, is convinced of a criminal conspiracy involving the building’s widely disliked manager, Herbie Bonebright. Cassie and Viola dream of leaving their unhappy lives behind, but one woman’s plan is interrupted―and the other’s unexpectedly set into motion―when a fire breaks out in Herbie’s apartment.
Called to investigate is the city’s chief fire inspector. With a gift and a passion for sorting out the mysteries of flame, Lander Maki finds the fire itself, and the circumstances around it, highly suspicious. Viola has disappeared. So has Herbie. And a troubled teen, Clayton Spooner, was glimpsed fleeing the scene. In trying to fit together the pieces of this complicated puzzle, Lander finds himself learning more than expected about human nature and about personal and corporate greed as it is visited upon the vulnerable.
Beautifully written and long awaited, from a writer “with extraordinary emotional acuity and with a keen sense of the small detail that says it all” ( Chicago Tribune ), Aviary weaves a compelling tapestry of crisis, grief, and the mysteries of memory and old age.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
April 11, 2021
The description of this book makes it sound like more of a mystery/thriller than it is. Yes, there is an investigation of an unexplained fire and several disappearances, but this certainly isn’t a police procedural. Instead it is a very detailed character study of several elderly residents of the Pheasant Run condominium. It was an accurate and poignant depiction of people who have no choice but to soldier on in the face of the normal losses, ill health and economic insecurity of old age. In this book they also have to deal with exploitation and overt threats by people whose only interest in them is financial. The book isn’t grim though, and I thought that the writing was very good. Although I felt that the book jumped around too much among too many characters, I would be willing to read more by this author. The narration by Christina Delaine of the audiobook was very good.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
October 31, 2021
On every page McNamer opens an intimate window and allows us to appreciate the humanity of her characters. The realities of elder home living--the relationships, the fears, the dependencies, the way people you love keep leaving you, either by moving away abruptly, or dying--were so lovingly captured here. I wish I'd had more patience for the way McNamer wanted to tell her story, with an ensemble of characters, and with lots of rapid cuts from one scene to the next. I wanted to linger. I wanted to follow fewer characters, and to get to know them better. This is my mood for now. I know I'll be returning for a second read, now that I know what to expect. I'll be looking forward to reading McNamer's other books, too. The exquisite particularity of her writing--the detail she chooses to include--or chooses to omit--is a marvel.
April 9, 2021
Aviary was the first book that I have ever read by Deirdre McNamer. She was an author that I was unfamiliar with. Her writing was quite good and her character development was complex and well developed. It took a while to fully grasp where the plot of Aviary was going and how all these characters were going to fit together. I have to admit that I was confused at times. Just when I thought I saw the connections, another character was introduced and threw me off base once again. By the end of the story it was clear how all the characters fit into the plot. I just wish it hadn’t taken that long.
Aviary took place in a deteriorating senior living facility in Montana. The residence was called Pheasant Run. There were a cast of mismatched residents living there. Among them were Cassie McMackin who had lost her husband and only child within months of each other, Rydell Clovis who was a retired professor, Leo Umberti who was a retired insurance agent and amateur painter of landscapes and Viola Six who was a friend to Cassie and was contemplating suicide. The building manager had recently been replaced. The new manager was less than capable of handling the necessary and basic repairs the residents might have needed. He appeared to have a rather sketchy background. His popularity with the residents of Pheasant Run was non-existent. There was not one resident at Pheasant Run that thought highly of him. His name was Herbie Bonebright. He was even suspected to have threatened renters in the building enough that they willingly moved out. Some of the residents believed that the owners of the building wanted to sell the building so they hired Herbie, an ex-convict type of person, to carry out their dirty work.
One night, well after the residents had retired, the fire alarm at Pheasant Run blared loud and shrill. A fire had broken out in Herbie Bonebright’s apartment. All the residents were forced to evacuate the building. Most of them were forced outside and had to stand there in their pajamas for quite a while. They stood outside and waited for the firemen to extinguish the fire. Lander Maki, the chief fire inspector, showed up and began to investigate the cause of the fire. Two things were discovered that night. Herbie Bonebright and Viola Six were missing and a teenage boy had been seen running from the building when the residents had been evacuated.. Lander Maki was suspicious about the circumstances surrounding the fire. Could Herbie or Vioa’s disappearance have had anything to do with the fire? Or could the sighting of the mysterious teenage boy wearing a Star Wars t-shirt seen running away from the building have something to do with the cause of the fire? Lander Maki had his work cut out for himself.
Aviary was beautifully written. It had parts that were tender and heartbreaking. Aviary explored the uniqueness of the characters and how they fit together as well. It was partly a mystery but not in the traditional sense. It explored love, grief, hope and the challenges of growing older. Aviary was good but not one of my favorites. Perhaps if it had not been so confusing from the start I might have liked it more.
I listened to the audiobook that was read by Christina Delaine. Her performance was pleasing. The audiobook ran for 8 hours and 23 minutes. Thank you to HighBridge Audio for allowing me to listen to this ARC of Aviary through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Aviary took place in a deteriorating senior living facility in Montana. The residence was called Pheasant Run. There were a cast of mismatched residents living there. Among them were Cassie McMackin who had lost her husband and only child within months of each other, Rydell Clovis who was a retired professor, Leo Umberti who was a retired insurance agent and amateur painter of landscapes and Viola Six who was a friend to Cassie and was contemplating suicide. The building manager had recently been replaced. The new manager was less than capable of handling the necessary and basic repairs the residents might have needed. He appeared to have a rather sketchy background. His popularity with the residents of Pheasant Run was non-existent. There was not one resident at Pheasant Run that thought highly of him. His name was Herbie Bonebright. He was even suspected to have threatened renters in the building enough that they willingly moved out. Some of the residents believed that the owners of the building wanted to sell the building so they hired Herbie, an ex-convict type of person, to carry out their dirty work.
One night, well after the residents had retired, the fire alarm at Pheasant Run blared loud and shrill. A fire had broken out in Herbie Bonebright’s apartment. All the residents were forced to evacuate the building. Most of them were forced outside and had to stand there in their pajamas for quite a while. They stood outside and waited for the firemen to extinguish the fire. Lander Maki, the chief fire inspector, showed up and began to investigate the cause of the fire. Two things were discovered that night. Herbie Bonebright and Viola Six were missing and a teenage boy had been seen running from the building when the residents had been evacuated.. Lander Maki was suspicious about the circumstances surrounding the fire. Could Herbie or Vioa’s disappearance have had anything to do with the fire? Or could the sighting of the mysterious teenage boy wearing a Star Wars t-shirt seen running away from the building have something to do with the cause of the fire? Lander Maki had his work cut out for himself.
Aviary was beautifully written. It had parts that were tender and heartbreaking. Aviary explored the uniqueness of the characters and how they fit together as well. It was partly a mystery but not in the traditional sense. It explored love, grief, hope and the challenges of growing older. Aviary was good but not one of my favorites. Perhaps if it had not been so confusing from the start I might have liked it more.
I listened to the audiobook that was read by Christina Delaine. Her performance was pleasing. The audiobook ran for 8 hours and 23 minutes. Thank you to HighBridge Audio for allowing me to listen to this ARC of Aviary through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 23, 2022
As an old person, I cringe when a book tells about old people in a precarious situation. Will they depicted as helpless victims?
At first, I thought this was that kind of book. But no, these people are shown as intelligent people, with agency, even though someone is trying to exploit them by selling the building they live in. None of them have dementia. I liked that. Though of course there is room for sympathetic books about dementia, they wouldn't be on my reading list because I've seen too much of it.
There are also some teenage and middle-aged characters with their own problems.
The writing is beautiful. But I thought the resolutions were a little more hopeful than they might be in "real life." Of course that makes for more pleasant reading.
At first, I thought this was that kind of book. But no, these people are shown as intelligent people, with agency, even though someone is trying to exploit them by selling the building they live in. None of them have dementia. I liked that. Though of course there is room for sympathetic books about dementia, they wouldn't be on my reading list because I've seen too much of it.
There are also some teenage and middle-aged characters with their own problems.
The writing is beautiful. But I thought the resolutions were a little more hopeful than they might be in "real life." Of course that makes for more pleasant reading.
July 31, 2021
Pheasant Run is the 4-story apartment building in a town in Montana and the building feels by the residents to be under seize - changes have happened, are happening - a new cheaper management company has taken over, installed a boorish and incompetent building manager named Herbie Bonebright, the owners and renters, mostly elderly, with histories and secrets and wishes and hopes and lives already lived, are unhappy and a bit frightened. Is the building going to be sold? Are they going to lose the last homes they thought they'd live in for the rest of their lives? The characters are eclectic, and we learn about some of them in great detail. When a suspicious fire breaks out in Bonebright's kitchen, Lander Maki, a fire inspector joins the cast, with his great olfactory abilities, and his wife Rhonda who has a new business communing with animals, as does Clayton, a high-schooler who's been sleeping in the Pheasant Run's basement. The writing is lyrical, often funny, the characters engaging, the tone buoyant, but I have to admit I never fully fell into this novel.
September 30, 2021
What an engaging and delightful read! The story was populated by such interesting characters. I didn't care too much about the plot - who set the fire? But the characters were unique and beautifully drawn, especially Maki the fire inspector and his wife. Clayton, the troubled teen, was absolutely authentic. I was fascinated wondering what the cast of characters was going to do next. McNamer has a most adult, descriptive and almost poetic writing style.
August 9, 2021
Sweet, smart, and often witty story about an interestingly diverse number of people.
Not _quite_ the mystery novel I thought it was going to be, more of a slice of life novel, and the ending "felt thin," somehow, for lack of better words.
Definitely enjoyed Aviary enough to read more by Deirdre McNamer.
PS
Note To Myself: This was the second book in two days about denizens of a given community of senior citizens. Guess it's to expected, given the aging of the Baby Boomers, that we're all now going to be treated to/inflicted with (depending on the day) stories of people looking back over their lives and coming to grips with their mortality. It was truly random chance they were read consecutively -- just pulled each out of the library stack in the dining room without paying attention to subject matter.
Not _quite_ the mystery novel I thought it was going to be, more of a slice of life novel, and the ending "felt thin," somehow, for lack of better words.
Definitely enjoyed Aviary enough to read more by Deirdre McNamer.
PS
Note To Myself: This was the second book in two days about denizens of a given community of senior citizens. Guess it's to expected, given the aging of the Baby Boomers, that we're all now going to be treated to/inflicted with (depending on the day) stories of people looking back over their lives and coming to grips with their mortality. It was truly random chance they were read consecutively -- just pulled each out of the library stack in the dining room without paying attention to subject matter.
July 4, 2021
Hard to categorize this book. It's about seniors living in a condo in Montana who experience some strange events that in some ways bring them to life, even as they confront corporate conspiracies and a mysterious fire, kidnapping, and death. I liked several quirky characters: Cassie, Maki, the fire inspector, and even Viola. But I found the story disjointed and not very compelling. Maybe I missed something, but I didn't really enjoy my reading experience with this one.
April 13, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up
Had I judged this one solely by its cover I never would have picked it up (not my style of cover). As a matter of fact I passed it by several times on NetGalley before requesting it, but am I glad I decided to give it a shot.
Aviary is a complex story about a senior independent living facility. Something is a bit amiss and the tenants are trying to figure out what is going on. When there is a small fire in the caretakers apartment and suddenly two residents are missing the residents along with the chief fire detective must figure out what exactly is going on at Pheasant Run.
Now you may think this sounds like a thriller but it definitely is not. There is a mystery but that still is not quite the right categorization either. Really this one falls in to the generic literary fiction genre.
This is most definitely a character driven story where you are introduced to several individuals from troubled teens on the cusp of dangerous decisions to the quirky residents to the fire chief with a special knack for scent. We get a glimpse into each character’s history as the story weaves and winds to its conclusion. It is beautifully written and I give it 4.5 stars
Had I judged this one solely by its cover I never would have picked it up (not my style of cover). As a matter of fact I passed it by several times on NetGalley before requesting it, but am I glad I decided to give it a shot.
Aviary is a complex story about a senior independent living facility. Something is a bit amiss and the tenants are trying to figure out what is going on. When there is a small fire in the caretakers apartment and suddenly two residents are missing the residents along with the chief fire detective must figure out what exactly is going on at Pheasant Run.
Now you may think this sounds like a thriller but it definitely is not. There is a mystery but that still is not quite the right categorization either. Really this one falls in to the generic literary fiction genre.
This is most definitely a character driven story where you are introduced to several individuals from troubled teens on the cusp of dangerous decisions to the quirky residents to the fire chief with a special knack for scent. We get a glimpse into each character’s history as the story weaves and winds to its conclusion. It is beautifully written and I give it 4.5 stars
May 2, 2021
Though the plot is of interest, McNamer’s style conjures up images of a soap opera, which may well be intentional. The incidental gossip adds a hundred pages and turned my enthusiasm to weariness.
May 7, 2021
I felt a bit detached from the story, but this book was exceptional at capturing the bittersweet feelings of November in a cold climate, of old age, of figuring out what you can and can't do in the face of big injustices in your world. There are some really lovely visuals of the river and mountains and sky that make me want to go to Montana right now.
May 19, 2024
Maybe it is because I’m in bed with a head cold that I found Aviary more trippy than detective-y. The book shifts perspective from one person to another, and some of them are trippy themselves, which makes it a more interesting story even as it takes the mystery out of it.
April 14, 2021
I'm having a hard time coming up with how to start this review, because this book brought me many feelings. The story happens around Pheasant Run, and it's told by multiple points of views.
The narrative is bittersweet, the whole book is permeated by a feeling of loneliness and sadness, and even the good times are infused with the sensation that it's a fleeting moment and it will not stick. What ties all the characters together is the understanding that they all suffered great tragedied at different stages in their lives and it's because of it that they're able to connect and be there for one another when it's needed of them.
The narrative was a bit hard to get used to. At the beginning I was thrown off the story by the narrator, she told the story in a steady pace and I felt like it lacked a bit of soul to it, but by the half of the book, where the pace picks up a bit, I found she was the perfect choice for this book. Her impersonations made all the difference, she gave life to each character in her own unique way.
Another point that's worth noticing is that I couldn't empathise with all the characters. I fell in love with Cassie and her relationship with Viola and Clayton, I wish there was more of Viola's adventures when she was young, and I'd like to take Clayton's hand and guide him the way a mother should, because every adult figure in his life is failing him. Leo is a really interesting character and I related to him very much in some aspects, but I wanted to shake him some times for "wasting his life" while hanging onto his grief of 60 years instead of letting it go and giving himself a chance. The other characters were a bit meh, Maki could be made a bit more interesting considering he's one of the main characters, but his wish for solitude is what makes him "uninteresting" in my eyes, yet it's this trait that makes him fit the book so well.
The narrative is really descriptive, to the point where you spend 5 whole minutes listening to a character contemplate the road and scenary they're driving by. It's important to present us the character, but it gets tiresome, especially because most of the longest descriptions happened while introducing the character, which took my interest from the story that hadn't captivated me yet.
Overall it was a great read. It was heavily focused on characters instead of plot, which is not my usual type of story, but every once in a while I like to connect in a deeper level with the human essence and be shocked by the rawness of emotions a book can cause.
Audiobook provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
The narrative is bittersweet, the whole book is permeated by a feeling of loneliness and sadness, and even the good times are infused with the sensation that it's a fleeting moment and it will not stick. What ties all the characters together is the understanding that they all suffered great tragedied at different stages in their lives and it's because of it that they're able to connect and be there for one another when it's needed of them.
The narrative was a bit hard to get used to. At the beginning I was thrown off the story by the narrator, she told the story in a steady pace and I felt like it lacked a bit of soul to it, but by the half of the book, where the pace picks up a bit, I found she was the perfect choice for this book. Her impersonations made all the difference, she gave life to each character in her own unique way.
Another point that's worth noticing is that I couldn't empathise with all the characters. I fell in love with Cassie and her relationship with Viola and Clayton, I wish there was more of Viola's adventures when she was young, and I'd like to take Clayton's hand and guide him the way a mother should, because every adult figure in his life is failing him. Leo is a really interesting character and I related to him very much in some aspects, but I wanted to shake him some times for "wasting his life" while hanging onto his grief of 60 years instead of letting it go and giving himself a chance. The other characters were a bit meh, Maki could be made a bit more interesting considering he's one of the main characters, but his wish for solitude is what makes him "uninteresting" in my eyes, yet it's this trait that makes him fit the book so well.
The narrative is really descriptive, to the point where you spend 5 whole minutes listening to a character contemplate the road and scenary they're driving by. It's important to present us the character, but it gets tiresome, especially because most of the longest descriptions happened while introducing the character, which took my interest from the story that hadn't captivated me yet.
Overall it was a great read. It was heavily focused on characters instead of plot, which is not my usual type of story, but every once in a while I like to connect in a deeper level with the human essence and be shocked by the rawness of emotions a book can cause.
Audiobook provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
January 26, 2025
An interesting book about the crazy lives of the mundane residents of a retirement community. It's a bit unbelievable and I'm not sure I get it, but it was interesting. It is told from the point of view of multiple residents, a teenage boy who sneaks into the building to hide from bullies, and a fire inspector.
September 17, 2021
Too many people and too little story.
November 29, 2021
This was such a strange book. Sometimes I thought it was great and in other parts a complete bore.
January 10, 2025
Fine as a character study. The characters are fleshed out well and explored thoroughly. I found it boring as fuck though. At no point did I care what happened next
March 31, 2022
( 3 & 1/2 *'s ) I checked this book out of library since I was intrigued by the cover art . The story between the covers is a bit too all over the place for me to summarize easily but here goes .!
Pheasant Run is a rundown senior residence located in a small town in Montana. The people who live there-who are mostly in their 80's- have their various back-stories of loss & tenacity. The female residents include Cassie McMackin,who lost her grown daughter & husband within a month of each-other. She attempts to help a troubled teenage boy whom she finds sleeping in the carport of the residence one morning. Cassie is friends w/Viola Six, who has a mysterious past -along with two failed marriages & a deadbeat son -& is writing her memoirs .She longs to move to Santa Barbara, where she has a friend & feels she can start over under the California sun,away from Montana's harsh winters. The male residents include Leo Uberti,an Italian/Jewish immigrant who was sent to an WW2 internment camp in Montana after emigrating to the States & decided to stay in the area after being released. Never married due to a long ago first love that he is unable to forget, he spends his days painting landscapes & tending the local cemetery. Rydell Clovis,a professor who's about 10 yrs younger than most of the others at Pheasant Run , is professor seeking a higher position at the local university & has a rigid routine . There are several other residents but those are the main ones that the author focuses on.
There's also Herbie Bonebright, the new manager, whose cruel, incompetent ways upset the residents. After a mysterious fire , he disappears along w/Viola . Arson is suspected by the town's chief fire inspector, Lander Maki , whose wife, Rhonda works as an animal therapist. I felt Rhonda was an unnecessary,kind of annoying character though there is alot of symbolism in this book, much of it having to do with animals( birds in particular) & nature so the author had her reasons ,but that's just my opinion.
Overall, this novel is about alot of things related to the sad realities of many aging Americans such as have to live on extremely fixed incomes & being treated like 2nd class citizens. But, most of all , I felt this book was is how the past is always with us, especially as we get older. The mystery surrounding the fire is part of a bigger story but not the main plot. I wished this book had been more focused as it jumped from one person to the next but perhaps that was the author's intention: much like a bird flies about from here to there, so does the plot . McNamer is a talented writer though & I'm glad I discovered her work. She writes beautifully w/both compassion & humor👍🏻
Pheasant Run is a rundown senior residence located in a small town in Montana. The people who live there-who are mostly in their 80's- have their various back-stories of loss & tenacity. The female residents include Cassie McMackin,who lost her grown daughter & husband within a month of each-other. She attempts to help a troubled teenage boy whom she finds sleeping in the carport of the residence one morning. Cassie is friends w/Viola Six, who has a mysterious past -along with two failed marriages & a deadbeat son -& is writing her memoirs .She longs to move to Santa Barbara, where she has a friend & feels she can start over under the California sun,away from Montana's harsh winters. The male residents include Leo Uberti,an Italian/Jewish immigrant who was sent to an WW2 internment camp in Montana after emigrating to the States & decided to stay in the area after being released. Never married due to a long ago first love that he is unable to forget, he spends his days painting landscapes & tending the local cemetery. Rydell Clovis,a professor who's about 10 yrs younger than most of the others at Pheasant Run , is professor seeking a higher position at the local university & has a rigid routine . There are several other residents but those are the main ones that the author focuses on.
There's also Herbie Bonebright, the new manager, whose cruel, incompetent ways upset the residents. After a mysterious fire , he disappears along w/Viola . Arson is suspected by the town's chief fire inspector, Lander Maki , whose wife, Rhonda works as an animal therapist. I felt Rhonda was an unnecessary,kind of annoying character though there is alot of symbolism in this book, much of it having to do with animals( birds in particular) & nature so the author had her reasons ,but that's just my opinion.
Overall, this novel is about alot of things related to the sad realities of many aging Americans such as have to live on extremely fixed incomes & being treated like 2nd class citizens. But, most of all , I felt this book was is how the past is always with us, especially as we get older. The mystery surrounding the fire is part of a bigger story but not the main plot. I wished this book had been more focused as it jumped from one person to the next but perhaps that was the author's intention: much like a bird flies about from here to there, so does the plot . McNamer is a talented writer though & I'm glad I discovered her work. She writes beautifully w/both compassion & humor👍🏻
June 14, 2021
Things aren't going well at the Pleasant Run facility. A building of lower rent apartments for seniors, it is showing signs of age and maintenance suddenly seems to be neglected. The elevator has been out for several weeks which is a major issue for many of the seniors who are still mobile but not up to tackling several flights of stairs multiple times a day. Instead they are basically trapped in their apartments. Trash collection has been lagging since the new manager, Herbie, has appeared. Herbie is a skulker, always around trying to find violations of policies but impossible to locate when something goes wrong that he is responsible for fixing. Worst of all, there are rumors that the building is about to be sold so that high end condominiums can be built and sold.
The residents are a mixed bunch. Rydell is a former professor who is hoping to land one more job at his former college. Viola has tons of stories about an exciting past that most of her friends discount. Cassie is Viola's friend but caught in a sea of depression. Her husband and only child have both died and she wonders what is worth continuing on for. Leo is a quiet man who spends his time painting landscapes. Clayton is a teenager who seems to be hanging around for no discernible reason.
Then there is a fire which starts in manager Herbie's apartment. After it is put out, it becomes apparent that both Herbie and Viola have disappeared. Lander Maki is the fire investigator who must decide if this was a fire caused by carelessness or if it was arson. Is the fire related to the disappearances?
Deidre McNamer is a university creative writing professor. She has written several other highly regarded novels such as My Russian which was a New York Times Notable Book. In this novel, she outlines the issues that those of us lucky enough to become elderly will face. Often lonely and neglected, it is unclear how best to alleviate the issues that beset this age group but it is clear that warehousing is not the answer. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.
The residents are a mixed bunch. Rydell is a former professor who is hoping to land one more job at his former college. Viola has tons of stories about an exciting past that most of her friends discount. Cassie is Viola's friend but caught in a sea of depression. Her husband and only child have both died and she wonders what is worth continuing on for. Leo is a quiet man who spends his time painting landscapes. Clayton is a teenager who seems to be hanging around for no discernible reason.
Then there is a fire which starts in manager Herbie's apartment. After it is put out, it becomes apparent that both Herbie and Viola have disappeared. Lander Maki is the fire investigator who must decide if this was a fire caused by carelessness or if it was arson. Is the fire related to the disappearances?
Deidre McNamer is a university creative writing professor. She has written several other highly regarded novels such as My Russian which was a New York Times Notable Book. In this novel, she outlines the issues that those of us lucky enough to become elderly will face. Often lonely and neglected, it is unclear how best to alleviate the issues that beset this age group but it is clear that warehousing is not the answer. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.
September 14, 2021
Quirky characters, quirky writing, charming, with some punch. The punch is the depiction of the exploitation of the elderly by big business and money interests; the isolation, loneliness and desperation of the elderly trapped by their infirmaries, confined residence, and other's attitudes; grief, loss, and hardships of old age; the struggles of kids on the margins and adults trying to cope. Very moving and poignant. 3.5 stars.
At the deteriorating Pheasant Run, the occupants keep their secrets and sadnesses locked tight behind closed apartment doors. Kind Leo Umberti, formerly an insurance agent, now quietly spends his days painting abstract landscapes and mourning a long-ago loss. Down the hall, retired professor Rydell Clovis tries desperately to stay fit enough to restart a career in academia. Cassie McMackin, on the same floor, has seemingly lost everything--her husband and only child dead within months of each other--leaving her loosely tethered to this world. And a few doors away, her friend, Viola Six, is convinced of a criminal conspiracy involving the building's widely disliked manager, Herbie Bonebright. Cassie and Viola dream of leaving their unhappy lives behind, but one woman's plan is interrupted--and the other's unexpectedly set into motion--when a fire breaks out in Herbie's apartment.
Called to investigate is the city's chief fire inspector. With a gift and a passion for sorting out the mysteries of flame, Lander Maki finds the fire itself, and the circumstances around it, highly suspicious. Viola has disappeared. So has Herbie. And a troubled teen, Clayton Spooner, was glimpsed fleeing the scene. In trying to fit together the pieces of this complicated puzzle, Lander finds himself learning more than expected about human nature and about personal and corporate greed as it is visited upon the vulnerable.
At the deteriorating Pheasant Run, the occupants keep their secrets and sadnesses locked tight behind closed apartment doors. Kind Leo Umberti, formerly an insurance agent, now quietly spends his days painting abstract landscapes and mourning a long-ago loss. Down the hall, retired professor Rydell Clovis tries desperately to stay fit enough to restart a career in academia. Cassie McMackin, on the same floor, has seemingly lost everything--her husband and only child dead within months of each other--leaving her loosely tethered to this world. And a few doors away, her friend, Viola Six, is convinced of a criminal conspiracy involving the building's widely disliked manager, Herbie Bonebright. Cassie and Viola dream of leaving their unhappy lives behind, but one woman's plan is interrupted--and the other's unexpectedly set into motion--when a fire breaks out in Herbie's apartment.
Called to investigate is the city's chief fire inspector. With a gift and a passion for sorting out the mysteries of flame, Lander Maki finds the fire itself, and the circumstances around it, highly suspicious. Viola has disappeared. So has Herbie. And a troubled teen, Clayton Spooner, was glimpsed fleeing the scene. In trying to fit together the pieces of this complicated puzzle, Lander finds himself learning more than expected about human nature and about personal and corporate greed as it is visited upon the vulnerable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2021
There was something very likable about this book. It wasn't so much a story if you define 'story' as something with a beginning, middle, and end.
Instead, it was more like opening a window into someone's life for just a brief little moment. Even so, I enjoyed it.
I went back and forth on whether I was going to rate this three or four stars, but in the end I went with four because it was an enjoyable read.
It's interesting to see how lives intertwine. And I felt that it was really true to life because the relationships we build with people often happen so unexpectedly. Because life is unexpected. There's not always a logical progression in how we meet people or behave. I don't know.
This definitely isn't one of the best reviews that I've ever written because this book is hard to describe. I just know that I really liked it. It was odd and different and unique and good.
It started out a little slow, and I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy it, but by about the third chapter in, I was really invested.
It's genre-defying. It's not really a mystery, although there's a mysterious element to it. It's also not a romance, although there are romantic elements.
I guess you just call it fiction. Maybe that's why the category of literary fiction exists... so that it can catch all the other non-genre books that don't fit anywhere else. Still, I liked it, and I'm glad I read it.
Instead, it was more like opening a window into someone's life for just a brief little moment. Even so, I enjoyed it.
I went back and forth on whether I was going to rate this three or four stars, but in the end I went with four because it was an enjoyable read.
It's interesting to see how lives intertwine. And I felt that it was really true to life because the relationships we build with people often happen so unexpectedly. Because life is unexpected. There's not always a logical progression in how we meet people or behave. I don't know.
This definitely isn't one of the best reviews that I've ever written because this book is hard to describe. I just know that I really liked it. It was odd and different and unique and good.
It started out a little slow, and I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy it, but by about the third chapter in, I was really invested.
It's genre-defying. It's not really a mystery, although there's a mysterious element to it. It's also not a romance, although there are romantic elements.
I guess you just call it fiction. Maybe that's why the category of literary fiction exists... so that it can catch all the other non-genre books that don't fit anywhere else. Still, I liked it, and I'm glad I read it.
March 6, 2022
Seriously Goodreads, you need half markers.
3.5, debating if I'll bump this up later.
Despite the long time of getting through this one, I'm glad I finished it and loved so many elements. Writing was compelling with interesting characters and enough complexity to overlap multiple times.
Unfortunately a few big issues bogged it down. The main things that for such a short novel, there essentially seemed to be too many main characters to care about (six specific viewpoints). There were literally new main characters being introduced halfway through the story. It didn't give enough story space to care about any particular character easily, and by the time I did, I realized their whole subplot, while interesting, did nothing for the story itself and was basically just an addendum. If a few characters had been consolidated or done not in main character form, it would have been easier to invest in finishing.
Also, for me personally, the story seemed to suffer from identity crisis. It presents as a suspense, who-dun-it, but meanders into overviews on aging, unlikely friendships, and a handful of other themes/genres that overshadowed the central push if the story, again not holding my attention when it felts like the story should have been a top ten favorites.
3.5, debating if I'll bump this up later.
Despite the long time of getting through this one, I'm glad I finished it and loved so many elements. Writing was compelling with interesting characters and enough complexity to overlap multiple times.
Unfortunately a few big issues bogged it down. The main things that for such a short novel, there essentially seemed to be too many main characters to care about (six specific viewpoints). There were literally new main characters being introduced halfway through the story. It didn't give enough story space to care about any particular character easily, and by the time I did, I realized their whole subplot, while interesting, did nothing for the story itself and was basically just an addendum. If a few characters had been consolidated or done not in main character form, it would have been easier to invest in finishing.
Also, for me personally, the story seemed to suffer from identity crisis. It presents as a suspense, who-dun-it, but meanders into overviews on aging, unlikely friendships, and a handful of other themes/genres that overshadowed the central push if the story, again not holding my attention when it felts like the story should have been a top ten favorites.
March 27, 2022
Really gorgeous writing. I took photos of many pages of this book to capture a turn of phrase or specific description. However, magic at the sentence or even paragraph level could not fix the slow, herky-jerky pace of this book or the fact that there were simply too many characters, too many sub-stories, and too many perspectives being forced together.
Aviary could have benefitted from a single viewpoint, or from the stories being from varying perspectives linearly (one at a time) rather than switching back and forth between characters throughout. Some books do that perspective switching really well, and the book is richer for it. This one leaves the reader scrambling for footing much of the time, which makes for a very drawn-out reading process. (I admit I put the book down for days at a time and wasn't in a hurry to pick it back up.)
McNamer is clearly a talented writer, and I admire her for taking on the subjects of aging and independence. I hope that her next book dives deeper into the meaty subject of her choosing and doesn't get too distracted by side plots, side characters, and hijinks that don't quite fit.
Aviary could have benefitted from a single viewpoint, or from the stories being from varying perspectives linearly (one at a time) rather than switching back and forth between characters throughout. Some books do that perspective switching really well, and the book is richer for it. This one leaves the reader scrambling for footing much of the time, which makes for a very drawn-out reading process. (I admit I put the book down for days at a time and wasn't in a hurry to pick it back up.)
McNamer is clearly a talented writer, and I admire her for taking on the subjects of aging and independence. I hope that her next book dives deeper into the meaty subject of her choosing and doesn't get too distracted by side plots, side characters, and hijinks that don't quite fit.
June 29, 2021
This is a story of senior citizens "in their boxes inside the bigger box of their four-story building," that has a mild mystery involved. The beginning is pretty depressing, but after the detective is introduced it gets more interesting. As you get to know the characters in the Pheasant Run senior condos a bit, there is some mild humor and some strange questions you may be asking yourself about these characters. Is Viola Six a spacey paranoid or not? Is Cassie going to commit suicide? Is the retired ethics professor an arsonist? Or maybe the musician? Is the resident manager/incompetent handyman as much of a goon as they all think he is? Did he set the fire himself? And what's going to happen to the bullied and increasingly angry teenager who sneaks in to hide from his life and his tormentors in the storage area at Pheasant Run? I liked the characters, but they weren't as deep or well-rounded as one might hope. Nor was the mystery, and it seemed like one or the other should be, so I gave it 3 stars instead of 4. Still, I enjoyed it.
October 18, 2023
First, a note to reviewers who find this book not as much a thriller/mystery as they would like. Or those who think it jumps around a lot. It's a smart, literary novel. It's not a genre thriller and it's not complicated but it is not one point-of-view. So please don't review it because it's something you weren't expecting. Review what it is.
And what it is: an extraordinary novel about six lives that meet at Pheasant Run, the 24-unit retirement home. McNamer explores each character (and more), goes deep inside their hearts and minds, and, yes, tells the story of a mysterious fire in the building, and the two men responsible for figuring out who set the fire.
It is a book about what it means to be human, what it means to grow old, and be young, how lives intersect and how the past shapes the present. A wonderful, vivid, thought-provoking and beautifully written book that will stay with you long after you read the last page. So put away pre-conceived notions and read it.
And what it is: an extraordinary novel about six lives that meet at Pheasant Run, the 24-unit retirement home. McNamer explores each character (and more), goes deep inside their hearts and minds, and, yes, tells the story of a mysterious fire in the building, and the two men responsible for figuring out who set the fire.
It is a book about what it means to be human, what it means to grow old, and be young, how lives intersect and how the past shapes the present. A wonderful, vivid, thought-provoking and beautifully written book that will stay with you long after you read the last page. So put away pre-conceived notions and read it.
April 5, 2022
I reckon mainly fiction writers will get something from this book, not the casual literary fiction reader. Deirdre McNamer is clearly gifted and she can spin some truly incandescent prose, but Aviary just isn't a compelling read. The hazy politics (our society's ongoing neglect and exploitation of the elderly) and something about how past evils can pop back up in the present (WWII internment camps in Minnesota?) just don't hit hard enough in these vignettes of interwoven characters. Perhaps the stakes the characters face just aren't high enough. (An innocuous fire in an elderly condo community, the disappearance of one resident, one employee...some financial troubles). Some of the characters are pretty boring, a few insufferable. It all amounts to an underwhelming read punctuated by scintillating lines of writing. Fiction writers will take some notes, most others will be bored.
May 30, 2022
A story told from many perspectives; from a number of residents of an elderly community called Pheasant Run (where there is a mysterious and suspicious fire in one of the apartments and fire inspector Lander Maki is sent in to investigate), to a troubled high school boy struggling with home life and bullies at school. A book with many layers that revolves around the lives and livelihoods of the senior citizens living in a four-story apartment complex, anxious about a possible buyout of the property amidst this mysterious fire and the disappearance of two people during the chaos, as Maki tries to piece together the details of the mysterious fire. An interesting, entertaining and sometimes humorous character focused story with a good plot and flow that I enjoyed very much.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
May 31, 2025
- This book was weirdly hard to track down and! After listening, would purchase it or read it again. I believe the book itself delves into some issues about corporate power and has a very artistic lilt to it which I think I could better appreciate in a word format
- learned that it’s hard in audiobook form when the timeline jumps around. The cast of characters was unique and interesting though; lots of backstory and entertaining between timelines, which I think in many ways showcases the sweetness of life. maybe because strangers were kind to me after I was hit by the car, I was drawn to how people cared so much about each other in this book, webs of relationships that are but mostly are not sexual in nature
- Again, ingratiated by men manic pixie dream girl-ing a woman, even if it’s fiction
- learned that it’s hard in audiobook form when the timeline jumps around. The cast of characters was unique and interesting though; lots of backstory and entertaining between timelines, which I think in many ways showcases the sweetness of life. maybe because strangers were kind to me after I was hit by the car, I was drawn to how people cared so much about each other in this book, webs of relationships that are but mostly are not sexual in nature
- Again, ingratiated by men manic pixie dream girl-ing a woman, even if it’s fiction
April 21, 2021
I picked this up on Audible because it looked interesting and, not going to lie, the price was right and I needed something to listen to at work. I think it was worth it. As others have mentioned, it's not exactly a mystery, but it does have some mystery elements, and despite its meandering pace, it manages to be quite compelling. The characters were likable and realistic. I quite enjoyed the interaction between Ms. Six and Raven on their escape to LA.
I have nothing negative to say about the writing, which was accomplished, and even though the subject matter could lend itself to flowery language, the author keeps it crisp. I appreciate that, and I think it added to the tense atmosphere, and lent frank credibility to the sad/grim elements.
It was a good work listen.
I have nothing negative to say about the writing, which was accomplished, and even though the subject matter could lend itself to flowery language, the author keeps it crisp. I appreciate that, and I think it added to the tense atmosphere, and lent frank credibility to the sad/grim elements.
It was a good work listen.
August 15, 2022
This is sensitively and intelligently written (I admit to not fully understanding a couple sentences here and there). But the story and it's characters are fully fleshed out and interesting but in a compact way - it doesn't seem like that should work but it does. It does feel like one character deserved one last wrap-up chapter; at least it would have felt a bit less glossed-over or lazy. And some people might not like the way this "mystery" wraps up, although I view it more as a collection of characters whose lives are touched by intersecting events, rather than a mystery. Those minor critiques aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book (and it helped me get through the bed-ridden portions of my bout with COVID).
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