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The Bird Hotel
Enter the magical world of La Llorona with New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard.
After a childhood filled with heartbreak, Irene, a talented artist, finds herself in a small Central American village where she checks into a beautiful but decaying lakefront hotel called La Llorona at the base of a volcano.
The Bird Hotel tells the story of this young American who, after suffering tragedy, restores and runs La Llorona. Along the way we meet a rich assortment of characters who live in the village or come to stay at the hotel. With a mystery at its center and filled with warmth, drama, romance, humor, pop culture, and a little magic realism, The Bird Hotel has all the hallmarks of a Joyce Maynard novel that have made her a a leading voice of her generation
The Bird Hotel is a big, sweeping story spanning four decades, offering lyricism as well as whimsy. While the world New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard brings to life on the page is rendered from her imagination, it’s one informed by the more than twenty years of which she has spent a significant amount of her time in a small Mayan indigenous village in Guatemala.
After a childhood filled with heartbreak, Irene, a talented artist, finds herself in a small Central American village where she checks into a beautiful but decaying lakefront hotel called La Llorona at the base of a volcano.
The Bird Hotel tells the story of this young American who, after suffering tragedy, restores and runs La Llorona. Along the way we meet a rich assortment of characters who live in the village or come to stay at the hotel. With a mystery at its center and filled with warmth, drama, romance, humor, pop culture, and a little magic realism, The Bird Hotel has all the hallmarks of a Joyce Maynard novel that have made her a a leading voice of her generation
The Bird Hotel is a big, sweeping story spanning four decades, offering lyricism as well as whimsy. While the world New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard brings to life on the page is rendered from her imagination, it’s one informed by the more than twenty years of which she has spent a significant amount of her time in a small Mayan indigenous village in Guatemala.
457 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2023
1656 people are currently reading
15306 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Maynard
58 books2,823 followersJoyce Maynard first came to national attention with the publication of her New York Times cover story “An Eighteen-Year-Old Looks Back on Life” in 1973, when she was a freshman at Yale. Since then, she has been a reporter and columnist for The New York Times, a syndicated newspaper columnist whose “Domestic Affairs” column appeared in more than fifty papers nationwide, a regular contributor to NPR. Her writing has also been published in national magazines, including O, The Oprah Magazine; Newsweek; The New York Times Magazine; Forbes; Salon; San Francisco Magazine, USA Weekly; and many more. She has appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Charlie Rose, and on Fresh Air. Essays of hers appear in numerous collections. She has been a fellow at Yaddo, UCross, and The MacDowell Colony, where she wrote her most recently published novel, Labor Day.
The author of many books of fiction and nonfiction, including the novel To Die For (in which she also plays the role of Nicole Kidman’s attorney) and the bestselling memoir, At Home in the World, Maynard makes her home in Mill Valley, California. Her novel, The Usual Rules—a story about surviving loss—has been a favorite of book club audiences of all ages, and was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the ten best books for young readers for 2003.
Joyce Maynard also runs the Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop in Guatemala, founded in 2002.
The author of many books of fiction and nonfiction, including the novel To Die For (in which she also plays the role of Nicole Kidman’s attorney) and the bestselling memoir, At Home in the World, Maynard makes her home in Mill Valley, California. Her novel, The Usual Rules—a story about surviving loss—has been a favorite of book club audiences of all ages, and was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the ten best books for young readers for 2003.
Joyce Maynard also runs the Lake Atitlan Writing Workshop in Guatemala, founded in 2002.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,686 reviews
May 12, 2023
When Irene boards a green bus with only the clothes on her back, she has no idea where she’s going or what she will do next, but more to the point - she really doesn’t care.
We first meet Irene as a child, and watch with sadness the losses she suffers, but as time passes, some tragedies are just too much for a person to bear, which is how Irene came to be on that green bus taking her to who knows where!
After much travel and by various modes, Irene arrives in the little village of La Esperanza in Central America. She finds accommodation at the La Llorona or Bird Hotel. It’s a truly magical place, and it gives Irene much needed respite from the world, and in addition, the hotel owner Leila (though feisty, is an unobtrusive, wise, and caring woman), and is just what Irene needs right now, to allow herself to heal.
The Bird Hotel allows us to meet an abundance of fascinating characters, all with varying personality traits, which with great skill, the author brings to life, not only that, but she makes it impossible not to care about these characters - so many life stories, so many life lessons to be learnt, but it’s Irene’s story that stands out, and it’s not difficult to put oneself in her shoes.
Beautifully written, with vivid descriptions of the fictional La Esperanza, that made me want to jump on a green bus, followed by an arduous journey by both plane and boat in order to reach this magical place!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
We first meet Irene as a child, and watch with sadness the losses she suffers, but as time passes, some tragedies are just too much for a person to bear, which is how Irene came to be on that green bus taking her to who knows where!
After much travel and by various modes, Irene arrives in the little village of La Esperanza in Central America. She finds accommodation at the La Llorona or Bird Hotel. It’s a truly magical place, and it gives Irene much needed respite from the world, and in addition, the hotel owner Leila (though feisty, is an unobtrusive, wise, and caring woman), and is just what Irene needs right now, to allow herself to heal.
The Bird Hotel allows us to meet an abundance of fascinating characters, all with varying personality traits, which with great skill, the author brings to life, not only that, but she makes it impossible not to care about these characters - so many life stories, so many life lessons to be learnt, but it’s Irene’s story that stands out, and it’s not difficult to put oneself in her shoes.
Beautifully written, with vivid descriptions of the fictional La Esperanza, that made me want to jump on a green bus, followed by an arduous journey by both plane and boat in order to reach this magical place!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
May 29, 2023
“For the first time in all my days on the road, it occurred to me to ask where I should go. The woman didn’t hesitate. She spoke with surprising firmness. “La Esperanza,” she said. The word meant hope.”
Our protagonist Irene, heartbroken and lost after an unimaginable tragedy, leaves her life in San Francisco, destination unknown. After a period of wandering, she lands up in the town of La Esperanza in Central America and rents a room at La Llorona a hotel at the edge of a lake close to a looming volcano - “a place of extraordinary beauty— heartbreaking beauty, you might say. Heartbreaking, because it was falling apart. Wherever I looked there was something magical. And something broken. It was the broken part that allowed me to feel at home in this place.”
Little did she know at the time that she would soon assume responsibility for the hotel and make a life for herself in this foreign land surrounded by strangers who will become an integral part of her life. The narrative is shared from Irene’s perspective in the first-person PoV and we move back and forth between past and present with flashbacks that give us a glimpse into her unhappy, unstable childhood with her hippie mother and the tragic circumstances that resulted in her coming to live with her grandmother at a young age as well as the events that lead her to La Llorona. When she inherits the hotel, it is in a state of disrepair and we bear witness to the trials and tribulations she faces in restoring it to its former glory. The story follows Irene, her life at La Llorona, the people she meets and how her experiences impact her life and encourage her to open up to whatever life has to offer. Irene, a former illustrator and once-aspiring artist, finds inspiration in the natural beauty of La Llorona. Not all her experiences are pleasant and not all the people she meets are trustworthy but each experience is significant and allows her to grow as a person and gives her a sense of worth after a lifetime of feeling disconnected and wary of attachments. As Leila, the former owner of La Llorona had explained to Irene “You may not find what you’re looking for when you come to this lake,” she’d told me. “But you’ll probably find what you need.”
The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard is a stunningly beautiful novel that touches upon themes of grief, survival, kindness and found family. Elegant prose, masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions of the land and its natural beauty transported me to La Llorona with Irene and I didn’t want to leave. There's a lot packed into this novel without it becoming too heavy or convoluted. I was invested in Irene’s story from the very first page. The descriptions of the characters and their thoughts and reactions are realistic and never exaggerated.
The author captures the beauty of the locale both in its tranquility - the vegetation, the flora, birds and the turquoise lake - and in its turbulence and ferocity– the natural disasters, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions that wreak havoc in the lives of the community of La Esperanza. We meet guests from all around the world who come to La Llorona motivated by personal quests or simply in need of respite from the world outside. The author skillfully weaves the stories of other foreigners who settle in the area as well as the descriptions of the Mayan customs and traditions practiced by the indigenous community of the Mayan village into the narrative. ( In her Acknowledgments, the author clarifies that she has written from the perspective of an American expat. The author has maintained a home for over twenty years in a Mayan village in Guatemala). The beautifully descriptive writing, realistic characterizations and fluid narrative made for an immersive reading experience.
“It’s not important what took place before. It’s what you do now that matters.”
Many thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley for the much-appreciated digital review copy of this beautiful novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Our protagonist Irene, heartbroken and lost after an unimaginable tragedy, leaves her life in San Francisco, destination unknown. After a period of wandering, she lands up in the town of La Esperanza in Central America and rents a room at La Llorona a hotel at the edge of a lake close to a looming volcano - “a place of extraordinary beauty— heartbreaking beauty, you might say. Heartbreaking, because it was falling apart. Wherever I looked there was something magical. And something broken. It was the broken part that allowed me to feel at home in this place.”
Little did she know at the time that she would soon assume responsibility for the hotel and make a life for herself in this foreign land surrounded by strangers who will become an integral part of her life. The narrative is shared from Irene’s perspective in the first-person PoV and we move back and forth between past and present with flashbacks that give us a glimpse into her unhappy, unstable childhood with her hippie mother and the tragic circumstances that resulted in her coming to live with her grandmother at a young age as well as the events that lead her to La Llorona. When she inherits the hotel, it is in a state of disrepair and we bear witness to the trials and tribulations she faces in restoring it to its former glory. The story follows Irene, her life at La Llorona, the people she meets and how her experiences impact her life and encourage her to open up to whatever life has to offer. Irene, a former illustrator and once-aspiring artist, finds inspiration in the natural beauty of La Llorona. Not all her experiences are pleasant and not all the people she meets are trustworthy but each experience is significant and allows her to grow as a person and gives her a sense of worth after a lifetime of feeling disconnected and wary of attachments. As Leila, the former owner of La Llorona had explained to Irene “You may not find what you’re looking for when you come to this lake,” she’d told me. “But you’ll probably find what you need.”
The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard is a stunningly beautiful novel that touches upon themes of grief, survival, kindness and found family. Elegant prose, masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions of the land and its natural beauty transported me to La Llorona with Irene and I didn’t want to leave. There's a lot packed into this novel without it becoming too heavy or convoluted. I was invested in Irene’s story from the very first page. The descriptions of the characters and their thoughts and reactions are realistic and never exaggerated.
The author captures the beauty of the locale both in its tranquility - the vegetation, the flora, birds and the turquoise lake - and in its turbulence and ferocity– the natural disasters, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions that wreak havoc in the lives of the community of La Esperanza. We meet guests from all around the world who come to La Llorona motivated by personal quests or simply in need of respite from the world outside. The author skillfully weaves the stories of other foreigners who settle in the area as well as the descriptions of the Mayan customs and traditions practiced by the indigenous community of the Mayan village into the narrative. ( In her Acknowledgments, the author clarifies that she has written from the perspective of an American expat. The author has maintained a home for over twenty years in a Mayan village in Guatemala). The beautifully descriptive writing, realistic characterizations and fluid narrative made for an immersive reading experience.
“It’s not important what took place before. It’s what you do now that matters.”
Many thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley for the much-appreciated digital review copy of this beautiful novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 6, 2025
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The Book Review Crew
I have been a Joyce Maynard fan for many years and have loved all her fiction and non-fiction books. This book transported me to different times and many different places, especially South America. I loved how descriptive the writing was, I could picture the different flora and fauna in my head and the hotel repairs and decorating made me feel I was there with Irene and the people she meets...hotel guests and locals alike. I was invested in the characters' lives and cared about what happened to them.
Each chapter is like a short story, vignettes if you will. The story spans forty years of Iren's life and I liked the back-and-forth timeline as Irene remembers her painful painful past, tries to heal from her present and moves forward toward her future. Irene has had lots of losses and some parts of the book are not easy to read. I loved the short chapters in this enchanting story with love and loss in equal measure. Everyone Irene interacts with teaches her something and she learns to appreciate the nature around her. I learned a lot about Mayan culture reading this, including the different food, art and clothing. Simply a book about life and how we can try and run away from our problems but our problems really don't go away and about how time can heal all wounds.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew
I have been a Joyce Maynard fan for many years and have loved all her fiction and non-fiction books. This book transported me to different times and many different places, especially South America. I loved how descriptive the writing was, I could picture the different flora and fauna in my head and the hotel repairs and decorating made me feel I was there with Irene and the people she meets...hotel guests and locals alike. I was invested in the characters' lives and cared about what happened to them.
Each chapter is like a short story, vignettes if you will. The story spans forty years of Iren's life and I liked the back-and-forth timeline as Irene remembers her painful painful past, tries to heal from her present and moves forward toward her future. Irene has had lots of losses and some parts of the book are not easy to read. I loved the short chapters in this enchanting story with love and loss in equal measure. Everyone Irene interacts with teaches her something and she learns to appreciate the nature around her. I learned a lot about Mayan culture reading this, including the different food, art and clothing. Simply a book about life and how we can try and run away from our problems but our problems really don't go away and about how time can heal all wounds.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
May 27, 2023
Joyce Maynard, you make my heart sing.
Irene. Such tragedy to have struck. Such grief to endure. The only way out is to escape. And at La Llorona in Central America, a rundown but beautiful hotel of 4 rooms, is where she is able to allow her troubled heart to heal.
The writing: hypnotic and immersive.
Characters: beautifully flawed and intensely likeable.
The setting: vibrant with exotic birds, blooming flowers, a volcano across a lake and the richness of Mayan culture and traditions.
This was a spectacular story that tickled all my senses.
I only wish I could pack my bags right now.
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Minor -I did notice a character name mixed up- a distractor. (H/E). The ending was a little too quick and neat. And why does it say only 288 pages on GR when it's more than 400? Hmm.
Irene. Such tragedy to have struck. Such grief to endure. The only way out is to escape. And at La Llorona in Central America, a rundown but beautiful hotel of 4 rooms, is where she is able to allow her troubled heart to heal.
The writing: hypnotic and immersive.
Characters: beautifully flawed and intensely likeable.
The setting: vibrant with exotic birds, blooming flowers, a volcano across a lake and the richness of Mayan culture and traditions.
This was a spectacular story that tickled all my senses.
I only wish I could pack my bags right now.
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Minor -I did notice a character name mixed up- a distractor. (H/E). The ending was a little too quick and neat. And why does it say only 288 pages on GR when it's more than 400? Hmm.
April 9, 2023
I’m a pretty dedicated reader when it comes to Joyce Maynard books…..having read and enjoyed most of her novels and each of her memoirs …..
A few of my favorites were:
“Count the Ways” …published in 2021…(*incredible* family saga)….and her greatest achievement to date.
“Under the Influence”…(one of those stories that pulls you in so fast - exploring friendships & deceit - that it’s impossible to not read to the end)- I loved the crazy complexities.
“At Home in the World”….one of the most unforgettable memoirs I have ever read — and her toxic relationship with J.D. Salinger
“The Best of Us” ….a beautiful - loving memoir….a tribute to her husband who died of pancreatic cancer…made me cry.
And ….
I enjoyed “Labor Day” both her book and movie….and ‘others’.
So now…..Joyce brings us “The Bird Hotel”…..(to be published in May, 2003)….
I’m always happy to be back in Maynard-land. One thing that is consistent in her writing is that Joyce is a master at detailing generation eras…..especially ‘The Boomer’ generation.
Her stories are sparkling with personal details….and in “The Bird Hotel”….she does it again….sparkles us page after page.
Its filled with life, love, loss, secrets, grief, fears, sadness, joys, mystery, drama, disappointments, adventures, romance, Lilies, orchards, hummingbirds, beadwork, gardening, wonderful meals,
stories told during dinner gatherings on the patio,
hippie-travelers flocked to the village every winter,
lots of playfulness, empathy, nature, pop-culture, and a touch of mythical elements.
Joyce emotes strong sentiments. Our feelings and thoughts get a marathon workout in “The Bird Hotel”.
READ THE BLURB….
…..it’s the perfect blurb to give a great flavor of what this novel is about.
No QUESTION….
…..it’s “a big sweeping story spanning four decades, offering lyricism as well as whimsy”…..
Our protagonist- Irene - suffered loss after loss ….as a child….and as a young adult.
From San Francisco to Central America to a beautiful lakefront dwelling fixer-upper hotel in La Llorona…..at the base of a volcano…..with a stimulating cast of characters — this would make another great Joyce Maynard movie (or even a series) ….
NOTE….
The symbolism for volcano has long been a metaphor used to understand creation, mortality, and nature…..[exactly what this novel does].
I have one small critique. The book is 432 pages ….and although I easily finished it in three days, I feel it could have loss a hundred pages. A couple of the chapters were a little over-written. A chapter about macaroons and baking went on too long for me. Maybe if I liked macarons….lol ….I would have felt different …..
But I’m being picky….
This is an a very absorbing saga….filled with hardships and joy….
And all those yummy Joyce Maynard descriptions. The nostalgia is fun!
….ha…
Be it…hippies, marijuana, LSD trips, VW bugs, Tie-dye T-shirts, Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Creme, Vietnam war, Woodstock, marriage, love, death, traveling in a Green Turtle Bus with strangers, Hare Krishna, Cocoa Puffs, singing, painting, birds, plants, flowers, water wonders, sunshine, swimming, boyfriends, family, friendships, foods:
[Yummy breakfast:
Plato Tipico—huevos rancheros, with frijoles, queso, platanos, and crema, also orange juice, with a side order of pancakes]….etc.
And….
…..the power of fairytales, love…..etc. etc. etc….
like I said….
…..THIS IS A BIG SWEEPING SAGA ….over those four decades.
Perfect for Baby Boomers ….and/or for those of us who live in the SFBay area ….and/or have a thing for settings in Central America.
A few excerpts:
“When there’s no place you want to be, you’re in no rush to get off the bus”
“There’s was always someone playing guitar or harmonica, always someone sleeping, someone smoking, someone holding fourth about astrology or hydroponic marijuana, cultivation, or hidden messages you divined by playing Pink Floyd backwards. The Wall”.
“I’ve been thinking about our book, he said, not the most romantic line for a man to deliver to a woman under the stars—but you had to give him credit for sincerity”.
“Have you heard of the exotic conures that escaped from a pet store somewhere in California years ago and settled in San Francisco? he said. There’s a whole flock of them now, living on Telegraph Hill. We could go there together. You’d paint them”.
“For a moment then, I pictured myself returning to San Francisco with Jerome, and how it would be to go to my old neighborhood with this man. I’ve seen those. conures, I told him. A long time ago”.
“After one kiss, Irene was very clear she couldn’t make a life with Jerome. The very thing he dismissed as a fantasy reserved for the foolish young, (passion, and love head-over -heels) was the only thing that made sense to her”.
“There was only one spot in La Esperanza where a person could get a meal that came anywhere close to the ones Maria created at the hotel—Rosella’s place, II Piacere”.
“We could have taken ‘tuk tuk’ into the village, but Jerome suggested we walk. It was the time of day I loved best, when the sun was sinking behind the volcano in the sky, changing color every few seconds— rose color, giving way to peach, giving away to violet, golden glow on the hillside, and birds swooping low over the water”.
4 + stars….. other than some editing quibbles….I fully enjoyed it….and hope they make a film.
A few of my favorites were:
“Count the Ways” …published in 2021…(*incredible* family saga)….and her greatest achievement to date.
“Under the Influence”…(one of those stories that pulls you in so fast - exploring friendships & deceit - that it’s impossible to not read to the end)- I loved the crazy complexities.
“At Home in the World”….one of the most unforgettable memoirs I have ever read — and her toxic relationship with J.D. Salinger
“The Best of Us” ….a beautiful - loving memoir….a tribute to her husband who died of pancreatic cancer…made me cry.
And ….
I enjoyed “Labor Day” both her book and movie….and ‘others’.
So now…..Joyce brings us “The Bird Hotel”…..(to be published in May, 2003)….
I’m always happy to be back in Maynard-land. One thing that is consistent in her writing is that Joyce is a master at detailing generation eras…..especially ‘The Boomer’ generation.
Her stories are sparkling with personal details….and in “The Bird Hotel”….she does it again….sparkles us page after page.
Its filled with life, love, loss, secrets, grief, fears, sadness, joys, mystery, drama, disappointments, adventures, romance, Lilies, orchards, hummingbirds, beadwork, gardening, wonderful meals,
stories told during dinner gatherings on the patio,
hippie-travelers flocked to the village every winter,
lots of playfulness, empathy, nature, pop-culture, and a touch of mythical elements.
Joyce emotes strong sentiments. Our feelings and thoughts get a marathon workout in “The Bird Hotel”.
READ THE BLURB….
…..it’s the perfect blurb to give a great flavor of what this novel is about.
No QUESTION….
…..it’s “a big sweeping story spanning four decades, offering lyricism as well as whimsy”…..
Our protagonist- Irene - suffered loss after loss ….as a child….and as a young adult.
From San Francisco to Central America to a beautiful lakefront dwelling fixer-upper hotel in La Llorona…..at the base of a volcano…..with a stimulating cast of characters — this would make another great Joyce Maynard movie (or even a series) ….
NOTE….
The symbolism for volcano has long been a metaphor used to understand creation, mortality, and nature…..[exactly what this novel does].
I have one small critique. The book is 432 pages ….and although I easily finished it in three days, I feel it could have loss a hundred pages. A couple of the chapters were a little over-written. A chapter about macaroons and baking went on too long for me. Maybe if I liked macarons….lol ….I would have felt different …..
But I’m being picky….
This is an a very absorbing saga….filled with hardships and joy….
And all those yummy Joyce Maynard descriptions. The nostalgia is fun!
….ha…
Be it…hippies, marijuana, LSD trips, VW bugs, Tie-dye T-shirts, Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Creme, Vietnam war, Woodstock, marriage, love, death, traveling in a Green Turtle Bus with strangers, Hare Krishna, Cocoa Puffs, singing, painting, birds, plants, flowers, water wonders, sunshine, swimming, boyfriends, family, friendships, foods:
[Yummy breakfast:
Plato Tipico—huevos rancheros, with frijoles, queso, platanos, and crema, also orange juice, with a side order of pancakes]….etc.
And….
…..the power of fairytales, love…..etc. etc. etc….
like I said….
…..THIS IS A BIG SWEEPING SAGA ….over those four decades.
Perfect for Baby Boomers ….and/or for those of us who live in the SFBay area ….and/or have a thing for settings in Central America.
A few excerpts:
“When there’s no place you want to be, you’re in no rush to get off the bus”
“There’s was always someone playing guitar or harmonica, always someone sleeping, someone smoking, someone holding fourth about astrology or hydroponic marijuana, cultivation, or hidden messages you divined by playing Pink Floyd backwards. The Wall”.
“I’ve been thinking about our book, he said, not the most romantic line for a man to deliver to a woman under the stars—but you had to give him credit for sincerity”.
“Have you heard of the exotic conures that escaped from a pet store somewhere in California years ago and settled in San Francisco? he said. There’s a whole flock of them now, living on Telegraph Hill. We could go there together. You’d paint them”.
“For a moment then, I pictured myself returning to San Francisco with Jerome, and how it would be to go to my old neighborhood with this man. I’ve seen those. conures, I told him. A long time ago”.
“After one kiss, Irene was very clear she couldn’t make a life with Jerome. The very thing he dismissed as a fantasy reserved for the foolish young, (passion, and love head-over -heels) was the only thing that made sense to her”.
“There was only one spot in La Esperanza where a person could get a meal that came anywhere close to the ones Maria created at the hotel—Rosella’s place, II Piacere”.
“We could have taken ‘tuk tuk’ into the village, but Jerome suggested we walk. It was the time of day I loved best, when the sun was sinking behind the volcano in the sky, changing color every few seconds— rose color, giving way to peach, giving away to violet, golden glow on the hillside, and birds swooping low over the water”.
4 + stars….. other than some editing quibbles….I fully enjoyed it….and hope they make a film.
July 11, 2023
This is such a beautiful story, one of those all encompassing stories that draws you in from the beginning, taking you through the depths of grief and loss on a journey to healing . It’s not just a journey of the heart and soul , but it takes the reader to a place of beauty and wonder where nature can be as cruel as it is breathtakingly beautiful. Irene is alone and lost, in the depths of despair, having suffered unimaginable losses, desiring to escape from her life. She chooses to live and wanders until she finds herself in a lovely little village called La Esperanza in central Central America at a hotel called La Llorona. It is here that she discovers her lost self as she becomes immersed in this place - a place that’s a character in its own right, with it’s beautiful lake, and calming gorgeous landscape, exotic birds, a volcano looming with beauty, power and danger.
This novel has a wonderful cast of characters - friends who become family, hotel guests who become friends and as life goes people she thought were friends who are really enemies. This place among these people who help her on her journey to healing as she discovers her lost self, hers art, her motherly instincts, the person who could love again, is full of hope as the village name implies. I was immersed into this lovely place, the culture and the customs of indigenous Mayan people here and would like to have been there a while longer. I can’t say why I’ve never read a book by Joyce Maynard, although I have a few on my to read list. I’ll have to take a look.
I received a copy of this book from Arcade through Edelweiss.
This novel has a wonderful cast of characters - friends who become family, hotel guests who become friends and as life goes people she thought were friends who are really enemies. This place among these people who help her on her journey to healing as she discovers her lost self, hers art, her motherly instincts, the person who could love again, is full of hope as the village name implies. I was immersed into this lovely place, the culture and the customs of indigenous Mayan people here and would like to have been there a while longer. I can’t say why I’ve never read a book by Joyce Maynard, although I have a few on my to read list. I’ll have to take a look.
I received a copy of this book from Arcade through Edelweiss.
June 17, 2023
Irene, having known much tragedy and loss from a young age, leaves her life in San Francisco, and finds herself in the town of La Esperanza in Central America. She begins to heal and build a life in this foreign country.
At first glance, the story is a simple one: a woman flees a tragic past and starts a new life in a new country. But it is so much more than that. Describing the plot would not do the book justice.
The stunning setting with the exotic wildlife and flowers, the Mayan culture and food, the hotel on a lake at the base of a volcano, the wonderful characters who inhabit this island, as well as the travelers passing through who stay at hotel La Llorona, all wormed their way into my heart. However, not all is idyllic, as evil can also exist in the midst of such beauty.
Told in a series of vignettes spanning 4 decades, this was a saga that evoked many emotions in me as I experienced life right alongside Irene. It’s a rare book that justifies over 400 pages, but this story earned every single one of them.
This is the type of writing I can lose myself in, clear and concise. Joyce Maynard’s masterful use of language paints a vivid picture of the place and people, and transported me to a different world.
The novel is set in a fictional Central American country but told from an American expat point of view. The fact that for many years the author has owned property in Guatemala, where she lives part-time, lent the story authenticity.
I was completely enthralled from start to finish and was sad when the last page was turned and I had to leave the world the author created. It's a place I never wanted to leave. 5+ stars
* A buddy read with Marialyce, and one we both highly recommend. A top read of 2023!
*The audiobook was narrated by Joyce herself, which was the perfect choice.
At first glance, the story is a simple one: a woman flees a tragic past and starts a new life in a new country. But it is so much more than that. Describing the plot would not do the book justice.
The stunning setting with the exotic wildlife and flowers, the Mayan culture and food, the hotel on a lake at the base of a volcano, the wonderful characters who inhabit this island, as well as the travelers passing through who stay at hotel La Llorona, all wormed their way into my heart. However, not all is idyllic, as evil can also exist in the midst of such beauty.
Told in a series of vignettes spanning 4 decades, this was a saga that evoked many emotions in me as I experienced life right alongside Irene. It’s a rare book that justifies over 400 pages, but this story earned every single one of them.
This is the type of writing I can lose myself in, clear and concise. Joyce Maynard’s masterful use of language paints a vivid picture of the place and people, and transported me to a different world.
The novel is set in a fictional Central American country but told from an American expat point of view. The fact that for many years the author has owned property in Guatemala, where she lives part-time, lent the story authenticity.
I was completely enthralled from start to finish and was sad when the last page was turned and I had to leave the world the author created. It's a place I never wanted to leave. 5+ stars
* A buddy read with Marialyce, and one we both highly recommend. A top read of 2023!
*The audiobook was narrated by Joyce herself, which was the perfect choice.
May 10, 2023
Lovely book!
"Everyone I ever met who came here was on some kind of quest. They didn't always find what they were looking for. But they usually find what they need."
This is a sweeping saga, the story of Irene and the journey her life takes from growing up in New York in the 1970s, to the losses she experiences that lead her to the small Central American village of La Esperanza, to owning and running the hotel La Llorona. There are vignettes about her life and the people she comes into contact with over her years of learning and growing.
There were times I honestly forgot that this was a fictional tale. The people and situations seem so real and vividly drawn, it is definitely obvious that the author has lived in Central America as the culture and the experiences of an American expat seem to flow naturally.
The descriptions of La Esperanza made me feel as if I was there. I got a clear picture in my head of the setting and it felt like such a real place I really wish I could visit. But alas, it doesn't exist outside of Maynard's imagination.
There are many astute observations about people and their motivations, about friendship, love, loss, betrayal, and found family. This is a book that can be slowly savored with its chapters each delivering a kind of short story that melds together in the end to present a whole picture. Maynard has a beautiful way with words that captivates the reader and draws a person into the immersive tale.
It's not a perfect book, there are some really convenient things that happen (especially toward the end) and those kind of made me roll my eyes a bit. Yet overall, it's completely worth reading and a wonderful adventure for those who want to go on a journey in a book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
"Everyone I ever met who came here was on some kind of quest. They didn't always find what they were looking for. But they usually find what they need."
This is a sweeping saga, the story of Irene and the journey her life takes from growing up in New York in the 1970s, to the losses she experiences that lead her to the small Central American village of La Esperanza, to owning and running the hotel La Llorona. There are vignettes about her life and the people she comes into contact with over her years of learning and growing.
There were times I honestly forgot that this was a fictional tale. The people and situations seem so real and vividly drawn, it is definitely obvious that the author has lived in Central America as the culture and the experiences of an American expat seem to flow naturally.
The descriptions of La Esperanza made me feel as if I was there. I got a clear picture in my head of the setting and it felt like such a real place I really wish I could visit. But alas, it doesn't exist outside of Maynard's imagination.
There are many astute observations about people and their motivations, about friendship, love, loss, betrayal, and found family. This is a book that can be slowly savored with its chapters each delivering a kind of short story that melds together in the end to present a whole picture. Maynard has a beautiful way with words that captivates the reader and draws a person into the immersive tale.
It's not a perfect book, there are some really convenient things that happen (especially toward the end) and those kind of made me roll my eyes a bit. Yet overall, it's completely worth reading and a wonderful adventure for those who want to go on a journey in a book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
May 2, 2023
Irene has suffered loss in her life. Her early childhood was spent traveling along with her mother sleeping in tents or motels if they were lucky, while attending music festivals. But then her mother was gone, and her grandmother raised her. As an adult, she suffered a life changing, devastating, heartbreaking tragedy. She left her home in San Francisco and found herself a guest in a crumbling lakefront hotel called La Llorona at the base of a volcano in Central America. She is welcomed by the lovely woman who owned the hotel. She was given a place to heal, to reconnect with nature, to get some sleep and to form bonds.
Soon Irene finds herself running the hotel. She embraces those who stay at the hotel as they equally embrace her. She finds peace, she makes friends, she welcomes others, she accepts and is accepted, and she finds her "family".
The vivid and lush descriptions of the landscape, the lake, the volcano, the birds, and the flowers had me wanting to visit. To taste the mouthwatering meals, to hike, to unwind and relax. It's a beautiful place, but not everyone in this book is as lovely as the land they live on.
This book touches on themes of family, finding your family/community, grief, loss, abandonment, love, nature, and home. I enjoyed Maynard's beautiful writing and characters. There is character development and I enjoyed seeing Irene through many stages of her life. I experienced several emotions while reading this book. I felt for Irene and all the loses in her life, I celebrated with her when good things happened, I felt joy when she was happy, and I was angry there was betrayal in her life. I loved books the evoke emotion and are thought provoking. This book did both!
Readers also get introduced to many of her guests who stay at The Bird Hotel as Irene has named it. We learn their reasons for staying at the hotel, and we get to know them briefly.
I had only read one other book by Joyce Maynard, and I will be changing that! I look forward to reading some of her previous books while being on the lookout for future books.
Beautifully written, moving, thought provoking and evoking emotion.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Skyhorse Publishing, Arcade and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Soon Irene finds herself running the hotel. She embraces those who stay at the hotel as they equally embrace her. She finds peace, she makes friends, she welcomes others, she accepts and is accepted, and she finds her "family".
The vivid and lush descriptions of the landscape, the lake, the volcano, the birds, and the flowers had me wanting to visit. To taste the mouthwatering meals, to hike, to unwind and relax. It's a beautiful place, but not everyone in this book is as lovely as the land they live on.
This book touches on themes of family, finding your family/community, grief, loss, abandonment, love, nature, and home. I enjoyed Maynard's beautiful writing and characters. There is character development and I enjoyed seeing Irene through many stages of her life. I experienced several emotions while reading this book. I felt for Irene and all the loses in her life, I celebrated with her when good things happened, I felt joy when she was happy, and I was angry there was betrayal in her life. I loved books the evoke emotion and are thought provoking. This book did both!
Readers also get introduced to many of her guests who stay at The Bird Hotel as Irene has named it. We learn their reasons for staying at the hotel, and we get to know them briefly.
I had only read one other book by Joyce Maynard, and I will be changing that! I look forward to reading some of her previous books while being on the lookout for future books.
Beautifully written, moving, thought provoking and evoking emotion.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Skyhorse Publishing, Arcade and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 24, 2024
How do I even begin to describe this novel?
It feels like a celebration of place and a woman’s journey to finding her own place to feel like she finally belongs, can understand herself – her past and present world.
But to get there, it wasn’t an easy journey for us readers. (Well, me.)
It felt so sad, and full of loss and trauma and grief as the story begins. I wasn’t even sure I could continue – was I in the mood to read so much tragedy for its characters?
Especially as I have been navigating my own losses. Although not human, they were my fur children, Owen and Sadie. And, to lose two within a month of each other, was heartbreaking and devastating.
But as I continued to read, I saw and felt my own sense of healing. Sometimes it is good to talk about it, to confide in others that things don’t feel perfect. And when this occurred through the book, it helped me, too.
For the main character, Irene it seemed that the traumatic beginning guided her to La Llorona. A place that could give her peace and tranquility. Something lacking before.
So, I asked earlier, how do I describe this book?
It feels like it is a book about what comes after loss…healing – self-discovery – belonging. Perhaps even joy.
Through this journey, this hotel, she re-learns how to put the pieces of her life together.
Thought-provoking. Thoughtful. Beautifully written. Emotional.
It may not be an easy journey, but it is one – with a subtle feeling of magical realism.
The author chose to write from a point of view of a woman – not to unlike herself – who experiences a Latin/indigenous culture as a foreigner. An experience she had lived for over 20 years.
And thus, this story came to fruition.
Maynard in her life, is an author, who became a part-time innkeeper, when during the pandemic, hired locals in a Guatemalan village to turn her writing retreat into a guesthouse. A special place for writing. For hosting writing retreats. A place to finish this novel. And, a hotel she learned to run. It is not surprising that art imitated life in this book.
It feels like a celebration of place and a woman’s journey to finding her own place to feel like she finally belongs, can understand herself – her past and present world.
But to get there, it wasn’t an easy journey for us readers. (Well, me.)
It felt so sad, and full of loss and trauma and grief as the story begins. I wasn’t even sure I could continue – was I in the mood to read so much tragedy for its characters?
Especially as I have been navigating my own losses. Although not human, they were my fur children, Owen and Sadie. And, to lose two within a month of each other, was heartbreaking and devastating.
But as I continued to read, I saw and felt my own sense of healing. Sometimes it is good to talk about it, to confide in others that things don’t feel perfect. And when this occurred through the book, it helped me, too.
For the main character, Irene it seemed that the traumatic beginning guided her to La Llorona. A place that could give her peace and tranquility. Something lacking before.
So, I asked earlier, how do I describe this book?
It feels like it is a book about what comes after loss…healing – self-discovery – belonging. Perhaps even joy.
Through this journey, this hotel, she re-learns how to put the pieces of her life together.
Thought-provoking. Thoughtful. Beautifully written. Emotional.
It may not be an easy journey, but it is one – with a subtle feeling of magical realism.
The author chose to write from a point of view of a woman – not to unlike herself – who experiences a Latin/indigenous culture as a foreigner. An experience she had lived for over 20 years.
And thus, this story came to fruition.
Maynard in her life, is an author, who became a part-time innkeeper, when during the pandemic, hired locals in a Guatemalan village to turn her writing retreat into a guesthouse. A special place for writing. For hosting writing retreats. A place to finish this novel. And, a hotel she learned to run. It is not surprising that art imitated life in this book.
April 11, 2023
Take a trip to La Liorona.. a hotel in Central America surrounded by a lake and in the shadow of a volcano. You won’t want to leave the hotel or this village.
Irene’s story of her journey from San Francisco and how she ends up at this beautiful place with these wonderful people is incredible and just filled with so many emotions.
This story spans four decades so it is quite long.. but I enjoyed every minute!
I love this author’s writing!
Thank you to Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing Arcade for the ARC!
Irene’s story of her journey from San Francisco and how she ends up at this beautiful place with these wonderful people is incredible and just filled with so many emotions.
This story spans four decades so it is quite long.. but I enjoyed every minute!
I love this author’s writing!
Thank you to Netgalley and Skyhorse Publishing Arcade for the ARC!
March 3, 2023
’You might call this story a fairy tale, or a fantasy, or just a dream. The part about the power of love—and the capacity of those who experience its effects to accomplish what might otherwise seem impossible—is real and true.’
This is a story of life-altering events, and how they can change us in many ways. Lift us up, bring joy or comfort. They can destroy us, as well, or perhaps cause us to destroy ourselves. This story begins in San Francisco, but it doesn’t stay there very long, and then wanders back in time to the beginning to share this story of love, loss and despair. A story of reinventing oneself to hide from the pain, and a story of a search for the truth, and peace.
Joyce Maynard’s story spans four decades, weaving in and out of Irene’s life over the years. As this story begins, Irene is living in San Francisco an artist who began her career by drawing medical illustrations for work, but draws on her own time for herself, to get lost in the art rather than her memories.
But that is not, technically, when Irene’s life begins. This goes back and forth across time, returning to her childhood sometime around in the 1960s, when as a child she attended Woodstock with her mother and her mother’s then boyfriend - who isn’t in the picture long. This will be a pattern.
This is an enchanting story, at times, especially as the story returns to Irene’s desire to leave her life behind for a new life leads her to La Liorona, a hotel that has seen better days, in Central America. A place where the beauty of nature surrounds her, including a lake, and which lies in the shadow of a volcano. And even though she didn’t exactly plan to be there, she finds herself becoming more and more herself as she leaves behind the memories she’d rather not revisit of her former life.
A beautiful story about life and love, set in a village which shares an aura of magic, and shared through beautiful, simple prose which capture a tangible sense of love and hope.
Pub Date: 02 May 2023
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Skyhorse Publishing, Arcade
May 17, 2023
Welcome to La Llorona, whose name may translate to weeping woman, but the only tears you’ll shed during your stay is at the sheer magnitude of beauty that surrounds you.
On your boat ride across Lago La Paz, you’ll be treated to miles of clear turquoise water as far as the eye can see.
From the moment you disembark at the dock in La Esperanza — the word itself means hope — you’ll be given a warm welcome to our small Mayan village and brought directly to La Llorona.
Irene and her staff promise to overwhelm you in every aspect of quality, service, and design during your stay.
Our property perches on the hillside above the lake in the shadow of El Feugo, our active volcano.
We encourage you to stroll the grounds and enjoy the gardens peppered with lemon, pomegranate, banana, and papaya trees. Sculptures of monkeys and jaguars carved from local stone are tucked among the orchids, lilies, ginger, bougainvillea, jasmine, and gardenia that perfume the air.
Farm-to-table dining on our patio allows for not only incomparable views of the volcano, a handful of small fishing boats dotting the lake, and the surrounding towns that sparkle in the night, but also access to the area’s famous prevailing breezes.
From dawn to dusk, Chef Maria’s cuisine reflects the various influences in local tropical fruits, vegetables, and spices. Start your day with freshly ground coffee, blue corn tortillas, local cheese, fried plantains, and eggs made to order.
Guests are invited to enjoy the intimacy of candlelight dining on shrimp as big as your hand and freshly harvested vegetables, amid the unique sound of birds, breeze, and the sight of orange and pink sunsets. Truly, every meal at La Llorona is an unforgettable event.
Mirabel will ensure that your room is pristine, the handwoven textiles on your bed are made up by the time you return from breakfast, and a fire is lit in your fireplace before you are ready to retire each evening.
Fall asleep to the sound of the lake water lapping the shore and awaken to a chorus of birds serenading you at the first glimmer of morning light.
La Llorona is the ideal destination to disconnect and recharge, surrounded by nature and in harmony with sustainable living. An extraordinary getaway awaits you.
꧁♡꧂꧁♡꧂♡꧁♡꧂♡꧁♡꧂꧁♡꧂
Ready to book your stay? Me, too!
Sadly, the only way to visit La Llarona is within the pages of The Bird Hotel, the enchanting new release by New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard.
Hey, with the cost of airfare these days, maybe we’re actually at an advantage.
Armchair travel with me and let’s explore La Llorona’s lush beauty and its colorful cast of characters together.
On your boat ride across Lago La Paz, you’ll be treated to miles of clear turquoise water as far as the eye can see.
From the moment you disembark at the dock in La Esperanza — the word itself means hope — you’ll be given a warm welcome to our small Mayan village and brought directly to La Llorona.
Irene and her staff promise to overwhelm you in every aspect of quality, service, and design during your stay.
Our property perches on the hillside above the lake in the shadow of El Feugo, our active volcano.
We encourage you to stroll the grounds and enjoy the gardens peppered with lemon, pomegranate, banana, and papaya trees. Sculptures of monkeys and jaguars carved from local stone are tucked among the orchids, lilies, ginger, bougainvillea, jasmine, and gardenia that perfume the air.
Farm-to-table dining on our patio allows for not only incomparable views of the volcano, a handful of small fishing boats dotting the lake, and the surrounding towns that sparkle in the night, but also access to the area’s famous prevailing breezes.
From dawn to dusk, Chef Maria’s cuisine reflects the various influences in local tropical fruits, vegetables, and spices. Start your day with freshly ground coffee, blue corn tortillas, local cheese, fried plantains, and eggs made to order.
Guests are invited to enjoy the intimacy of candlelight dining on shrimp as big as your hand and freshly harvested vegetables, amid the unique sound of birds, breeze, and the sight of orange and pink sunsets. Truly, every meal at La Llorona is an unforgettable event.
Mirabel will ensure that your room is pristine, the handwoven textiles on your bed are made up by the time you return from breakfast, and a fire is lit in your fireplace before you are ready to retire each evening.
Fall asleep to the sound of the lake water lapping the shore and awaken to a chorus of birds serenading you at the first glimmer of morning light.
La Llorona is the ideal destination to disconnect and recharge, surrounded by nature and in harmony with sustainable living. An extraordinary getaway awaits you.
꧁♡꧂꧁♡꧂♡꧁♡꧂♡꧁♡꧂꧁♡꧂
Ready to book your stay? Me, too!
Sadly, the only way to visit La Llarona is within the pages of The Bird Hotel, the enchanting new release by New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard.
Hey, with the cost of airfare these days, maybe we’re actually at an advantage.
Armchair travel with me and let’s explore La Llorona’s lush beauty and its colorful cast of characters together.
August 20, 2023
That was just wonderful in every way!
Some people seem to have tragedy follow their every footstep. Such a person was Irene, a child born to a hippie mother, a father she never knew, and a world where she was carted around like an extra piece of baggage. So was it any wonder that Irene, when she lost her grandmother and two people she so loved, that she too, picked up the life of a wanderer.
Going nowhere, suffering losses so tragic, she wonders what life has to offer, and then she discovers La Llorona, a run down town, and a hotel at the base of a volcano. Now she seems to have found her way forward and with help from the townspeople and the owner of the hotel, she is able to see a bit of sunshine in a life so filled with darkness.
So many people come into Irene's life and through the eloquent prose, of Joyce Maynard, we learn of them and of Irene's former life. There is more tragedy, more longings for love, more finding that thing that drives her and all people forward in the valley of tragedy and grief.
This was a fantastic story, one of those that you didn't want to see end. After finding out the many hardships the author had in her life, (from Jan), I could understand all of what I read was a large shadow of Joyce's life.
Definitely, one of my top ten books of 2023, and a big thank you to Jan for enjoying this books with me.
Some people seem to have tragedy follow their every footstep. Such a person was Irene, a child born to a hippie mother, a father she never knew, and a world where she was carted around like an extra piece of baggage. So was it any wonder that Irene, when she lost her grandmother and two people she so loved, that she too, picked up the life of a wanderer.
Going nowhere, suffering losses so tragic, she wonders what life has to offer, and then she discovers La Llorona, a run down town, and a hotel at the base of a volcano. Now she seems to have found her way forward and with help from the townspeople and the owner of the hotel, she is able to see a bit of sunshine in a life so filled with darkness.
So many people come into Irene's life and through the eloquent prose, of Joyce Maynard, we learn of them and of Irene's former life. There is more tragedy, more longings for love, more finding that thing that drives her and all people forward in the valley of tragedy and grief.
This was a fantastic story, one of those that you didn't want to see end. After finding out the many hardships the author had in her life, (from Jan), I could understand all of what I read was a large shadow of Joyce's life.
Definitely, one of my top ten books of 2023, and a big thank you to Jan for enjoying this books with me.
January 22, 2024
Joyce Maynard's novel, The Bird Hotel is a story of loss and recovery and resilience. She quickly puts me in La Esperanza (the town) and I feel at home in La Llorona (the hotel where our protagonist comes to live). I appreciate her themes which in addition to the above include the impact of outsiders on an indigenous population and environmentalism.
What doesn't work for me is the sheer number of bad things that happen, the predictability, the occasional straying into sappiness, and the need to accept coincidences and improbabilities.
Maynard does share hard earned wisdom from her own life with her characters. These are words I strive to live by (sometimes more successfully than others), and I am encouraged to see them as central to Maynard's messaging.
“The thing you have to learn is to accept the changes when they come. Welcome them if you can. See what they bring to your life that wasn’t there before.”
"It's probably a good reminder: Nothing beautiful lasts forever. We need to take joy in what comes our way instead of mourning when it's over."
Publication 2023
What doesn't work for me is the sheer number of bad things that happen, the predictability, the occasional straying into sappiness, and the need to accept coincidences and improbabilities.
Maynard does share hard earned wisdom from her own life with her characters. These are words I strive to live by (sometimes more successfully than others), and I am encouraged to see them as central to Maynard's messaging.
“The thing you have to learn is to accept the changes when they come. Welcome them if you can. See what they bring to your life that wasn’t there before.”
"It's probably a good reminder: Nothing beautiful lasts forever. We need to take joy in what comes our way instead of mourning when it's over."
Publication 2023
November 15, 2024
a most interesting fun read.
I was looking back to try to find whose review of this book I recently read. A friend here on GoodReads gave it a glowing review and I'd never read a Maynard book. It was the title and the setting in Mexico that sounded so beautiful as the days get shorter and colder here in the Northeast. It sounded just what I needed. That and there is a Northern Flicker peaking holes in our beautiful house, so I had birds on my mind.
This was a great book for lots of reasons. Not without its flaws but I am positive I will be picking up another Maynard book before too long, as I loved how it carried me on wings (i couldn't resist the pun) flying through its pages in just three days. The audio is read by Maynard herself. At first I wasn't sure of her voice but she is an excellent reader and it grew on me. I also had the print from the library and did read much of it, including at least the last 1/3.
From the get go I knew it was a tragic type story about a woman who grows and finds a way to love and live again. It is very sad but with such a bright day in the future the reader knows is coming. I would call this a romance but a romance about life, not so much about sexual relationships but the ones that provide the beauty in life. The relationships that give a life its meaning--both good and bad. (Other readers give wonderful summaries of the plot elsewhere so I'm not repeating them).
I loved this story. It was such a great read. Maybe a little chick lit and cheesy at moments and some coincidence that was a little too easy to hold pieces together but I still give it 5 stars for all I enjoyed about it. A wonderful book that brought a lot of sunshine into my life on these short days with birds singing and pecking in the background.
I was looking back to try to find whose review of this book I recently read. A friend here on GoodReads gave it a glowing review and I'd never read a Maynard book. It was the title and the setting in Mexico that sounded so beautiful as the days get shorter and colder here in the Northeast. It sounded just what I needed. That and there is a Northern Flicker peaking holes in our beautiful house, so I had birds on my mind.
This was a great book for lots of reasons. Not without its flaws but I am positive I will be picking up another Maynard book before too long, as I loved how it carried me on wings (i couldn't resist the pun) flying through its pages in just three days. The audio is read by Maynard herself. At first I wasn't sure of her voice but she is an excellent reader and it grew on me. I also had the print from the library and did read much of it, including at least the last 1/3.
From the get go I knew it was a tragic type story about a woman who grows and finds a way to love and live again. It is very sad but with such a bright day in the future the reader knows is coming. I would call this a romance but a romance about life, not so much about sexual relationships but the ones that provide the beauty in life. The relationships that give a life its meaning--both good and bad. (Other readers give wonderful summaries of the plot elsewhere so I'm not repeating them).
I loved this story. It was such a great read. Maybe a little chick lit and cheesy at moments and some coincidence that was a little too easy to hold pieces together but I still give it 5 stars for all I enjoyed about it. A wonderful book that brought a lot of sunshine into my life on these short days with birds singing and pecking in the background.
January 16, 2025
No words— just the literary afterglow of a most lovely book.
May 10, 2023
What is going on between the covers
Hiding from a past she doesn't understand, and trying to escape the pain from a tragedy, Irene finds herself at the beautiful but decaying hotel La Llorona. A place where a person can start off fresh, or anyone who wants to escape their life will find no better hotel than this one to check into. She develops a connection with the friendly woman who runs the place and sees her need to find a way to survive her pain.
"You may not find what you're looking for when you come to this lake," she'd told me. "But you'll probably find what you need."
The story spans four decades, and along the way, we meet a rich assortment of characters who live in the village or come to stay at the hotel, searching for something or a place to escape.
Themes include loss/grief, reinventing yourself, self-discovery, searching for the truth, finding peace for the past, having the courage to heal and love again while making sense of the present, and seeing where the future is going.
The Bird Hotel makes for a great Summer Read, as one of the story's strengths is how Joyce Maynard creates a vivid sense of place for a charming exotic setting that allows us to travel there ourselves and share the character's experiences. The story is set at a lakefront hotel in a fictional area in Central America near La Esperanza. Joyce Maynard draws from her knowledge and experience from her own property in paradise in a similar location. The story's description of the lake, flowers, birds, volcano, and area creates an atmosphere, tone, and mood, and it's hard not to fall in love with the hotel and the memorable characters who live there or come and go.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Hiding from a past she doesn't understand, and trying to escape the pain from a tragedy, Irene finds herself at the beautiful but decaying hotel La Llorona. A place where a person can start off fresh, or anyone who wants to escape their life will find no better hotel than this one to check into. She develops a connection with the friendly woman who runs the place and sees her need to find a way to survive her pain.
"You may not find what you're looking for when you come to this lake," she'd told me. "But you'll probably find what you need."
The story spans four decades, and along the way, we meet a rich assortment of characters who live in the village or come to stay at the hotel, searching for something or a place to escape.
Themes include loss/grief, reinventing yourself, self-discovery, searching for the truth, finding peace for the past, having the courage to heal and love again while making sense of the present, and seeing where the future is going.
The Bird Hotel makes for a great Summer Read, as one of the story's strengths is how Joyce Maynard creates a vivid sense of place for a charming exotic setting that allows us to travel there ourselves and share the character's experiences. The story is set at a lakefront hotel in a fictional area in Central America near La Esperanza. Joyce Maynard draws from her knowledge and experience from her own property in paradise in a similar location. The story's description of the lake, flowers, birds, volcano, and area creates an atmosphere, tone, and mood, and it's hard not to fall in love with the hotel and the memorable characters who live there or come and go.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
May 27, 2023
"The Bird Hotel" is a beautiful refuge that our heroine (Irene) finds when she is fleeing from tragedy in her life. She had been happily married with a small son, living in San Francisco, when her life goes awry. Her impulse is to run as far away as she can, which leads her to the village of La Esperanza in an unnamed Central American country (My guess is Guatemala). So begins a story of Irene's life there as well as the past she left behind. La Esperanza features a large lake and a looming volcano. The villagers who live there are indigenous Mayans. They share their village with assorted foreign hippies, seekers and tourists who are attracted to the area.
The story is written in short chapters - a style I like. The writing itself is smart, sometimes whimsical and can seem like a fantasy. The author though, does not hesitate to balance this charm with some harsh realities. (Rape, betrayal, accidents and death all happen.) At times, the story seems like a telenovela. Readers will get to know Irene and all of the people she comes into contact with - the Mayan family who works at the hotel, hotel guests and people living in the village.
Like Irene, I found Le Esperanza to be enchanting and did not want to leave there at the book's end.
In the author's note at the end, Maynard wrote that she has a second home in Guatemala. Here are photos from her website. https://casapalomaretreat.com/
*5-25-23 Update: Here is a new video of the author discussing her book and her life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsqyA...
The story is written in short chapters - a style I like. The writing itself is smart, sometimes whimsical and can seem like a fantasy. The author though, does not hesitate to balance this charm with some harsh realities. (Rape, betrayal, accidents and death all happen.) At times, the story seems like a telenovela. Readers will get to know Irene and all of the people she comes into contact with - the Mayan family who works at the hotel, hotel guests and people living in the village.
Like Irene, I found Le Esperanza to be enchanting and did not want to leave there at the book's end.
In the author's note at the end, Maynard wrote that she has a second home in Guatemala. Here are photos from her website. https://casapalomaretreat.com/
*5-25-23 Update: Here is a new video of the author discussing her book and her life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsqyA...
August 19, 2023
4.5 🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋
For me, this is Joyce Maynard at her best and made me question how/why I gave her last book one star.
With this one I was in tropical paradise start to finish, compelled to slow down and take my time through the pages, impossible to rush through. When I started, I was a sad lump of reading clay, and then the potters wheel began slowly turning, and gentle, expert hands started molding and shaping. By the end I had been expertly turned, painted, fired, and was glazed with love.
For me, this is Joyce Maynard at her best and made me question how/why I gave her last book one star.
With this one I was in tropical paradise start to finish, compelled to slow down and take my time through the pages, impossible to rush through. When I started, I was a sad lump of reading clay, and then the potters wheel began slowly turning, and gentle, expert hands started molding and shaping. By the end I had been expertly turned, painted, fired, and was glazed with love.
April 6, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Literary Fiction
The Bird Hotel is narrated from its protagonist Irene’s perspective. Irene, previously known as Joan, grows up with her grandmother, and both try to hide their identities from the world because of something terrible Irene’s mother has done or was a part of. The story follows Irene’s life journey from childhood until her forties and all the hardships she goes through, be it a family loss, betrayal from those she thought were friends, or deceptions from a love interest.
The main character’s life takes a different turn when she moves to a small village and stays at a hotel called La Llorona. She gets acquainted with the owner, Leila, and they become very good friends. Until one day the hotel becomes her. Irene will know many people there who will support her and also those who will deceive her. Through her eyes, we get to see all the sadness, loneliness, and beauty of the place.
This is the second book I read by the author Joyce Maynard, and I absolutely love her poetic writing style. She is very talented at creating vivid images and captivating stories. The Bird Hotel is a fantastic story. I always love it when, as a reader, I get to follow a character through his life journey. The author’s writing will make you feel all the different emotions of the character. Sometimes I felt very sorry for her, and at times I felt the main character acted too naively (signing a document without reading it).
I think the biggest drawback of this novel for me was the many characters that kept coming and going. Some of them were significant and had an impact on the story and the life of the main protagonist, and others were just forgettable. It will be hard for some readers to remember or keep track of all the characters. However, I feel the positives in this story outweigh any negatives. The beautiful description, the writing style, and the subjects tackled made this novel such a fascinating read.
After finishing this book, I'm still experiencing feelings of melancholy, and I can't explain why. I have the feeling that my mind is still engulfed in the atmosphere of the narrative. This book touches on a wide variety of topics, which is rather impressive. A few examples are the loss of a loved one, betrayal, love, grief, and sorrow. The narrative came to a satisfying conclusion, which was extremely nice. I feel that everything has come together quite well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Genre: Literary Fiction
The Bird Hotel is narrated from its protagonist Irene’s perspective. Irene, previously known as Joan, grows up with her grandmother, and both try to hide their identities from the world because of something terrible Irene’s mother has done or was a part of. The story follows Irene’s life journey from childhood until her forties and all the hardships she goes through, be it a family loss, betrayal from those she thought were friends, or deceptions from a love interest.
The main character’s life takes a different turn when she moves to a small village and stays at a hotel called La Llorona. She gets acquainted with the owner, Leila, and they become very good friends. Until one day the hotel becomes her. Irene will know many people there who will support her and also those who will deceive her. Through her eyes, we get to see all the sadness, loneliness, and beauty of the place.
This is the second book I read by the author Joyce Maynard, and I absolutely love her poetic writing style. She is very talented at creating vivid images and captivating stories. The Bird Hotel is a fantastic story. I always love it when, as a reader, I get to follow a character through his life journey. The author’s writing will make you feel all the different emotions of the character. Sometimes I felt very sorry for her, and at times I felt the main character acted too naively (signing a document without reading it).
I think the biggest drawback of this novel for me was the many characters that kept coming and going. Some of them were significant and had an impact on the story and the life of the main protagonist, and others were just forgettable. It will be hard for some readers to remember or keep track of all the characters. However, I feel the positives in this story outweigh any negatives. The beautiful description, the writing style, and the subjects tackled made this novel such a fascinating read.
After finishing this book, I'm still experiencing feelings of melancholy, and I can't explain why. I have the feeling that my mind is still engulfed in the atmosphere of the narrative. This book touches on a wide variety of topics, which is rather impressive. A few examples are the loss of a loved one, betrayal, love, grief, and sorrow. The narrative came to a satisfying conclusion, which was extremely nice. I feel that everything has come together quite well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
June 8, 2023
You will rise once again
This is a story about how certain experiences can completely change our lives. These events can make us feel happy and comforted, or they can hurt us and make us do harmful things. Some parts of the story were a bit long and felt unnecessary and the book could have done with a few less pages.
Beautifully written with vivid descriptions. It evoked both heartbreak and inspiration. Joyce Maynard once again delivers an exceptional novel that shines brightly.
This is a story about how certain experiences can completely change our lives. These events can make us feel happy and comforted, or they can hurt us and make us do harmful things. Some parts of the story were a bit long and felt unnecessary and the book could have done with a few less pages.
Beautifully written with vivid descriptions. It evoked both heartbreak and inspiration. Joyce Maynard once again delivers an exceptional novel that shines brightly.
September 10, 2024
I have been trying to decide how I feel about this book. I think I feel indifferent.
The beginning had me and I was hooked, then it kind of lost me with all the characters and their stories. I wanted to get invested in this book but I just couldn't attach.
I honestly love her writing, I could picture the island and volcano so vividly. It just kept shifting too much for me and too slowly. I loved her book Let Me Count The Ways, so I was expecting to get attached like I did with that one.
To me, this was like a lazy day, sit outside in the sun and take your time kind of read. It's cold here in New England right now so it just didn't' give me the feel I was looking for.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
The beginning had me and I was hooked, then it kind of lost me with all the characters and their stories. I wanted to get invested in this book but I just couldn't attach.
I honestly love her writing, I could picture the island and volcano so vividly. It just kept shifting too much for me and too slowly. I loved her book Let Me Count The Ways, so I was expecting to get attached like I did with that one.
To me, this was like a lazy day, sit outside in the sun and take your time kind of read. It's cold here in New England right now so it just didn't' give me the feel I was looking for.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
December 28, 2023
This was a 5 star read for me, despite the fact that there were a few distracting parts of the narrative that seemed a little confusing, incidents in one chapter that seemed to be ignored in later chapters. That kind of thing usually drives me crazy and has me deducting a star or 2, but this book had such a fairy tale quality that I ignored them to concentrate on the the story at hand. The birds, the flowers, the village and 4 room hotel in the middle of nowhere somewhere in Central America; I'd book a room right now if it really existed.
As it was, I got to spend a few days there between the pages of this novel. The prose had a beautiful, meandering quality that made it a perfect read for a busy holiday season. I was immersed when I picked it up to read, but happy to take a break to let events gel in my mind. The ending was perfect too, in its way, answering a few questions but creating a few more. The Bird Hotel is my new "happy place" when I find I need one. A place with great food, great cocktails, loyal friends, magnificent scenery and fresh air. Of course there were betrayals and bad people, because what's a fairy tale without those things to make it interesting? But any tragedy can be overcome if you just remember that nothing lasts forever. That things change is the only constant you can count on, enjoy what's now while it's here.
This goes on my favorites list. It was a great way to end the 2023 reading year.
As it was, I got to spend a few days there between the pages of this novel. The prose had a beautiful, meandering quality that made it a perfect read for a busy holiday season. I was immersed when I picked it up to read, but happy to take a break to let events gel in my mind. The ending was perfect too, in its way, answering a few questions but creating a few more. The Bird Hotel is my new "happy place" when I find I need one. A place with great food, great cocktails, loyal friends, magnificent scenery and fresh air. Of course there were betrayals and bad people, because what's a fairy tale without those things to make it interesting? But any tragedy can be overcome if you just remember that nothing lasts forever. That things change is the only constant you can count on, enjoy what's now while it's here.
This goes on my favorites list. It was a great way to end the 2023 reading year.
April 16, 2023
Irene has had a life full of tragedy. She’s lost everyone she ever loved, and now she’s done with her life. The opening of this novel gripped me with her emotional story, and I was eager to find out how she would move on.
Irene accidentally ends up in a remote hotel in Mexico, and she spends the next 16 years living as someone else. The middle half of the book is full of short vignettes about every person Irene meets – the villagers and foreign travelers. Most of these stories are not connected to anything. There are two detailed descriptions of women getting sexually assaulted. Why? I guess to illustrate that “every paradise has its serpents.” But none of these stories really involves Irene directly. And I actually forgot her name by the end of it, she was such a sideline character for most of the novel.
At the end, we do come back to Irene’s story, but the way it is resolved is so detached. The prose is easy, but not emotionally engaging. The bookends contain a great story, but it wasn’t fleshed out. And diving deep into the backstories of all the minor characters made the story weaker.
I received a digital review copy via NetGalley.
CW: sexual assault, death of child
Irene accidentally ends up in a remote hotel in Mexico, and she spends the next 16 years living as someone else. The middle half of the book is full of short vignettes about every person Irene meets – the villagers and foreign travelers. Most of these stories are not connected to anything. There are two detailed descriptions of women getting sexually assaulted. Why? I guess to illustrate that “every paradise has its serpents.” But none of these stories really involves Irene directly. And I actually forgot her name by the end of it, she was such a sideline character for most of the novel.
At the end, we do come back to Irene’s story, but the way it is resolved is so detached. The prose is easy, but not emotionally engaging. The bookends contain a great story, but it wasn’t fleshed out. And diving deep into the backstories of all the minor characters made the story weaker.
I received a digital review copy via NetGalley.
CW: sexual assault, death of child
October 9, 2025
3.5 stars. I'm in the midst of a Long Book Challenge, so with little time for writing reviews, I'll just say this:
Reading this felt the way I think a Hallmark movie would feel. This included: sweet unexpected (🙄) moments, people unexpectedly (🙄) falling in love, unexpected (🙄) secrets revealed, and then there was that final unexpected (🙄) moment (😱 what a shock!)
The writing was quite good. But I'm sad to say that—for me, at least—nothing in this book seemed "unexpected". Well, to be honest, there was one unexpected thing—when I realised early on, and with a great deal of disappointment, that this was simply a piece of contemporary "chick-lit" fiction.
This was my first Joyne Maynard read but, somehow, I expected much more from her.🙁 If I wasn't reading this as part of a reading challenge, I probably would have DNF'd it. (My apologies to the vast majority of Goodread-ers who loved this book. But please remember... "No two people will ever read the same book in the same way.")
3.5 “Life–is–too–short–to–read–a–bad–book” stars ⭐⭐⭐
LBC 2025: Book 1
Reading this felt the way I think a Hallmark movie would feel. This included: sweet unexpected (🙄) moments, people unexpectedly (🙄) falling in love, unexpected (🙄) secrets revealed, and then there was that final unexpected (🙄) moment (😱 what a shock!)
The writing was quite good. But I'm sad to say that—for me, at least—nothing in this book seemed "unexpected". Well, to be honest, there was one unexpected thing—when I realised early on, and with a great deal of disappointment, that this was simply a piece of contemporary "chick-lit" fiction.
This was my first Joyne Maynard read but, somehow, I expected much more from her.🙁 If I wasn't reading this as part of a reading challenge, I probably would have DNF'd it. (My apologies to the vast majority of Goodread-ers who loved this book. But please remember... "No two people will ever read the same book in the same way.")
3.5 “Life–is–too–short–to–read–a–bad–book” stars ⭐⭐⭐
LBC 2025: Book 1
June 17, 2023
Fun read. Always enjoy a Maynard book AND her narration. Good buddy ready with Dana. Obviously, most who read this would want to visit The Bird Hotel.
April 20, 2025
I took a picture of books I had sitting in a pile. I sent this picture to my friend and she immediately chose, The Bird Hotel, as my next pick. What a perfect pick it was!
A young lady from San Francisco, has been traumatized by events that she cannot mentally recover from . “I had worn the wrong shoes for walking. All I intended to do was jump.”
Thankfully, she doesn’t commit suicide but hops aboard onto a random bus. At the end of the journey, she ends up in Central America, at a downtrodden hotel at the base of a volcano. 🌋 And just as she is settling in, tragedy befalls her again.
The power of the human spirit is a beautiful thing. You do heal, you do recover and you do move forward. JM captures all of this perfectly. The writing was as decadent as the scenery. It truly was like the garden of Eden. The characters too, found a way to my heart. Walter…. Oh I loved that kid.
Read this if you like a messy human story that captures all the emotions. GR has this rated at 4.29 and I would safely say that is where I would land with this book as well.
And I have one final question that I hope someone can answer!
A young lady from San Francisco, has been traumatized by events that she cannot mentally recover from . “I had worn the wrong shoes for walking. All I intended to do was jump.”
Thankfully, she doesn’t commit suicide but hops aboard onto a random bus. At the end of the journey, she ends up in Central America, at a downtrodden hotel at the base of a volcano. 🌋 And just as she is settling in, tragedy befalls her again.
The power of the human spirit is a beautiful thing. You do heal, you do recover and you do move forward. JM captures all of this perfectly. The writing was as decadent as the scenery. It truly was like the garden of Eden. The characters too, found a way to my heart. Walter…. Oh I loved that kid.
Read this if you like a messy human story that captures all the emotions. GR has this rated at 4.29 and I would safely say that is where I would land with this book as well.
And I have one final question that I hope someone can answer!
August 19, 2023
3.5 Stars- This is a hard review for me because I love Joyce Maynard so much. But I had a hard time connecting to this book and there were just too many topics and characters constantly coming and going. I didn’t skim any parts but I found myself not wanting to pick up the book too often. I did love the description of the scenery at La Llorona and I did like how the ending wrapped everything up really well. Maybe my expectations were just way to high after reading her other recent book, Count the Ways, which is one of my all time favorite books ever!
September 28, 2023
What a wonderful novel!
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