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Bird in Hand
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and The Exiles comes a novel about the choices we make, how they shape our lives, and how they can change them forever.
Four people, two marriages, one lifelong Everything is about to change.
It was dark. It was raining. It was just an accident. On the drive home from a rare evening out, Alison collides with another car running a stop sign, and—just like that—her life turns upside down.
When she calls her husband, Charlie, from the police station, his accusatory tone reveals cracks in their relationship she’d never noticed were there. Now she notices everything. And she begins to realize that the life she carefully constructed for herself is as tenuous as a house of cards.
The only thing Charlie can focus on these days is his secret, sudden affair with Claire, Alison’s best friend. Bold where Alison is reserved, vibrant where Alison is cautious, Claire has just had her first novel published, a thinly veiled retelling of her childhood in North Carolina. But even in the whirlwind of publication, Claire can’t stop wondering if she should leave her husband, Ben, an ambitious architect who is brilliant, kind, and meticulous. And who wants nothing more than a baby, or two—exactly the kind of life that Charlie and Alison seem to have.
As they set out on their individual journeys, Alison, Charlie, Claire, and Ben explore the idea—each in his or her own way—that every moment of loss contains within it the possibility of a new life. Alternating through these four intertwined perspectives, Bird in Hand is an exquisitely written, powerful, and thrilling novel about love, friendship and betrayal, and about the secrets we tell ourselves and each other.
Four people, two marriages, one lifelong Everything is about to change.
It was dark. It was raining. It was just an accident. On the drive home from a rare evening out, Alison collides with another car running a stop sign, and—just like that—her life turns upside down.
When she calls her husband, Charlie, from the police station, his accusatory tone reveals cracks in their relationship she’d never noticed were there. Now she notices everything. And she begins to realize that the life she carefully constructed for herself is as tenuous as a house of cards.
The only thing Charlie can focus on these days is his secret, sudden affair with Claire, Alison’s best friend. Bold where Alison is reserved, vibrant where Alison is cautious, Claire has just had her first novel published, a thinly veiled retelling of her childhood in North Carolina. But even in the whirlwind of publication, Claire can’t stop wondering if she should leave her husband, Ben, an ambitious architect who is brilliant, kind, and meticulous. And who wants nothing more than a baby, or two—exactly the kind of life that Charlie and Alison seem to have.
As they set out on their individual journeys, Alison, Charlie, Claire, and Ben explore the idea—each in his or her own way—that every moment of loss contains within it the possibility of a new life. Alternating through these four intertwined perspectives, Bird in Hand is an exquisitely written, powerful, and thrilling novel about love, friendship and betrayal, and about the secrets we tell ourselves and each other.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2009
556 people are currently reading
5786 people want to read
About the author
Christina Baker Kline
25 books7,134 followersA #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, Poets & Writers, and Salon.
Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing. A resident of New York City and Southwest Harbor, Maine, she serves on the advisory boards of the Center for Fiction (NY), the Jesup Library (Bar Harbor, ME), the Montclair Literary Festival (NJ), the Kauai Writers Festival (HI), and Roots & Wings (NJ), and on the gala committees of Poets & Writers (NY), The Authors Guild (NY) and Friends of Acadia (ME). She is an Artist-Mentor for StudioDuke at Duke University and the BookEnds program at Stony Brook University.
Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing. A resident of New York City and Southwest Harbor, Maine, she serves on the advisory boards of the Center for Fiction (NY), the Jesup Library (Bar Harbor, ME), the Montclair Literary Festival (NJ), the Kauai Writers Festival (HI), and Roots & Wings (NJ), and on the gala committees of Poets & Writers (NY), The Authors Guild (NY) and Friends of Acadia (ME). She is an Artist-Mentor for StudioDuke at Duke University and the BookEnds program at Stony Brook University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 612 reviews
February 15, 2015
I always like to celebrate Valentine's Day by reading a novel about marriages falling apart.
June 24, 2017
Alison attends a party one evening and on her way home, her car collides with another and a little boy is killed. While she deals with the guilt and her own trauma, Alison expects to be able to turn to her best friend and her husband for help. But her relationship with her best friend has been estranged for months, and when she leans on her husband, she begins to see cracks in the relationship that she did not see before. As the months go on, Alison begins to question everything she once knew and doubts begin to rise to the surface.
“Bird in Hand” by Christina Baker Kline (author of “Orphan Train”) tells quite the gripping tale with this story of love, deception and family. Alison, her husband Charlie, her best friend Claire, and Claire’s husband Ben all become wrapped up in a web of deceit and betrayal that come to a head after the accident that changes Alison’s life.
Charlie and Claire are despicable characters. Horrible people that are completely untrustworthy, I spent the whole novel hoping they would be hit by a bus. Kline intends to make them look human and flawed, and I did get that as well, but my personal feelings for the two kept overpowering any semblance of humanity Kline was trying to portray in these two deplorable human beings. I was hopeful something horrendous would happen to the two of them at the end of the book but of course- it never does, does it?
The writing in this novel is obviously spot-on (to dredge up such feelings in a reader), and the story is developed very well. “Bird in Hand” is an honest, human story, one that is very relatable and emotionally charged. Although the ending did not go quite the way I planned (see above…there was no bus accident) it was satisfying and conclusive, bringing comfort to readers who were rooting for Ben and Alison throughout the novel.
Although very different from “Orphan Train”, this novel is still something worth exploring, a family-drama-fiction novel that will definitely generate emotions and bring to life the idea that one small flutter of a butterfly’s wings, can bring a tsunami to the surface.
“Bird in Hand” by Christina Baker Kline (author of “Orphan Train”) tells quite the gripping tale with this story of love, deception and family. Alison, her husband Charlie, her best friend Claire, and Claire’s husband Ben all become wrapped up in a web of deceit and betrayal that come to a head after the accident that changes Alison’s life.
Charlie and Claire are despicable characters. Horrible people that are completely untrustworthy, I spent the whole novel hoping they would be hit by a bus. Kline intends to make them look human and flawed, and I did get that as well, but my personal feelings for the two kept overpowering any semblance of humanity Kline was trying to portray in these two deplorable human beings. I was hopeful something horrendous would happen to the two of them at the end of the book but of course- it never does, does it?
The writing in this novel is obviously spot-on (to dredge up such feelings in a reader), and the story is developed very well. “Bird in Hand” is an honest, human story, one that is very relatable and emotionally charged. Although the ending did not go quite the way I planned (see above…there was no bus accident) it was satisfying and conclusive, bringing comfort to readers who were rooting for Ben and Alison throughout the novel.
Although very different from “Orphan Train”, this novel is still something worth exploring, a family-drama-fiction novel that will definitely generate emotions and bring to life the idea that one small flutter of a butterfly’s wings, can bring a tsunami to the surface.
October 31, 2013
I'm going to be blunt: I really, really hope Claire has a miserable life - one all alone, in her little fantasy world. What a sick, sick woman. I don't think she is capable of loving anyone, honestly. And Charlie? He's a brainless tool and I hope he regrets ever meeting Claire, let alone leaving his wife and kids. I can only hope Alison moves on to someone 1000x better and never allows Claire around her children, especially as long as she is stringing Charlie along by his leash. Yes - I, obviously, cannot stand a home-wrecker!
October 19, 2024
Catching up…
I had the opportunity to read this quite some time ago. Recently, the book was donated to my Little Free Library Shed, so I was able to re-visit it to provide this review.
This is a story about 4 people, partners in 2 marriages and also good friends. As readers we are given an inside view of all these characters – from their own perspective.
The story begins with Alison, who believes she is leading a perfect life. Until she is involved in an accident which changes everything for her.
“She was present and not present in her own life.”
We also meet Charlie, Alison’s husband; Claire, the published author and friend of Alison; and, Ben, Charlie’s successful husband.
Each character is well-developed and relatable, in such a way that readers can feel their feelings as well as our own as the story unfolds. And, as we watch these characters evolve, we can’t help but be curious how their stories will end. Or begin again.
The story is compelling, well-paced and feels true-to-life even if the ending feels a bit rushed.
I had the opportunity to read this quite some time ago. Recently, the book was donated to my Little Free Library Shed, so I was able to re-visit it to provide this review.
This is a story about 4 people, partners in 2 marriages and also good friends. As readers we are given an inside view of all these characters – from their own perspective.
The story begins with Alison, who believes she is leading a perfect life. Until she is involved in an accident which changes everything for her.
“She was present and not present in her own life.”
We also meet Charlie, Alison’s husband; Claire, the published author and friend of Alison; and, Ben, Charlie’s successful husband.
Each character is well-developed and relatable, in such a way that readers can feel their feelings as well as our own as the story unfolds. And, as we watch these characters evolve, we can’t help but be curious how their stories will end. Or begin again.
The story is compelling, well-paced and feels true-to-life even if the ending feels a bit rushed.
July 11, 2010
Not even sure why I finished this book other than it was easy to finish. A depressing book. None of the characters were likeable. If they had been, perhaps I could have empathized, but it just didn't happen.
March 17, 2013
The book starts out with a dramatic event. Alison is on her way home from a cocktail party when she is involved in a car accident that takes a child's life. She wasn't entirely at fault, but she was just over the legal limit of alcohol. Instead of support from her husband, she gets the cold shoulder and distant treatment. She begins to doubt the strength of her marriage and with good reason, but it shouldn't have taken the accident to make her see that her marriage is in trouble.
From there, the plot became predictable. Alison, her husband Charlie, her best friend Claire, and Claire's husband Ben are all good friends. Claire and Ben met in England during their studies and instantly become a couple. When Charlie comes along, Claire includes him in their circle, but for selfish reasons. She "loves" Ben but is attracted to Charlie although she keeps it well hidden. Claire's best friend since first grade visists Claire and Ben for a few days in England and Claire does her match-making with Alison and Charlie. It is her way of keeping Charlie in her life, and of course eventually Alison marries Charlie and Claire marries Ben. The two couples marry; Ben and Claire and Alison and Charlie and their friendship continues as they all move back to the states. You can guess what is going to happen.
It becomes apparent that Claire is the main character here. She is manipulative and selfish and dishonest, but at least she had some defining traits. Ben, Charlie, and Alison all seemed one dimensional with no passion or backbone; no defining traits to their personalities.
What I found disappointing in the book was that the dramatic opening of the car accident really wasn't an important part of the story. It wsa just a spring board for Alison to finally question her marriage. I also never really felt the connection of best friends between Alison and Claire. There was no history for me to draw upon. In the flashbacks that were confusing to me, the only connection I saw between the two women was the way Claire manipulated the meeting of Charlie and Alison. There were no memories of how the two interacted with each other growing up. No real sharing of that bond of friendship. The "best friends" concept never really seemed real to me and for that reason the betrayal of Claire wasn't a surprise and it didn't seem as much of a betrayal as just another selfish move on Claire's part. The ending of the story was too pat and tidy, but I did see that the author was trying to give Claire and Charlie their "just desserts". The book just fell flat for me. i didn't really get to know the characters so I didn't really care about their plights.
From there, the plot became predictable. Alison, her husband Charlie, her best friend Claire, and Claire's husband Ben are all good friends. Claire and Ben met in England during their studies and instantly become a couple. When Charlie comes along, Claire includes him in their circle, but for selfish reasons. She "loves" Ben but is attracted to Charlie although she keeps it well hidden. Claire's best friend since first grade visists Claire and Ben for a few days in England and Claire does her match-making with Alison and Charlie. It is her way of keeping Charlie in her life, and of course eventually Alison marries Charlie and Claire marries Ben. The two couples marry; Ben and Claire and Alison and Charlie and their friendship continues as they all move back to the states. You can guess what is going to happen.
It becomes apparent that Claire is the main character here. She is manipulative and selfish and dishonest, but at least she had some defining traits. Ben, Charlie, and Alison all seemed one dimensional with no passion or backbone; no defining traits to their personalities.
What I found disappointing in the book was that the dramatic opening of the car accident really wasn't an important part of the story. It wsa just a spring board for Alison to finally question her marriage. I also never really felt the connection of best friends between Alison and Claire. There was no history for me to draw upon. In the flashbacks that were confusing to me, the only connection I saw between the two women was the way Claire manipulated the meeting of Charlie and Alison. There were no memories of how the two interacted with each other growing up. No real sharing of that bond of friendship. The "best friends" concept never really seemed real to me and for that reason the betrayal of Claire wasn't a surprise and it didn't seem as much of a betrayal as just another selfish move on Claire's part. The ending of the story was too pat and tidy, but I did see that the author was trying to give Claire and Charlie their "just desserts". The book just fell flat for me. i didn't really get to know the characters so I didn't really care about their plights.
September 23, 2025
Allison is married to Charlie they gave 2 small children and a house in the suburbs. She is driving home alone at night after a party by herself and an unfortunate tragedy changes her life drastically.
This tragedy exposes what has been lying under the surface of her marriage and friendships bringing everything into the light. This author delves deeply into marriage, friendship, trust and betrayal. Such a heartbreaking and intense grief and guilt that lead to an unmaking of a wife, mother, daughter.
I have read 2 other books by this author both were historical fiction, The Exiles is a favorite of mine. This book is not that but it was so good.
This tragedy exposes what has been lying under the surface of her marriage and friendships bringing everything into the light. This author delves deeply into marriage, friendship, trust and betrayal. Such a heartbreaking and intense grief and guilt that lead to an unmaking of a wife, mother, daughter.
I have read 2 other books by this author both were historical fiction, The Exiles is a favorite of mine. This book is not that but it was so good.
January 20, 2016
I just read this book for two reasons. Firstly, I had recently finished reading Christina Baker Kline's wonderful novel Orphan Train. Secondly, this book was free on kindle books.
I quickly got drawn into it as I kept on reading, turning pages to know what happens next. It's a story about making choices in life and living up to the consequences. It's also about finding beauty in the daily chaos of our lives.
It was an okay book, a quick read but Christina does carve her characters very well . I would give 3.5 story line wise and 4 star on the authors's writing.
I quickly got drawn into it as I kept on reading, turning pages to know what happens next. It's a story about making choices in life and living up to the consequences. It's also about finding beauty in the daily chaos of our lives.
It was an okay book, a quick read but Christina does carve her characters very well . I would give 3.5 story line wise and 4 star on the authors's writing.
November 7, 2018
Ίσως πρέπει να σταματήσω να αγοράζω μεταχειρισμένα βιβλία σύγχρονης λογοτεχνίας. Υπάρχει κάποιος λόγος που ο αναγνώστης τα ξεφορτώνεται για πενταροδεκάρες. Ένα από τα πιο επιφανειακά βιβλία που έπεσαν φέτος στα χέρια μου αν και το χειρότερο μέχρι στιγμής ήταν ένα άλλο. Οι ήρωες του είναι τόσο κακογραμμένοι και το στόρι τόσο απλοϊκό, χωρίς κάποια έκπληξη, κάποια γεύση, κάποια ιδιαιτερότητα. Μπλιάχ.
October 31, 2014
I love her characters. One thing about Christina is she can craft a really great set of characters, all flawed and some that drive you mad, but what they all have in common is that they feel real. They feel like people you may know in your own life as it is and the drama we read about in any of her books are things that could play out in real life. So I appreciate these stories so much because they almost feel like you are reading some kind of sordid gossip about the neighbors, but it could also be your story and who doesn't love that?
Ultimately, this feels like a story about a marriage running off the rails long before and it takes a horrific accident (the loss of a child) to bring it to light. Both people probably know it's not what it used to be, but like the rest of us, we get busy in the day to day and just make mediocre work. When Alison hits a child, after drinking a little too much, and that child is killed- it throws her marriage off the edge. She doesn't get support or comfort from her husband, instead she gets the cold shoulder and it's like he doesn't even care her fate at all. So that's how this story starts.
But then we bring in Claire (who I hate, hate, hate and I can't think of one positive thing to say about her at all), and it turns out she's actually really the main character? I'll be honest, that was kind of confusing for me because I had settled in thinking I was going to be reading about Alison and her crap life but then we shift focus to Claire and how despite loving her husband Ben, she's really attracted to Alison's husband Charlie. And I don't think I have to tell you how that will all end, but it's not pretty and Claire becomes one of those women we see on shows like Dr. Phil who are total home wreckers and play the "it's not my fault I'm so great and attractive" card and you can't find any sympathy for. And you can't by sympathetic to Claire at all, that's just the kind of awful person she is. But what gets me is that while I'm reading the meat of the story, I realize Charlie is just like Claire and I want Alison and Ben to grow some damn balls and stick up for themselves. Then I think- people like Claire and Charlie probably specifically pick the personality types like Alison and Ben as "partners" because it's so easy to do what they want and they know they'll never get resistance, but they get the perks of marriage, but who even knows what that is with these people.
In the end, I loved it. I just love how the author crafts her stories, I love the writing, I love the characters because you get enough to make the story, but leaves enough room for you to fill in the gaps with how you feel they should be- that makes it feel like you turn this into people you know almost. It's always a treat to pull out one of her books because I know I'm in for a great night curled up on the couch with my favorite blanket.
Ultimately, this feels like a story about a marriage running off the rails long before and it takes a horrific accident (the loss of a child) to bring it to light. Both people probably know it's not what it used to be, but like the rest of us, we get busy in the day to day and just make mediocre work. When Alison hits a child, after drinking a little too much, and that child is killed- it throws her marriage off the edge. She doesn't get support or comfort from her husband, instead she gets the cold shoulder and it's like he doesn't even care her fate at all. So that's how this story starts.
But then we bring in Claire (who I hate, hate, hate and I can't think of one positive thing to say about her at all), and it turns out she's actually really the main character? I'll be honest, that was kind of confusing for me because I had settled in thinking I was going to be reading about Alison and her crap life but then we shift focus to Claire and how despite loving her husband Ben, she's really attracted to Alison's husband Charlie. And I don't think I have to tell you how that will all end, but it's not pretty and Claire becomes one of those women we see on shows like Dr. Phil who are total home wreckers and play the "it's not my fault I'm so great and attractive" card and you can't find any sympathy for. And you can't by sympathetic to Claire at all, that's just the kind of awful person she is. But what gets me is that while I'm reading the meat of the story, I realize Charlie is just like Claire and I want Alison and Ben to grow some damn balls and stick up for themselves. Then I think- people like Claire and Charlie probably specifically pick the personality types like Alison and Ben as "partners" because it's so easy to do what they want and they know they'll never get resistance, but they get the perks of marriage, but who even knows what that is with these people.
In the end, I loved it. I just love how the author crafts her stories, I love the writing, I love the characters because you get enough to make the story, but leaves enough room for you to fill in the gaps with how you feel they should be- that makes it feel like you turn this into people you know almost. It's always a treat to pull out one of her books because I know I'm in for a great night curled up on the couch with my favorite blanket.
June 10, 2019
2019/
Нямам идея защо съм привлечена от подобна тематика. Явно търся отговори, на въпроси с повишена трудност.
Опитвам се да разгадая човешкото поведение и същност.
Не мога да превъзмогна предателствата, подлостта , особено тези които се случват в най-близкото обркъжение .
В тази книга няма нищо захаросано . Всяка случка е предадена от гледна точка на всеки един от 4-мата герои. С действие или бездействие допринесли затова , което им се случва.
2015/
Объркана и объркваща,тази книга ме докосна. Темата ме занимава непрекъснато. А тя е как в най-близкото обкръжение се случват най-големите предателства.Страшно много цитати можех да извадя,но избрах няколко.Сега като ги чета извадени от контекста,звучат може би банално.Но ще си ги запазя.
"Не е достатъчно да се надяваш,че щастието ще те намери.Ти трябва да го търсиш."
"Независимо колко объркан изглежда живота ти,ти имаш сили да го промениш."
"Точно по този начин се изясняват нещата.Внезапно.И тогава осъзнаваш колко очевидни са били през цялото време."
"Срамуваше се от своята шаблонност,от провинциалната си нужда да има посока,която да следва."
Нямам идея защо съм привлечена от подобна тематика. Явно търся отговори, на въпроси с повишена трудност.
Опитвам се да разгадая човешкото поведение и същност.
Не мога да превъзмогна предателствата, подлостта , особено тези които се случват в най-близкото обркъжение .
В тази книга няма нищо захаросано . Всяка случка е предадена от гледна точка на всеки един от 4-мата герои. С действие или бездействие допринесли затова , което им се случва.
2015/
Объркана и объркваща,тази книга ме докосна. Темата ме занимава непрекъснато. А тя е как в най-близкото обкръжение се случват най-големите предателства.Страшно много цитати можех да извадя,но избрах няколко.Сега като ги чета извадени от контекста,звучат може би банално.Но ще си ги запазя.
"Не е достатъчно да се надяваш,че щастието ще те намери.Ти трябва да го търсиш."
"Независимо колко объркан изглежда живота ти,ти имаш сили да го промениш."
"Точно по този начин се изясняват нещата.Внезапно.И тогава осъзнаваш колко очевидни са били през цялото време."
"Срамуваше се от своята шаблонност,от провинциалната си нужда да има посока,която да следва."
January 12, 2015
As seen on my blog:
I have officially read all of Christina Baker Kline's fictional works. If asked, I would tell you that Bird in Hand is not in the top 3. The writing in this narrative wasn't a deviation from the author's regular style, to be honest, Baker Kline's writing was pretty consistent across the board: at once slightly anguished, and subtly uplifting. Bird in Hand approached a topic that has graced many a pages before it, and that was one of troubled relationships, and recapturing your true self. Every single character in this novel was searching for a resolution, but I wasn't always fond of their coping methods.
The story begins with Alison, during and after the moment she becomes a part of a tragic car accident. She walks away unscathed, but the other party involved wasn't as lucky. We then segue into Charlie, her husband, who doesn't respond to his wife's call for help with the comfort she expected. Flash back to Alison, right before the accident, where she's at a book launch party for her former best friend. We then meet Claire, the ex-best friend, and budding socialite. Claire then turns us onto Ben, HER husband, and endless beacon of support. Bird in Hand is told through the perspectives of these four individuals, in both present time, and in backwards chronological order from the past. It is story of their lives, with and without the other, and exactly how it's forever changed them.
The big reveal comes out fairly early on in this book, but even before that, the introduction of Alison completely set the mood for me in regards to tone. I couldn't bring myself to sympathize with her, there was absolutely no room for empathy. Her character was bland, and cold, and almost without emotion. I'm not sure if that was intentional, but that was exactly what was portrayed. I felt the most for Ben-whose pain was the most relatable, and realistic. However, the book, as a whole, felt like a poorly written soap opera episode, where people were pawns, and feelings were second thoughts. Bird in Hand could have been about 80 pages shorter, and saved readers a lot of time getting to it's predictable conclusion.
Recommended for Fans of: Women's Fiction, Contemporary, Kristen Hannah, Barbara Delinsky.
I have officially read all of Christina Baker Kline's fictional works. If asked, I would tell you that Bird in Hand is not in the top 3. The writing in this narrative wasn't a deviation from the author's regular style, to be honest, Baker Kline's writing was pretty consistent across the board: at once slightly anguished, and subtly uplifting. Bird in Hand approached a topic that has graced many a pages before it, and that was one of troubled relationships, and recapturing your true self. Every single character in this novel was searching for a resolution, but I wasn't always fond of their coping methods.
The story begins with Alison, during and after the moment she becomes a part of a tragic car accident. She walks away unscathed, but the other party involved wasn't as lucky. We then segue into Charlie, her husband, who doesn't respond to his wife's call for help with the comfort she expected. Flash back to Alison, right before the accident, where she's at a book launch party for her former best friend. We then meet Claire, the ex-best friend, and budding socialite. Claire then turns us onto Ben, HER husband, and endless beacon of support. Bird in Hand is told through the perspectives of these four individuals, in both present time, and in backwards chronological order from the past. It is story of their lives, with and without the other, and exactly how it's forever changed them.
The big reveal comes out fairly early on in this book, but even before that, the introduction of Alison completely set the mood for me in regards to tone. I couldn't bring myself to sympathize with her, there was absolutely no room for empathy. Her character was bland, and cold, and almost without emotion. I'm not sure if that was intentional, but that was exactly what was portrayed. I felt the most for Ben-whose pain was the most relatable, and realistic. However, the book, as a whole, felt like a poorly written soap opera episode, where people were pawns, and feelings were second thoughts. Bird in Hand could have been about 80 pages shorter, and saved readers a lot of time getting to it's predictable conclusion.
Recommended for Fans of: Women's Fiction, Contemporary, Kristen Hannah, Barbara Delinsky.
August 17, 2012
3.5 stars
I didn't care for any of the main characters. Married cheaters never get any sympathy from me. Also, the non-cheaters had "gut-feelings" that should have been explored in more detail before they married and had children. Just too unbelieveable for me.
So what did I like? Well, I always like a quick read that I know is going to involve a train wreck and a couple of "hot" messes.
I also liked that the author tied up all storylines and the reader knew the status of Claire, Charlie, Ben, and Alison at the end.
The biggest take away for me is the information shared at the beginning of the book - John Cletheroe, Driving in the USA and Canada:
"At a four-way stop every vehicle must come to a complete halt before proceeding one at a time across the intersection, regardless of whether there is any other traffic in sight or not.
If two or more vehicles draw up to one of these junctions and stop, waiting to proceed across it, then they should proceed in the same order in which they arrived. If two vehicles arrive at one of these junctions at precisely the same time, so that it is impossible to tell which arrived first, then in theory the vehicle on the right has priority. However, many drivers are unaware of this rule and there are complications due to all the possible premutations of turns."
I can tell you that I have been honked at and given the finger more times than I deserve. I know the four-way stop protocol, but it seems like a lot of other people do not.
The current city I live in has recently gone "round-about" crazy. At first it was great. Now the round-abouts have so many lanes and are so confusing I avoid the ones I can. I wish I could set up a camera and watch the flow of traffic. Yikes!
If you enjoyed this book, one of my favorites is LONG DRIVE HOME. I highly recommend it.
I didn't care for any of the main characters. Married cheaters never get any sympathy from me. Also, the non-cheaters had "gut-feelings" that should have been explored in more detail before they married and had children. Just too unbelieveable for me.
So what did I like? Well, I always like a quick read that I know is going to involve a train wreck and a couple of "hot" messes.
I also liked that the author tied up all storylines and the reader knew the status of Claire, Charlie, Ben, and Alison at the end.
The biggest take away for me is the information shared at the beginning of the book - John Cletheroe, Driving in the USA and Canada:
"At a four-way stop every vehicle must come to a complete halt before proceeding one at a time across the intersection, regardless of whether there is any other traffic in sight or not.
If two or more vehicles draw up to one of these junctions and stop, waiting to proceed across it, then they should proceed in the same order in which they arrived. If two vehicles arrive at one of these junctions at precisely the same time, so that it is impossible to tell which arrived first, then in theory the vehicle on the right has priority. However, many drivers are unaware of this rule and there are complications due to all the possible premutations of turns."
I can tell you that I have been honked at and given the finger more times than I deserve. I know the four-way stop protocol, but it seems like a lot of other people do not.
The current city I live in has recently gone "round-about" crazy. At first it was great. Now the round-abouts have so many lanes and are so confusing I avoid the ones I can. I wish I could set up a camera and watch the flow of traffic. Yikes!
If you enjoyed this book, one of my favorites is LONG DRIVE HOME. I highly recommend it.
January 22, 2012
This was one of the books I grabbed at the Border's final closing sale. I knew nothing of the author, never heard of this book before so I had nothing to except.
Growing up as a child from divorce I always am interested to read about couples who go through the process. What leads up to the final decision, how they begin the process, ect. I suppose I would have liked to have read about how the couple ended up telling their children, but it wasn't a major loss.
I'm always one wanting a happy ending, and if Allison got her's or is at least okay with where she is at the end of this book that's alright with me too I suppose. It's weird to see a couple's love and marriage dissolve but at the same time still go through the "routine" that a couple in love would do, minus the love.
I enjoyed this book because I really hated some characters. Allison's mother for one. She's everything I fear a grandmother/mother-in-law would be. I wish Allison and Ben went to each-other for more support and I'm a little surprised they didn't as how close they seemed at the beginning of the novel with the accident. But it appeared later on that they really weren't close at all?
I was really hoping in the end Charlie and Claire would realize they've made a huge mistake and come to the realization that they aren't as compatible as they thought they were and were left to live a life of regret.
And after everything Charlie had done throughout the book to read that "he was happy" at the end and okay with how things were going made me sick. He's disgusting.
Growing up as a child from divorce I always am interested to read about couples who go through the process. What leads up to the final decision, how they begin the process, ect. I suppose I would have liked to have read about how the couple ended up telling their children, but it wasn't a major loss.
I'm always one wanting a happy ending, and if Allison got her's or is at least okay with where she is at the end of this book that's alright with me too I suppose. It's weird to see a couple's love and marriage dissolve but at the same time still go through the "routine" that a couple in love would do, minus the love.
I enjoyed this book because I really hated some characters. Allison's mother for one. She's everything I fear a grandmother/mother-in-law would be. I wish Allison and Ben went to each-other for more support and I'm a little surprised they didn't as how close they seemed at the beginning of the novel with the accident. But it appeared later on that they really weren't close at all?
I was really hoping in the end Charlie and Claire would realize they've made a huge mistake and come to the realization that they aren't as compatible as they thought they were and were left to live a life of regret.
And after everything Charlie had done throughout the book to read that "he was happy" at the end and okay with how things were going made me sick. He's disgusting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2014
Total disappointment! The start made it seem like it would be more centered on the accident. Really this is the unraveling of a marriage. Not what I thought and the characters were not likeable to me.
December 9, 2018
A story of relationships, their pain and sorrow.
September 19, 2021
In this book, all it takes is one accident to throw everything up in the air that’s been already teetering on the brink.
Characters:
Claire is an author, a home wrecker and cold hearted woman. Charlie is a weak man, married to Alison, carrying on with Claire. Actually their mutual attraction goes way back. Unfortunately Alison has been used pretty much by Claire, who is her best friend, her husband, Charlie, and Claire’s husband, Ben.
The book takes us to current times and difficulties all are having with excerpts from the past that reinforce things were not true and honest even then and there were ulterior motives for them all to get together back when they were young. Some knowingly, some unknowingly. Interesting relationship reading.
Characters:
Claire is an author, a home wrecker and cold hearted woman. Charlie is a weak man, married to Alison, carrying on with Claire. Actually their mutual attraction goes way back. Unfortunately Alison has been used pretty much by Claire, who is her best friend, her husband, Charlie, and Claire’s husband, Ben.
The book takes us to current times and difficulties all are having with excerpts from the past that reinforce things were not true and honest even then and there were ulterior motives for them all to get together back when they were young. Some knowingly, some unknowingly. Interesting relationship reading.
February 2, 2022
This book has put me through many different emotions and in true Christina Baker Kline style – has left me feeling content with the story and glad I read the book. I was excited to read another Kline, Christina’s World (my first Kline book I read) touched me in ways a book hasn’t for a long while, but when I started this one, immediately I felt cheated. They didn’t tell you on the back what it was about, instead they throw you for a loop right away – a child dies and it changes our protagonists life in ways she couldn’t imagine. I’m a mom of three and very dedicated to my homeschooling life – I don’t like reading anything sad about kids, but I found myself glad that I stuck it out. At first it seemed it was going to be all about the accident, but it really wasn’t about the child at all. It was about Alison, her life, her happiness – or lack of it, and her marriage.
Told from the perspective of 4 different characters, with Alison taking the central role – it explores the average life of middle America and four different viewpoints on it. I started out hating it and almost didn’t continue but then curiosity got the best of me and I picked it up again. I’m glad I did. Kline’s writing shines in each of the viewpoints in a way that no other author has been able to do for me. I find myself siding with one, but grudgingly understanding the perspective of the others as well – even when I’m not liking them much. Her analogies are spot on with being a wife, a mother, a middle-aged woman in today’s America and her verbiage is beautiful and seems to touch the very feelings I have hidden way deep down where I can’t walk into them accidentally. I’m forced to face them when reading Kline, over and over again, but instead of wanting to avoid them, Kline makes me understand them for what they are and not beat myself up too much about the guilt of how I’m feeling.
I’m starting to love this author and while I still like Christina’s World best, I think I might have to pick up her other books to read as well. Highly recommended.
Told from the perspective of 4 different characters, with Alison taking the central role – it explores the average life of middle America and four different viewpoints on it. I started out hating it and almost didn’t continue but then curiosity got the best of me and I picked it up again. I’m glad I did. Kline’s writing shines in each of the viewpoints in a way that no other author has been able to do for me. I find myself siding with one, but grudgingly understanding the perspective of the others as well – even when I’m not liking them much. Her analogies are spot on with being a wife, a mother, a middle-aged woman in today’s America and her verbiage is beautiful and seems to touch the very feelings I have hidden way deep down where I can’t walk into them accidentally. I’m forced to face them when reading Kline, over and over again, but instead of wanting to avoid them, Kline makes me understand them for what they are and not beat myself up too much about the guilt of how I’m feeling.
I’m starting to love this author and while I still like Christina’s World best, I think I might have to pick up her other books to read as well. Highly recommended.
July 3, 2016
Spoiler! It's hard to read a book when you don't like any of the characters!
You start our thinking this is a story about the accident and the reprocusions. Then it turns into an infedelity and with the best friend no less. Been there/thru that. And all I can say is if you are not happy in the marriage, get out, then find that other person. But it seems Charlie only married Allison to be close to Claire in the first place. Screwed up beyond belief! Love her other book, The Orphan Train..... Was not expecting this!
You start our thinking this is a story about the accident and the reprocusions. Then it turns into an infedelity and with the best friend no less. Been there/thru that. And all I can say is if you are not happy in the marriage, get out, then find that other person. But it seems Charlie only married Allison to be close to Claire in the first place. Screwed up beyond belief! Love her other book, The Orphan Train..... Was not expecting this!
May 10, 2018
I had planned on giving this book no more than a 4 star rating. However, what I had first considered more of a "mediocre" reading, I come to realize that through the process I had actually answered some valuable questions of my own life. I think a work that can evoke "change" is very worthwhile.
September 9, 2019
One of those rare can’t put it downs ...
Great portrayal of ennui in middle class American life. how vividly she writes about how the days can rush by without connecting with those closest to us ... and how that slowly destroys those connections. I was cringing and felt for all the characters ... except for one.
Great portrayal of ennui in middle class American life. how vividly she writes about how the days can rush by without connecting with those closest to us ... and how that slowly destroys those connections. I was cringing and felt for all the characters ... except for one.
November 17, 2018
4.25. I liked the way this book took me both progressively forward and progressively backwards in the story of the main characters.
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May 18, 2022Не знам защо, но преди време когато прочетох анотацията, се почувствах силно привлечен от сюжета. Може би избрах неподходящото време да я започна, не ми се чете за разпадащи се бракове и изневери. На няколко пъти усетих, че се насилвам и не изпитвах никакво удоволствие от четенето. Затова я изоставям на 40% с ясното съзнание, че никога няма да се върна към нея. Иначе мисля, че не е никак лоша.
March 1, 2012
Following your heart sounds like a good way to live your life - but it's rarely that easy to live it day to day, and at some point, it might not be so good for someone else's heart.
Christina Baker Kline's Bird in Hand is a novel where not much happens, but what happens could happen to almost any of us, even though we'd rather not think about it. What it's ultimately about are the things we'd rather not think about, and the questions we really aren't sure we want to ask ourselves, because then we might have to answer them...and the answers could change everything.
Kline's domestic drama focuses on the shift in relationship dynamics among four people - two couples with a long history together - over the course of a year in which one of the women is involved in a fatal car accident and the other publishes an autoboigraphical novel. The narrative viewpoints shift between the two women, old friends Alison and Claire, and their respective husbands, Charlie and Ben, and the structure of the novel mixes flashbacks through the couples' shared past with the crises of their present.
The characters are, in many ways, people we've met before, and that helped me connect with their story. The fact that I have - not totally by choice - struggled through some of the same conflicts and life questioning that they're going through was another attribute that made me fly through this novel; it struck several chords with me. I really wasn't sure I'd like any of the characters early on, but gradually I developed sympathy for each of them and their place in a complicated situation.
That's another thing that Kline does well in Bird in Hand; she recognizes that the questions we prefer to avoid can have difficult, sometimes scary, answers...and yet, those answers might be the right ones, at least at the time. We may find ourselves questioning them again later on. Bird in Hand doesn't really say anything new, but it says it well, and is a thoughtful and thought-provoking piece of women's fiction.
Christina Baker Kline's Bird in Hand is a novel where not much happens, but what happens could happen to almost any of us, even though we'd rather not think about it. What it's ultimately about are the things we'd rather not think about, and the questions we really aren't sure we want to ask ourselves, because then we might have to answer them...and the answers could change everything.
Kline's domestic drama focuses on the shift in relationship dynamics among four people - two couples with a long history together - over the course of a year in which one of the women is involved in a fatal car accident and the other publishes an autoboigraphical novel. The narrative viewpoints shift between the two women, old friends Alison and Claire, and their respective husbands, Charlie and Ben, and the structure of the novel mixes flashbacks through the couples' shared past with the crises of their present.
The characters are, in many ways, people we've met before, and that helped me connect with their story. The fact that I have - not totally by choice - struggled through some of the same conflicts and life questioning that they're going through was another attribute that made me fly through this novel; it struck several chords with me. I really wasn't sure I'd like any of the characters early on, but gradually I developed sympathy for each of them and their place in a complicated situation.
That's another thing that Kline does well in Bird in Hand; she recognizes that the questions we prefer to avoid can have difficult, sometimes scary, answers...and yet, those answers might be the right ones, at least at the time. We may find ourselves questioning them again later on. Bird in Hand doesn't really say anything new, but it says it well, and is a thoughtful and thought-provoking piece of women's fiction.
September 13, 2009
3.5/5 stars
Bird in Hand, by Christina Baker Kline tells the story of four New Yorker's who have been friends for over ten years. On the surface they seem like the perfect foursome, but all that soon will change.
Alison is a soft-spoken, devoted wife and mother of two. One dark, rainy night she is involved in a car accident, after she attended a party for her friend Claire. The accident was not Alison's fault, the other car ran a stop sign, but Claire had a few drinks, and a young child in the other car was killed. Alison is filled with guilt and depressed as well.
Charlie, Alison's husband is a cheater; he is having an affair with Claire, Alison's friend, and tends to blame his wife for issues instead of accepting any responsibility.
Claire is a writer; she is selfish and seeks attention. She and her husband Ben has issues too. Ben is a brillant architect, a very sweet man who wants to be a father.
The story is told in alternating chapters from each character's perspective. The characters are very well-developed, and engages the reader as a result. While the ending is somewhat predictable, the way the story was plotted made it work. I felt it was a story that most thirty-something couples could relate to: the compromises young couples face in life, that restless feeling of "is this all there is", regrets of past choices, to have children or not, etc. etc. Honestly, as a baby boomer, I did not expect to enjoy this story, yet I did. Give it a try...Recommended.
(Thanks William Morrow for sending this my way).
Bird in Hand, by Christina Baker Kline tells the story of four New Yorker's who have been friends for over ten years. On the surface they seem like the perfect foursome, but all that soon will change.
Alison is a soft-spoken, devoted wife and mother of two. One dark, rainy night she is involved in a car accident, after she attended a party for her friend Claire. The accident was not Alison's fault, the other car ran a stop sign, but Claire had a few drinks, and a young child in the other car was killed. Alison is filled with guilt and depressed as well.
Charlie, Alison's husband is a cheater; he is having an affair with Claire, Alison's friend, and tends to blame his wife for issues instead of accepting any responsibility.
Claire is a writer; she is selfish and seeks attention. She and her husband Ben has issues too. Ben is a brillant architect, a very sweet man who wants to be a father.
The story is told in alternating chapters from each character's perspective. The characters are very well-developed, and engages the reader as a result. While the ending is somewhat predictable, the way the story was plotted made it work. I felt it was a story that most thirty-something couples could relate to: the compromises young couples face in life, that restless feeling of "is this all there is", regrets of past choices, to have children or not, etc. etc. Honestly, as a baby boomer, I did not expect to enjoy this story, yet I did. Give it a try...Recommended.
(Thanks William Morrow for sending this my way).
October 17, 2014
This is a well written thought provoking story that had me on highs and lows from the beginning.
I love stories about family relationships and friends, so this book was a perfect choice for me. The characters were both interesting and “real”, they weren’t perfect and that made them and the story very interesting.
Although I loved the characters. I can’t even name a favorite, because they all had their good and bad points. I was rooting for them one minute and the next I was yelling at them.
Their relationships were so much deeper and interlaced than I thought they’d be when I picked the book up. You see a bit of their past creeping up on them and see how it impacts the present.
This was my first Kline book and I do want to read more from her. She has a way of pulling you into the book that makes you want to keep reading. I don’t really like candy coated stories, and this definitely wasn’t one. Our lives are messy, marriages are messy, friendships are messy. Readers can connect to the characters on a personal basis, and that makes this book a winner in my eyes.
I love stories about family relationships and friends, so this book was a perfect choice for me. The characters were both interesting and “real”, they weren’t perfect and that made them and the story very interesting.
Although I loved the characters. I can’t even name a favorite, because they all had their good and bad points. I was rooting for them one minute and the next I was yelling at them.
Their relationships were so much deeper and interlaced than I thought they’d be when I picked the book up. You see a bit of their past creeping up on them and see how it impacts the present.
This was my first Kline book and I do want to read more from her. She has a way of pulling you into the book that makes you want to keep reading. I don’t really like candy coated stories, and this definitely wasn’t one. Our lives are messy, marriages are messy, friendships are messy. Readers can connect to the characters on a personal basis, and that makes this book a winner in my eyes.
February 26, 2017
I wouldn't normally choose a book like this to read, but I'm glad I did. The tone and storyline were less about action and more about psychology. The break down of two marriages and accidental death of a young boy are difficult stories to tackle and intertwine. The mundane details of everyday life take on an importance that I wouldn't have imagined before. Every other chapter descends further in time, which bothered me a bit (I wasn't much of a fan of Memento either), and the mundane details could get a bit boring. Yet, I could finish it and wanted to pick it up again each day - something that other books fail at.
I'd give Bird in Hand a 3.5 if that were possible.
I'd give Bird in Hand a 3.5 if that were possible.
August 30, 2009
Wow! This book gripped me from the start and wouldn't let me go. It's heart-wrenching yet not overly emotional. The multiple viewpoints worked well, and the disintegrating marriages were portrayed realistically. The background information, fed to the reader through independent flashbacks in a different size and style of font, provided the clarity necessary to understand the protagonists' motivations. I felt for these characters and identified with them. A must read for lovers of contemporary fiction.
September 19, 2009
This well-written book is a difficult and honest look at two very troubled marriages. Although I found it somewhat hard to warm to any of the four main characters, I looked forward to picking up the book and couldn't wait to find out how it ended. I liked that the characters were not judged by their actions. How we feel about them is left up to us. Countless conversations could start with the themes in this book: marriage, parenting, life choices, loyalty, friendship (to name a few).
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