Whenever I travel, I look for independent bookstores to check out, and I try to find at least one book by an author local to that area.
During a visit to Asheville, NC a few months ago, I felt immediately drawn to Other Birds by local author Sarah Addison Allen. There were quite a few choices, as Asheville is a city filled with creative minds, but I'm so glad to have chosen this one. I absolutely loved it, and I'm so excited to tell you why.
"Stories aren't fiction. Stories are fabric. They're the white sheets we drape over our ghosts so we can see them."
On Mallow island, at the end of a narrow alley that you could easily blink and miss, sits a peculiar building called the Dellawhisp.
Once a horse stable, the Dellawhisp was lovingly restored and converted into condos by Roscoe Avanger, a reclusive local author who put the island on the map with his famous book, Sweet Mallow. He named the Dellawhisp after the small turquoise birds that are native to Mallow Island, and who are truly the stars of this story.
The residents of the Dellawhisp are just as unique as the building itself, and it's here that we meet 18-year-old Zoey Hennessy.
Zoey travels to Mallow Island for the first time to claim her mother's condo, which was left to Zoey after her death many years prior. Now that Zoey is 18, she is finally able to claim it and move in, eager to escape her rocky relationship with her father and his new wife.
When Zoey and her invisible bird, Pigeon (yes, you read that correctly) arrive at the Dellawhisp, she is shocked to find her mother's condo empty of all personal belongings. It's been tastefully decorated with a lovely pink and white color scheme, but all the traces of her mother and her former life there are gone.
While being shown around the grounds by the building manager, Frasier, Zoey has the misfortune of meeting a fellow resident named Lizbeth Lime. Lizbeth is the nosy neighbor we all hope to never have, and she keeps track of the other residents' every move, constantly harassing them, claiming to "know things," and reporting her findings to Frasier.
As Zoey settles in for her first night, she hears a loud thump from somewhere else in the building but is unable to identify the source.
The next morning, as police begin to arrive, Zoey learns what it was that she heard: Lizbeth's bookshelf falling on her, killing her instantly.
"There are birds, and then there are other birds. Maybe they don't sing. Maybe they don't fly. Maybe they don't fit in. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be an other bird than just the same old thing."
After Lizbeth's death, the residents of the Dellawhisp are finally able to come and go from their condos as they please, spend time on their patios, and interact with one another without facing the wrath of a screaming Lizbeth.
We're introduced to Charlotte, a professional henna artist who never seems to stay in one place for long. As more of her story is unraveled and we learn about her past, we begin to understand why.
Next, there's Mac, the executive chef of a popular restaurant on the island. Mac came from a broken home in a run-down neighborhood, and was mostly raised by a woman named Camille.
Camille took it upon herself to feed all the hungry neighborhood kids, and in the process, taught Mac everything he knows about cooking, specifically with cornmeal. She taught him that food isn't just about satisfying hunger and filling a void, but about telling a story through the dishes you make and sharing that with others.
Today, he honors Camille by using that same philosophy at his restaurant, and specializing in dishes made with cornmeal.
In the final condo lives Lucy Lime, Lizbeth's sister. The two didn't speak at all, and Lucy is never seen outside her condo. The only evidence of her existing at all is the constant glow from her cigarettes as she peers through the curtains, always watching.
Also in residence are three ghosts: Camille, who watches over Mac and sprinkles him with cornmeal every night (again, yes, you read that correctly), now Lizbeth, determined to cause as much chaos for Frasier in death as she did in life, and one other spirit that the other two don't recognize.
We're given the opportunity to learn more about Camille and Lizbeth through their Ghost Story chapters, where they each tell their own stories of their lives, and of what happened after.
Camille chooses to stay with Mac because she knows he isn't ready to let go of her.
Lizbeth is determined for her story to be heard, claiming that it exists somewhere in her condo and that it will explain everything, exposing Lucy for the monster she truly is.
"If the people around you don't love you just as you are, find new people. They're out there."
Frasier hires Zoey for the tedious task of cleaning out Lizbeth's condo. Each room is packed, stacked from floor to ceiling with what Zoey soon discovers is nothing but useless garbage.
It's mostly papers, like restraining orders filed against Lizbeth from local businesses, her "notes" on all the other residents, things she fished out of dumpsters, and assorted documents that seem of little to no value. Oh, and that bookshelf that killed Lizbeth? It contained nothing but hundreds of copies of Sweet Mallow.
Frasier isn't convinced that Lizbeth's story even exists, but figures that if it is, it'll be in here, somewhere.
Zoey continues to sort through the boxes, meanwhile, Frasier gets in touch with Lizbeth's estranged son, Oliver, to deliver the bad news. Oliver hasn't spoken with his mother in years and says he wants nothing to do with her condo or any of her belongings, but he finds himself slowly being pulled back to Mallow Island.
As Zoey enters Lizbeth's condo every morning, she finds the door unlocked despite checking it several times each night before. Charlotte also reports hearing her doorknob jiggling at night, and a large amount of money has been stolen from her bag.
The residents finally persuade Frasier to install a keypad at the entrance.
All the while, Zoey, Mac, and Charlotte have grown very close. Zoey finally feels like part of a family. Charlotte feels safe and secure for the first time in her life, and for once, she doesn't want to run away. Mac starts to share his own story about the loss of Camille, and slowly learns to let her go.
Lucy remains hidden away in her condo.
"But nothing, nothing, could make someone who didn't have anything angrier than witnessing actual happiness."
Everything comes to a head when Oliver arrives home to the Dellawhisp, Charlotte's past catches up with her, Lucy Lime finally makes an appearance, the identity of the third spirit is revealed, and Zoey's invisible bird, Pigeon, is finally explained.
When residents of the Dellawhisp, now including Oliver, band together to protect Charlotte, they realize how much they've grown to care for each other.
As they each slowly start to heal from the (literal) ghosts of their past, with the support and love of their found family, the spirits begin to disappear.
"Children, don't hold on to old love so hard you forget to live. Old love isn't the only love you'll ever have. And I can tell you from this side that it never really goes away, anyway. So let it go. Whatever you're holding on to, let go."
Wow. I really had no idea what to expect when I chose this book, but it was a truly incredible story.
Each of the characters were unique, with fascinating stories that will break your heart, open your mind, and teach you some profound lessons in healing.
My one and only exception was Lizbeth. I don't know if the author intended for the readers to feel sympathy for her, but I just couldn't. She was very clearly mentally ill, and that part I do sympathize with, but I just couldn't root for her storyline because she was genuinely malicious towards Lucy and even towards her own son.
Lucy's story was complicated, but I came out of it feeling like she was the victim, not Lizbeth. That may have been the entire point, but I'm honestly not sure.
Some of the concepts seem a little strange at first, like the invisible bird and the cornmeal, but they're explained in the most beautiful way. Just roll with it, and it'll all make sense—I promise.
I truly can't recommend this book enough, and I would love to know your thoughts on it: If you want to read it, if you have read it, and if so, how you interpreted the characters and their storylines. Especially the Lizbeth/Lucy situation. I have a lot of thoughts on that.
Please join me on Discord so we can discuss!
'•.¸♡ Until next time! ♡¸.•'