The Bird Artist
10 journalers for this copy...
Book Description
Howard Norman's The Bird Artist, the first book of his Canadian trilogy, begins in 1911. Its narrator, Fabian Vas is a bird artist: He draws and paints the birds of Witless Bay, his remote Newfoundland coastal village home. In the first paragraph of his tale Fabian reveals that he has murdered the village lighthouse keeper, Botho August. Later, he confesses who and what drove him to his crime--a measured, profoundly engrossing story of passion, betrayal, guilt, and redemption between men and women.
Howard Norman's The Bird Artist, the first book of his Canadian trilogy, begins in 1911. Its narrator, Fabian Vas is a bird artist: He draws and paints the birds of Witless Bay, his remote Newfoundland coastal village home. In the first paragraph of his tale Fabian reveals that he has murdered the village lighthouse keeper, Botho August. Later, he confesses who and what drove him to his crime--a measured, profoundly engrossing story of passion, betrayal, guilt, and redemption between men and women.
I'm sending this out as a bookray.
jessibud - Canada (anywhere)
arturogrande - UK (anywhere)
d-o-m - UK
cathyinoz - Australia (anywhere)
Tournesol73 - France (Europe)
Caro1 - UK (anywhere)
gaboyd - New Zealand (anywhere)
janaqq - US <---------- currently has book
muzette - Canada
jessibud - Canada (anywhere)
arturogrande - UK (anywhere)
d-o-m - UK
cathyinoz - Australia (anywhere)
Tournesol73 - France (Europe)
Caro1 - UK (anywhere)
gaboyd - New Zealand (anywhere)
janaqq - US <---------- currently has book
muzette - Canada
Just received this book today and I am looking forward to reading it. However, I do have another bookring book right ahead of it, so I hope you don't mind that I might not get to it before the weekend. I will journal it again as soon as I am done. Thanks for making this book into a bookring and giving me the opportunity to read it!
Well, I gave it my best shot but despite how much I was initially intrigued by the blurb description of this book, it simply did not grab me. I am learning -- very slowly! -- not to be guilty about abandoning a book I am not enjoying. This is something I never used to do; somehow, I always felt that if I started it, I *had to* finish it and would force my way through a book, no matter how bad I felt it was. How crazy is that! Truth is, there are simply too many good and great books out there to read, and less and less time left to read them, so no more slogging through stuff that's less than stellar! And thanks to bookcrossing, I have seen the light: if it's not for *me*, it may very well be for someone else. So, it's now on its way to the next person in line in this bookring.
Journal Entry 5 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, December 13, 2004
Arrived this morning - thanks very much.
Journal Entry 6 by arturogrande from Coalville, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Saturday, January 15, 2005
I quite enjoyed this book for the descriptions of the Newfoundland landscape, wildlife and way of life of its inhabitants, but like jessibud, it did not grab me and I found it strangely cold.
I did not feel sympathy or empathy for any of the main characters, so found it difficult to care about their fate.
The central relationship between Fabian and Margaret always seemed like one of convenience to me, so it was hard to believe it would lead characters to act in the way they did.
I'm glad I read it, but I don't think it's a book which will stick with me for a long time to come.
It's now on its way to d-o-m.
I did not feel sympathy or empathy for any of the main characters, so found it difficult to care about their fate.
The central relationship between Fabian and Margaret always seemed like one of convenience to me, so it was hard to believe it would lead characters to act in the way they did.
I'm glad I read it, but I don't think it's a book which will stick with me for a long time to come.
It's now on its way to d-o-m.
Received today.
I should, hopefully start it next week. I have another bookray book to read first...
Sunday, January 30 2005.
Started reading this book today.
I should, hopefully start it next week. I have another bookray book to read first...
Sunday, January 30 2005.
Started reading this book today.
Wow! What a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the language and style of the story telling and the rich characterizations.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Posted to cathyinoz today.
I was't sure whether to release this or just make a journal entry. There does not seem to be a convention. I went for the latter. I hope that is is OK with everyone.
I was't sure whether to release this or just make a journal entry. There does not seem to be a convention. I went for the latter. I hope that is is OK with everyone.
Arrived today in good shape. How's that for regular post -- I am impressed.
Thank you d-o-m for the beautiful bookmark. It's already in use.
And thank you irishajo for starting this bookray.
I should get to this book by the weekend.
Thank you d-o-m for the beautiful bookmark. It's already in use.
And thank you irishajo for starting this bookray.
I should get to this book by the weekend.
Just started it and must say while some authors draw you into a story, this one drops you into it with a thud. But Canadians can be a pretty straight-to-the-point kind of people (speaking as one myself!), maybe that's what the author is going for. I like the blunt honesty of these characters. Reminds me a bit of a real 'newfie' I was friends with in Uni.
Finished it late last night and loved it right to the end. Endings can make or break a good book and this one is solid as the rock they call Newfoundland.
I wonder if the current trend in books for analysis of emotions, complicated motivations, and justifications for characters' actions based on buried childhood traumas have left us thinking soap opera tangles are the way people lives are. I think this author is saying 'no', most people just 'are' and 'do' and 'live'. I enjoyed the difference.
Posting off to tournesol73 today. Enjoy!
I wonder if the current trend in books for analysis of emotions, complicated motivations, and justifications for characters' actions based on buried childhood traumas have left us thinking soap opera tangles are the way people lives are. I think this author is saying 'no', most people just 'are' and 'do' and 'live'. I enjoyed the difference.
Posting off to tournesol73 today. Enjoy!
Got it! Thanks! Will read it as soon as possible.
I'm among those who liked the book. I'm not very fond of description and didn't know most of the birds' names in English, but I liked the story and the way it's written.
Will be sent to Caro01 by the end of the week.
Will be sent to Caro01 by the end of the week.
Journal Entry 15 by Caro1 from Newark On Trent, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Was just beaten by another ring book off the doorstep, but should be able to start this at the weekend. I've included it as the 'N' read for my BreakEveryRule 2005 Author Challenge as I've never read anything by Howard Norman. More later.
Journal Entry 16 by Caro1 from Newark On Trent, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Monday, May 30, 2005
I just loved this book, and, by the time I'd finished, I felt as though I knew Witless Bay and had come to belong there. The stark and cold narrative style, matches the Newfoundland landscape it portrays and the detailed description of birds and the environment fascinated me.This was my 'N' read for the BreakEveryRule 2005 Author Challenge and I'm very glad irishajo introduced me to a new author who I think might become a favourite.
Journal Entry 17 by Caro1 from Newark On Trent, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Monday, May 30, 2005
Mailed to Gaboyd today, Tuesday 31 May.
Just arrived. In perfect conditon. Included is a laminated bookmark and a Canadian Duck bookmark.
Journal Entry 19 by 
gaboyd
at Surface Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 13, 2005
gaboyd at Surface Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, June 13, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (6/13/2005 UTC) at Surface Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Off in the post.
Off in the post.
This is a well written story with several characters.
I have always wanted to live in a lighthouse.
I am sending it along to Canada. Hopefully they don't send it back like last time. so the ring continues after a stall.
I have always wanted to live in a lighthouse.
I am sending it along to Canada. Hopefully they don't send it back like last time. so the ring continues after a stall.
off to Canada it goes. Wednesday at the latest!
Cheers!
Cheers!
It seems that this book did some travelling... even on its own! ;-) Glad to report that it made it here safe and sound! Thanks for the postcard janaqq.
well, I have not been active in Bookcrossing in years... so what a surprise when I started to read this book (which was way back on my TBR pile!!!). Unfortunately I did not really enjoy it - although the storyline was original.
