I have many reasons for writing this e-mail, the hurricane in the United State is one.
Frankly, I did not want to write to you about Birds in Fall yet. For some reason I had decided to wait (although I’m not quite sure why) but then I got an angry text message from the library, according to which I was again overdue with my books. A text message always sounds more terrifying than an email. The elaborate and much less threatening letter (computers, there you have it) specified other books, which I have already read and written to you about, but the damage was done. The panic and seeds of horror were planted, that the librarians would penalize me.
Consequently, now is the time for Birds in Fall.
Only, I’m not quite sure what there is to say.
Birds in Fall is definitely not the book to read when embarking on a vacation. That is evident. One must be aware that this book is not a book with which to board a plane, even for a business trip.
The first chapter talks about an airplane crash and all the other chapters talk about the crushed lives of the families left behind.
During the first chapter, I stopped and read the fly cover at the back. I agree it’s not the best thing, to rely on help for interpretation, but what can one do: when you want to know the direction, you ask for guidance.
The back leaf misled me a little bit, for it created the impression that we were dealing with a thriller, which might end differently to what I initially thought – at least in regards to one character.
Although it is a book about catastrophe – and I do not usually read books of this genre, just as I do not like to watch disaster movies – I decided to persevere.
It might sound silly, but I felt “committed” to read something I do not usually read, to expand my horizon, style and scope, because that’s what one should do in life – be exposed, be impressed, discover – even if the experience is sometimes bitter.
It is a quality novel: a clever idea, well-drawn characters, subtle and convincing narrative, and the success of never falling into banal clichés. The great respect given to both the dead and the living in the book is managed by never writing a surplus word – these are important achievements, which deserve one’s attention. The ending leads to healing and recovery, which corresponds to the sadness and depth of human loss.
In a sense this book reminded me of the movie – Love is all you need:
The trailer creates a somewhat enjoyable and carefree impression, but the movie itself is much less “happy”. On the contrary: it speaks about those who live their lives in the great shadow of their loss.
The problem with Birds in Fall is that is it very difficult to convince someone to read it.
It is definitely worth reading, but how can one recommend it?
I mean, what can one say?
“A great book about loss”?
“A once in a lifetime reading experience”?
One can “sell” loss, but it is not right: loss does not equal entertainment. It is not meant to amuse. It is true that an experience can be less than positive, but by choosing to use the word “experience”, one normally aims at being somewhat more encouraging…
I think the proper place to discuss Birds in Fall is in a reading workshop or in a therapeutic session. I do not mean a book club, where people get together over coffee to share conclusions and notes. It doesn’t fit there.
Birds in Fall should be read out loud, slowly, so that it can echo in space, like the music of the Bulgarian’s character which expresses everything without using words.
In Birds in Fall there are many small stories: stories about life, stories about relationships, stories about feelings.
In complete contrast to the science of Literature, they should remain unexplainable. They are interwoven into the plot like tiny diamonds, sparkling in order to evoke thought, feeling or both.
All this has nothing in common with the deadly hurricane in the United State, aside from the fact that they both talk about great calamities and about the lives lost.
I know it might take you a while to read this e-mail, due to your moving to a new apartment and all, but I hope that maybe it was not only the right time for me to write it but also for you to receive it.