I was not sure if this book would be one that fits my taste when it comes to Cecelia Ahern. Yes, the cover is nice and the color combination of the German edition, I actually kind of like. But the novel itself left me with a weird and awkwardly silent feeling. One thing is for sure. This novel is either one you´ll love right from the start or you don´t. There´s nothing in-between. And I am still figuring out, which one it is gonna be for me.
Lyrebird*
by Cecelia AhernPublisher Harper Collins UK on March 11, 2016
Genre Novel
Pages 432
Format Hardcover
Source Publisher
✶✶✶½
In the south-west of Ireland, rugged mountains meet bright blue lakes and thick forests. Deep in the woods, a young woman lives alone, forever secluded from the world, her life a well-kept secret. She possesses an extraordinary talent, the likes of which no-one has seen before: a gift that will earn her the nickname Lyrebird. When Solomon stumbles into Laura´s solitary existence, her life is turned on its head. Pulled from her peaceful landscape to the cacophony of Dublin, she is confronted by a world desperate to understand her. But while Solomon knows the world will embrace Laura, will it free her to spread her wings or will it trap her in a gilded cage? Like all wild birds, she needs to fly.
Story
When Laura and Solomon meet for the first time, she is fascinated and wants him to see her. But his world and hers are totally different. And soon Laura must learn that she has no other choice but to go with him – if she wants to be safe and in a place, that means a future to her. But the world outside the forest isn´t as quiet and understanding as Laura knows it from her Cottage. And then there is Bo. Solomon´s girlfriend. Bo wants nothing more but to get her documentary about Laura and does everything to make that happen.
Style
I felt at some point during the first third only pity for Laura and most of the other figures. There were so many conflicts, so much anger, aggression, hate, and other bad feelings that it was not always easy to understand what the author wanted to say with the particular scene, or the way how she described a situation Laura was in. And with Bo, I had my difficulties as well. Simply said: I didn´t like her. All the way through she was a bitch, acting and behaving like a bull in a china shop.
Characters
Bo is a woman who never sees it or realizes it when she is crossing a line. Her perfectionism and her inability to talk normal and to understand when it is enough is way too much. She isn´t capable of normal talk or just having a normal conversation with others without seeing a future camera motive. And that she is sometimes interfering too deep into the people´s privacy and doesn´t give a damn to change it, that made her in my eyes a very cold and uncongenial person.
Oh yes, Cecelia Ahern has again created wonderful figures. And the diversity is very interesting. And to see how Laura changes, how she finds her own place and voice in the world, was quite something to watch. But in the end, I wasn´t as touched or moved as other readers had told me they were.
Conclusion
I can´t say what I expected from this novel, but maybe my expectations were way too high. Well, I am still figuring out how to feel about it. My pity for the characters never left and during some passages, it wasn´t a nice read. To lose control over something you do from your heart is never easy and to see how someone else is taking over and doing things the complete opposite way is hart. But to get shown by another person how you act and really are towards others, that is a bitter pill to swallow.
Happy reading
*I read the German edition new release by Fischer Krüger on August 24, 2017
Cecelia Ahern
Cecelia Ahern was born and grew up in Dublin. She is now published in nearly fifty countries and has sold over twenty-four million copies of her novels worldwide. Two of her books have been adapted as films and she has created several TV series. She and her books have won numerous awards, including the Irish Book Award for Popular Fiction for The Year I Met You. She lives in Dublin with her family.
I'm glad you enjoyed this one, Vi, even if you didn't totally love it. It's weird sometimes, how some books don't completely hit the mark with us.
ReplyDeleteI hope you've had a great week, and that you're enjoying your weekend.
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Hi Lexxie, I agree with you. Some books just don´t fit completely. But the books she is writing in the YA genre, I love to read *smile*. Thanks for stopping by.
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