The Bird Sisters

Now in their 70s, Milly and Twiss live in their family home, on a gravel road near the small town of Spring Green, Wisconsin. They are known for miles around as the "bird sisters," for their ability to treat and rehabilitate injured birds, but fewer and fewer people visit them these days. Their days are filled with light chores, walks through the meadow, and sometimes, for Milly, a bit of baking. Mostly they reflect back on lives well lived, but touched by significant events when Milly was 16 and Twiss, 14.

Their parents' relationship was already strained when their father had a car accident that prevented him from returning to his job as the local golf pro. Robbed of the one thing that gave him pride and a sense of identity, he isolated show more himself in the barn, eating meals left for him by one of the girls. Their mother came from a wealthy family, but left those comforts behind when she married. Filled with bitterness, she was unable to comfort her husband. Enter 18-year-old cousin Bett, who comes to stay for the summer, allegedly to improve her health. Her visit leaves an indelible mark on the family and even touches the surrounding community.

The central conflict in this debut novel was easy to predict, and there were some plot elements which seemed superfluous, especially the story of a local priest. The book moves fluidly between present and past, which can be confusing at times. The novel succeeds because of Milly and Twiss, richly-developed characters who are always front and center. Milly was considered a beauty in her youth, and gained local recognition for her creative cakes. Twiss was a rebel, fiercely devoted to Milly and her father, but not at all to her mother. Their father, mother, and Bett stand just slightly in the background, very influential but somewhat less tangible. I would have liked to know more about these characters: what were the father and mother like in their early years? How did the father get started with golf, and how did it come to be his life force? And what about Bett's health issues? I also hoped to read more about Twiss and Milly's bird rescue efforts. I realize my interest is greater from having been a bird rescue volunteer, but the title implies this will be given more emphasis than it was.

Despite the novel's flaws, I really enjoyed this book. I found myself caught up in the domestic drama, and moved by the relationship between the aging sisters. Rebecca Rasmussen made effective use of foreshadowing, and even so there were some particularly fine "aha moments." The final chapters tugged at my heartstrings, and I was sad to say good-bye to Milly and Twiss. show less

While the world has changed around them since the summer of 1947, spinster sisters Milly and Twiss are still living together on the ramshackle farm of their childhood in Spring Green, Wisconsin. The aging women have in some ways never fully grown up and cling to each other and the ghosts of their past life. Having sacrificed the possibility of families and lives outside of Spring Green, they focus their energy on rescuing injured birds. Through this pursuit, Twiss finds solace and a degree of freedom: In order to repair a wing properly . . . you had to understand what it was like to have one, which led to much mental soaring around the countryside, much unskilled flapping in the bathroom.
The book gracefully moves between the present and show more the summer of 1947, back when they were still teenagers, Milly falling in love for the first time in the purple meadow by their house, and Twiss losing herself in the woods around their farm, dreaming of becoming a scientist or an explorer. It was that summer where the most pivotal moment alters the direction of their lives forever.
The details of the events that summer were revealed ever so carefully and it kept me reeling until I was given the answers to what had happened. Let me tell you-- it was shocking, heartbreaking and beautiful – all at the same time. The Bird Sisters is the enduring bond between sisters in the midst of a world that has not lived up to its promise and a family that refuses to behave as one. This is a lovely and devastating debut novel, grounded vividly in its setting on a rural Wisconsin farm, it confronts us with the question of how much we are called to sacrifice for our kin and how far such a sacrifice can sustain us. show less

Milly and Twiss are spinster sisters living in the small town of Spring Green, Wisconsin, in the same house where they grew up. They spent their lives mending birds and the hearts of others, but they could not do the same for themselves. As young girls this was not the way they imagined their lives would end. Milly wanted to marry and have a family; Twiss wanted to travel and see the world, but that was not to be. One fateful summer in 1947 the course of history was set for the sisters, and they could not change their destiny any more than they could stop the sun from rising each morning.

Most of the story takes place in 1947. It is told from the present in short chapters alternating with longer chapters in the past. I like this show more technique as it reinforces the perspective of the sisters as elderly women who have lived their lives and are reflecting back on the past. We know the end and now, layer by layer, the events of that summer are revealed. The accident that cost their father his job as a golf-pro, their priest who ran off to Mexico and cousin Bett who came to visit and turned their world upside down.

I didn’t realize what a beautiful and heartbreaking story this would be. In their own way the sisters are as damaged as the birds they try to heal. The characters were beautifully drawn and the vivid descriptions of Spring Green made the town come to life. Although I live in a suburb, I am a small town girl at heart and delighted in the picturesque scenes of nature. Rebecca Rasmussen writes with a wisdom and grace far beyond her years.

I had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of my copy of The Bird Sisters for months. When it finally arrived I gazed at the beautiful glossy cover with it’s lovely birds and placed it on the top of my stack of books. I finished it last week and although I’ve moved on to read a few other books, I’m still thinking about it, digesting it and enjoying it in my mind.

My favorite character was Twiss and not just because she was ‘the bird lady’. I could relate to her on multiple levels. Like me, she wanted to be an explorer or scientist, but never did; she helped birds instead. She didn’t approve of Mrs. Bettle keeping her parrot in a cage; birds should be free. She never did get to travel and see the Continental Divide, “her memories were her suitcase, and her mind her passport”. She has empathy for both birds and people. She chose the lacy dress to please Adele, “who like every other childless woman in Spring Green had probably always wanted to dress a little girl”, and said “It’s like happiness can be sewn”. Twiss appears to have accepted her life and her choices.

This is a wonderful book that has something for everyone. A great selection for readers young and old. Highly recommended and one of my favorites this year. show less

This review is going to be a little different. I'm going to write about how I read the book, which is a very important part of my loving the book. I have wanted this book for such a long time, partly because the author Rebecca, friended me on Twitter and is so supportive of readers and bloggers and is passionate about what she does as both an author, teacher and a Mom. It's impossible not to be drawn to someone like that. (Plus, she's super nice and promises hugs). And FYI, you should also be aware the the book itself is BEAUTIFUL. Seriously. The cover is so pretty and the pages have the uneven look that reminds me of old diary paper. It's perfect. If you have one of the signed bookplates, good luck deciding where you want to put it, show more every page has some pretty script or designs on it. It took me about 20 minutes of debating before I decided on the title page.

My copy arrived on Saturday and my boyfriend Matt, who has been patiently hearing about this book for MONTHS arrived on Sunday to spend his spring break with me. Normally Matt works on homework and I settle somewhere near him to read and keep him company. We often read to each other as well. Although, he usually reads me alcohol reviews, but I digress. I got to page 17, which is a great scene with Father Rice, and I read it aloud to him. We both laughed out loud and decided that I should start the book over and we'd take turns reading chapters aloud. So that's what we did, sitting on my front steps, bundled in sweaters and drinking kool-aid. Matt even had a few "Oh my God/No she didn't" moments which were worth the books weight in gold.

Beginning the book, I identified with Twiss the most. She's blunt, yet honest and is unashamedly herself and I loved that more than words can express. But as the novel progressed, I found myself drawn more towards Milly and the quiet strength that she possessed. I also felt very deeply for their mother, yet there was something about her that held me back from liking her as much as Milly and Twiss.

I couldn't decide whether or not I liked their father. Throughout the earlier parts of the novel, I thought he meant well but often times let his own selfishness get in the way of being a better father and husband; then there's THE MOMENT. I felt sorry for him, but in an angry, I can't believe you kind of way. Then there's Bett. She is not a very likable character, in my opinion, but she draws you in. As we learned more about her in the novel I guessed that the novel would have one of two possible conclusions. I was not suspecting both, especially so close together. (Makes you want to read it now, doesn't it?) It was heartbreaking. I didn't know who to feel sorry for first, or who to be more angry at. (You know a book is amazing when fictional characters cause you to cry and rage within moments of each other.) There is a wonderfully phrased moment between Milly and Twiss' mother and father where Rassmussen writes (and I'm paraphrasing) that the parents stood on either side of the closed door like they forgot how doors work. I think that is a great metaphor for the novel.

But without a doubt, my FAVORITE characters are Father Rice and Mrs. Bettle. Father Rice (whom Matt loves as well) is a preacher with his own religious struggles. I love that he makes some wrong and very bad choices, but he does them for the right reasons. Mrs Bettle charmed me solely because she chose to live with a parrot rather than a man. Just writing that sentence makes me smile.

The only thing that I found a bit disconcerting, was that it does take a moment to get readjusted to the present day parts of the story after spending several pages or chapters reading about the summer when Milly and Twiss were young girls. But it's not overly distracting and surely doesn't take away from the novel in any way. It's more of an "Oh, wait..." feeling.

I think The Bird Sisters is a charming, wonderfully written novel that is more than worth the read. I am still thinking about various scenes and characters and how they impacted the novel overall. I'm sure it will stay with me for a very long time and I encourage you all to add it to your TBR stacks. show less

Milly and Twiss are two peas in a pod. Uncomfortable as that pod may be, they are sisters for better or worse. Throughout their lives they’ve sought to support the other in their own unique ways, but what happens when a visitor comes for the summer? Could their cousin Bett cause a rift that is beyond repair or will the two ban together? Their love for each other will need to survive the ultimate choice as their family faces an internal battle with lasting consequences. The Bird Sisters is a story of love and the choices we make based on that love.

My real question should be, how do I write about a book that’s so carefully crafted with multiple layers and characters that have you thinking about them days after you finish reading it? show more Not only that, but one that lives up to every bit of expectation and hype that has been circulating? It’s been a delight getting to know author Rebecca Rasmussen over the last few months and in all honesty I worried that the book wouldn’t connect with me, that though well written I would struggle through it in some way. I always worry about this when I know the author before reading their book(s). Well, I had nothing to worry about. Rebecca’s writing is perfectly timed, quiet, but extremely powerful. I’m beyond thrilled and overjoyed to share this gorgeous book with everyone I know for those very reasons.

As I mentioned Milly and Twiss’ story is layered through a story rich in personal experiences divided between the two sisters. As the story progresses, first starting in their latter years and then slowly revealed through a time in their youth, you discover how these sisters are twined together by a love that many of us long to share with another person. A love so deep it trumps our personal choices in such a way that would lead you to forgo your own desires to protect the other. Who wouldn’t want another individual in your life that you knew with an absolute certainty would always protect and love you? Though Milly and Twiss have their typical sibling disputes, there’s always that underlying love you can feel. The love of a sister who accepts you for who you are, strengths and faults.

It wasn’t only a story about Milly and Twiss, though that’s what it revolved around primarily. Characters like Rollie and Adele, who long for a child of their own, add another layer to the story that I simply adored. Of course there was also the relationship between their parents, Margaret and Joe, which is troubled from the very beginning and continues to be a source of struggle for all involved. And Asa, the love of Milly’s life. Though his character has relatively few appearances throughout the story his impact is no less important and perhaps even more so (I think can still see the blond hairs on the back of his neck glistening in the humid summer afternoon).

In a story so powerful, but quiet it’s hard to accurately explain how I feel about The Bird Sisters. Milly and Twiss slowly twine themselves around your heart and never let go. Theirs is a story about making difficult choices, the affects of poorly made choices and how love has the ability to last a lifetime and beyond. It’s also a story about sacrifice, which often goes hand in hand with love. Sacrifices that if made can alter the lives of everyone involved. There is so much more to this story that I’m leaving out and I know should be mentioned, for that I’m sorry. What I can say though is that this is an absolute must read. The Bird Sisters is a story I will long be thinking about and know I’ll be recommending for a long time to come. show less

The Bird Sisters tells a tale of how the people you love the most in the world are the ones who can most surely destroy you. This is the summer of 1947, when Milly and Twiss try to stitch their parents’ relationship back together again, when their local priest runs off to gamble Church funds in Mexico, when their reckless cousin Bett comes to visit. It is also the summer when their young lives fall apart. The Bird Sisters weaves visual poetry with fierce and lovely language, like young Bett, sticking her pale arms deep into a beehive and walking away unstung, or a starling, assumed dead, suddenly launching itself out a front door into freedom. Witty and wise, with a multilayered plot and characters so real you’ll want to invite them show more to dinner, The Bird Sisters will both enchant and haunt you. A gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, riveting read. show less

First off, the cadences in the prose are lovely. I read ten pages, then put Rasmussen's second novel, Evergreen, on my list. Yup, that good.

The sisters, Millie and Twiss, are wonderful folks to spend time with, as are the other members of the cast. (Except one. I won't say which. Yuck.) This story was about a great many things, which was another of its strengths. For me, the heart of it was the sisters' devotion to each other, despite their enormous differences in personality, predilection and fate. I read this book immediately after finishing We Are Completely Beside Ourselves, also about siblings, but such a different take. It made for an interesting pairing.

My only qualm with The Bird Sisters was that I found it terribly sad. We know show more from the start that the sisters are living together in old age, so it's not exactly a surprise when they get there. I suppose I wasn't quite convinced that's how it should have played out. I wished for so much more for them. I'm not addicted to happy endings, but I did want to better understand how they ended up with only each other.

But read it! There is an abundance of treasure here. show less