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sophiesargant's review against another edition
dark
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookasaurusray's review against another edition
4.0
The writing style is incredible - so imaginative and lyrical. And the structure absorbing. My only disappointment with this book is the ending; the book builds so strongly to an ending that is unfortunately too ambiguous for my liking.
PopSugar Challenge 2016: A book that takes place on an island (X)
PopSugar Challenge 2016: A book that takes place on an island (X)
chrissie_whitley's review against another edition
4.0
Jake Whyte resides alone in a weather-beaten farmhouse on a rugged British island. Her only companions are her unruly collie, Dog, and a flock of sheep. But something sinister has been targeting her sheep, filling her with terror. As rumors of a formidable beast circulate, and more sheep end up dead, Jake's enigmatic past is revealed through flashbacks, encroaching on her present sense of peace. Evoking isolation, resilience, and the quest for redemption, All the Birds, Singing masterfully portrays a secluded life filled with hardships, glimpses of beauty, and the pursuit of salvation.
Wyld built such a strong sense of place and person in Whyte and her sheep farm — the atmosphere practically thrummed with tension by the end. While I don't love present tense, I can accept the use of it here as a contrast between the present day (in past tense) and the backwardly unfurling of Jake's past (told in present tense). The juxtaposition helped anchor the story, and the awareness of Wyld using this tool with purpose and thoughtfulness helped elevate this from the all-too-often place of relegated gimmick. Plus Wyld's writing was wonderfully, refreshingly top notch.
My only issue was with the ending — all that tension didn't release properly and the story sort of simply petered out.
Audiobook, as narrated by [a:Cat Gould|7576340|Cat Gould|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]: Gould did such a masterful job alongside Wyld's brilliant writing that I struggled to shake her accent even from thinking in some semblance of her Aussie accent in my head.
Wyld built such a strong sense of place and person in Whyte and her sheep farm — the atmosphere practically thrummed with tension by the end. While I don't love present tense, I can accept the use of it here as a contrast between the present day (in past tense) and the backwardly unfurling of Jake's past (told in present tense). The juxtaposition helped anchor the story, and the awareness of Wyld using this tool with purpose and thoughtfulness helped elevate this from the all-too-often place of relegated gimmick. Plus Wyld's writing was wonderfully, refreshingly top notch.
My only issue was with the ending — all that tension didn't release properly and the story sort of simply petered out.
Audiobook, as narrated by [a:Cat Gould|7576340|Cat Gould|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]: Gould did such a masterful job alongside Wyld's brilliant writing that I struggled to shake her accent even from thinking in some semblance of her Aussie accent in my head.
lisa_bee88's review against another edition
3.0
This book had a lot of unanswered questions, and swung about it so many different directions that it made me dizzy.
It was brutal and ugly, but I enjoyed the story far too much to give it less than 3 stars.
I wish it was longer - i think there was a lot more to be said.
It was brutal and ugly, but I enjoyed the story far too much to give it less than 3 stars.
I wish it was longer - i think there was a lot more to be said.
amberw27's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Young women sheep farmer - bad stuff has happened to her, but she can still be ok
Two timelines - sheep farm on a UK island now, going forward; sheep farm in Australia going backwards
Enjoyed the slow reveal
First sentence:
Another sheep, mangled and bled out, her innards but yet crusting and the vapours rising from her like a steamed pudding.
Ends of chapters: Very good and natural.
Two timelines - sheep farm on a UK island now, going forward; sheep farm in Australia going backwards
Enjoyed the slow reveal
First sentence:
Another sheep, mangled and bled out, her innards but yet crusting and the vapours rising from her like a steamed pudding.
Ends of chapters: Very good and natural.
maureenkeavy's review against another edition
3.0
Probably more like a 3.5/5 stars
I enjoyed this book and I loved the writing and the incentive story telling, but beyond that it just wasn't there for me.
I think expected more of a punch for the reveal and it was a little lacking to me. I also would've appreciated for the two stories to actually join together rather than just be two halves of Jake's story - they didn't really feel coherent at all. I enjoyed both of them but to have them connect in a more meaningful way would have been amazing.
It's really interesting to see character development in reverse, which is what we see with Jake in her background narrative, and that character development is great. However, the present-day forward narrative lacked some character development for me.
Overall a pretty enjoyable book with fantastic writing and an interesting story telling method, but for me was lacking in terms of plot and character development.
I enjoyed this book and I loved the writing and the incentive story telling, but beyond that it just wasn't there for me.
I think expected more of a punch for the reveal and it was a little lacking to me. I also would've appreciated for the two stories to actually join together rather than just be two halves of Jake's story - they didn't really feel coherent at all. I enjoyed both of them but to have them connect in a more meaningful way would have been amazing.
It's really interesting to see character development in reverse, which is what we see with Jake in her background narrative, and that character development is great. However, the present-day forward narrative lacked some character development for me.
Overall a pretty enjoyable book with fantastic writing and an interesting story telling method, but for me was lacking in terms of plot and character development.
cameco's review against another edition
1.0
Probably more like 1.5*
This was difficult to rate. I've ended up going more with what I felt about the story. It all felt a little disjointed but over all it was well written. I just found it too unsettling to really enjoy and there were times when I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish the book because of the content. Sexual abuse and animal cruelty are two things I can't stand to read about and if I'd known they'd be part of the story I would never have picked it up.
This was difficult to rate. I've ended up going more with what I felt about the story. It all felt a little disjointed but over all it was well written. I just found it too unsettling to really enjoy and there were times when I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish the book because of the content. Sexual abuse and animal cruelty are two things I can't stand to read about and if I'd known they'd be part of the story I would never have picked it up.
houk's review against another edition
3.0
might gather my thoughts for a more fleshed-out review, but i'm kind of just ready to be done with it. i don't have many lingering thoughts in the first place, and i find myself relatively indifferent to the novel. the premise was interesting, although i feel that it promised more than it delivered. ultimately, i can't be upset. i enjoyed it well enough, but i can't see myself rereading it.
joannelock's review against another edition
5.0
This troubling, totally engrossing and exquisitely written Australian novel is another five star read from a new(ish) female author. Set concurrently on a craggy, weather-beaten British island and in remote sheep-farming territory of Western Australia, the story is creeping with loneliness, isolation and escape. The characters are few and all extremely flawed and the tension is, at times, hard to bear.