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rachelle_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
4.75
It took me a minute to get into this one, perhaps because of the large cast of quirky characters. But once I did, wow, I really enjoyed the setting, the people, and the stories woven throughout. I wish more people knew about Margaret Verble.
alliepeduto's review against another edition
3.0
When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky is a mystery, a historical novel, and, above all, an educational narrative that will stick with you long after the last page. The characters and situations will draw you in, but the haunting story and the lessons available to those open to learning will keep you.
Two Feathers, our eponymous main character, is a horse diver (and I highly recommend you research that to get a full appreciation for the job title), who is working in the now defunct Nashville Glendale Zoo in 1926. After a series of strange happenings, Two becomes embroiled in a mystery regarding the park’s animals and whether there are supernatural elements at play. It’s magical realism at its finest, but I found the story extremely believable despite this.
But what I found most compelling in the book was the storytelling. This expertly weaved in historical facts while maintaining a sense of the unknown, honoring those who have gone before, with an understanding that history repeats itself. Our job is to listen and learn, and to be better. It’s masterful writing and an engaging story that you won’t want to miss!
Two Feathers, our eponymous main character, is a horse diver (and I highly recommend you research that to get a full appreciation for the job title), who is working in the now defunct Nashville Glendale Zoo in 1926. After a series of strange happenings, Two becomes embroiled in a mystery regarding the park’s animals and whether there are supernatural elements at play. It’s magical realism at its finest, but I found the story extremely believable despite this.
But what I found most compelling in the book was the storytelling. This expertly weaved in historical facts while maintaining a sense of the unknown, honoring those who have gone before, with an understanding that history repeats itself. Our job is to listen and learn, and to be better. It’s masterful writing and an engaging story that you won’t want to miss!
junemcteer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
kappafrog's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book got off to a very strong start. I loved the opening chapter, immediately grounding the book's approach to historical fiction in Indigenous storytelling and history. Two Feathers was a great main character. The best parts of the book were the ones from her perspective.
The middle of the book dragged. I didn't enjoy reading from the antagonist's POV, and the book drifted too far from her perspective with side characters. I did like Clive as a character, and Crawford, though their romantic side stories were again taking a lot of time away from Two.
I loved the magical realism in this book. The ghosts were really compelling. This book just had such a refreshing take on the setting, providing windows into a variety of worlds, from early 20th century entertainers' lives to the perspective of the buffalo.
So while the romances and Jack dragged the book down a bit, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in this world and seeing it from Two's eyes. We need more books like this.
The middle of the book dragged. I didn't enjoy reading from the antagonist's POV, and the book drifted too far from her perspective with side characters. I did like Clive as a character, and Crawford, though their romantic side stories were again taking a lot of time away from Two.
I loved the magical realism in this book. The ghosts were really compelling. This book just had such a refreshing take on the setting, providing windows into a variety of worlds, from early 20th century entertainers' lives to the perspective of the buffalo.
So while the romances and Jack dragged the book down a bit, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in this world and seeing it from Two's eyes. We need more books like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Animal death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Stalking, Racism, Vomit, Genocide, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Alcohol, Grief, Violence, War, Sexism, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Classism, Death, and Slavery
Minor: Excrement, Child death, and Homophobia
engelkat's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ktxx22's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 55%. Theres way too much going on here. I’m not really a big fan of magical realism and this is leaning into it hard plus there’s way too many shitty humans in this book. Horrible people with horrible thoughts and horrible actions. Not enjoying it at all.
simonereadsbooks's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ispeakbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
With this title, the bright yellow cover, the author being a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and a book description mentioning an eclectic set of characters and unexpected friendship, I knew I wanted to read When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky by Margeret Verble. I also wanted to read this because I have a very small percentage of Blackfoot Indian blood myself.
Picture this: Nashville area, Glendale Park Zoo, 1926. The First World War and the influenza pandemic not long past. Two Feathers, a horse-diver on loan from a Wild West Show in Oklahoma, is diving at the park a few times a day with her beloved horse Ocher. She's trying to find her own way in the world, feeling that the typical life of a woman on the reservation she is from isn't a natural fit for her. Although she misses her family, there's the sense that Glendale Park feels a bit like home for her. When disaster strikes during one of her shows, an eclectic group of people rush to save her. In doing so, one character begins to witness ghosts and spirits roaming the grounds, and strange events begin to occur around the park.
The real strength of this story is the cast of quirky characters. Two Feathers and her Park friends are characters the reader can root for, fully fleshed, with flaws and virtues. I really enjoyed seeing how Two interacted with the animals. There is really only one bad apple of a character, and he can be spotted from a mile off. However, in places, it feels as if there are too many minor, nonconsequential characters, who ultimately play no real, defined part in the overall tale and were perhaps not necessary to be added at all.
The tale brings to light the painful truth of American history, which is that the white European people stole land from the Native Americans, drove them out, killed them through violence and disease, and completely changed their ways of life. In driving them off their land, Native American land was also desecrated; graves were robbed; an amusement park was built directly over a graveyard. It really makes clear the complete lack of respect that was shown to these marvelous, unique people. It also touches upon racism of whites to black people, although not as heavily. Important topics, which the author handled honestly and well, sticking to what she knows and only dipping briefly into the other.
The story is interesting. It's like spending a few months with some people you will grow close to, and you'll be happy to have met them and gotten to know them. There are lots of historical facts packed into the story, much of the day-to-day life of the time. There are romance and some unique, unexpected friendships. There's a splash of mystery. However, the mystery aspect was not as well done as the previously mentioned aspects. It was slow burn, and never really approached the feverish pitch that readers of mystery and thrillers get high off of.
Overall, I am glad to have read this book. I feel as if some of the historical facts have enriched my knowledge of American history. I really enjoyed being immersed in this tale with this special group of characters and witnessing how they worked together to resolve difficult issues. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, and especially Native American historical fiction.
Picture this: Nashville area, Glendale Park Zoo, 1926. The First World War and the influenza pandemic not long past. Two Feathers, a horse-diver on loan from a Wild West Show in Oklahoma, is diving at the park a few times a day with her beloved horse Ocher. She's trying to find her own way in the world, feeling that the typical life of a woman on the reservation she is from isn't a natural fit for her. Although she misses her family, there's the sense that Glendale Park feels a bit like home for her. When disaster strikes during one of her shows, an eclectic group of people rush to save her. In doing so, one character begins to witness ghosts and spirits roaming the grounds, and strange events begin to occur around the park.
The real strength of this story is the cast of quirky characters. Two Feathers and her Park friends are characters the reader can root for, fully fleshed, with flaws and virtues. I really enjoyed seeing how Two interacted with the animals. There is really only one bad apple of a character, and he can be spotted from a mile off. However, in places, it feels as if there are too many minor, nonconsequential characters, who ultimately play no real, defined part in the overall tale and were perhaps not necessary to be added at all.
The tale brings to light the painful truth of American history, which is that the white European people stole land from the Native Americans, drove them out, killed them through violence and disease, and completely changed their ways of life. In driving them off their land, Native American land was also desecrated; graves were robbed; an amusement park was built directly over a graveyard. It really makes clear the complete lack of respect that was shown to these marvelous, unique people. It also touches upon racism of whites to black people, although not as heavily. Important topics, which the author handled honestly and well, sticking to what she knows and only dipping briefly into the other.
The story is interesting. It's like spending a few months with some people you will grow close to, and you'll be happy to have met them and gotten to know them. There are lots of historical facts packed into the story, much of the day-to-day life of the time. There are romance and some unique, unexpected friendships. There's a splash of mystery. However, the mystery aspect was not as well done as the previously mentioned aspects. It was slow burn, and never really approached the feverish pitch that readers of mystery and thrillers get high off of.
Overall, I am glad to have read this book. I feel as if some of the historical facts have enriched my knowledge of American history. I really enjoyed being immersed in this tale with this special group of characters and witnessing how they worked together to resolve difficult issues. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, and especially Native American historical fiction.
emelynreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
An indigenous woman who horse dives at a zoo in 1926? This sounded so interesting, and the opening chapter was incredible. However the pacing of this book was glacially slow, every character was static except for one (don't want to give anything away beyond that). And the ending was abrupt and unsatisfactory.
So while I liked the concept, I couldn't find myself wanting to read this again or suggest it to anyone else unless you're maybe from the area, which would be an interesting perspective since the author used to live nearby and took the time to research the area's history. I'm sad to have rated this lower than expected.
So while I liked the concept, I couldn't find myself wanting to read this again or suggest it to anyone else unless you're maybe from the area, which would be an interesting perspective since the author used to live nearby and took the time to research the area's history. I'm sad to have rated this lower than expected.
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @50%
I really wanted to love this one. I mean, how eye-catching is that cover? Unfortunately, I ended up finding it slow, boring, and a slog to get through.
I really wanted to love this one. I mean, how eye-catching is that cover? Unfortunately, I ended up finding it slow, boring, and a slog to get through.