When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice

By: Terry Tempest Williams

Narrated by: Terry Tempest Williams

Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

The beloved author of Refuge returns with a work that explodes and startles, illuminates and celebrates.

Terry Tempest Williams's mother told her: "I am leaving you all my journals, but you must promise me you won't look at them until after I'm gone."

Fans of Williams's iconic and unconventional memoir, Refuge, well remember that mother. She was a member of a large Mormon clan in northern Utah who developed cancer as a result of the nuclear testing in nearby Nevada. It was a shock to Williams to discover that her mother had kept journals. But not as much of a shock as what she found when the time came to read them.

They were exactly where she said they would be: three shelves of beautiful cloth-bound books.... "I opened the first journal. It was empty. I opened the second journal. It was empty. I opened the third. It too was empty.... Shelf after shelf after shelf, all of my mother's journals were blank."

What did Williams's mother mean by that? In 54 chapters that unfold like a series of yoga poses, each with its own logic and beauty, Williams creates a lyrical and caring meditation of the mystery of her mother's journals. When Women Were Birds is a kaleidoscope that keeps turning around the question "What does it mean to have a voice?"

©2012 Terry Tempest Williams (P)2012 Wind Over The Earth

The best thing I have ever "read"

When Women Were Birds is....
- A soulful story of the brave in Terry Tempest Williams that nourishes the brave in us all.
- Truth written without apology or antagonism, honesty that shatters shame and elevates courage.
- Beauty beyond words, William's ability to hold pain and pleasure at the same time, shows a way forward in the world where we too can be more than one thing at the same time. Where we might be stronger and softer and more authentic to ourselves and one another.

I will listen to this again and again.

Poetic and compelling

Beautifully written and read. I will listen again to make sure I caught every lovely phrase and idea.

Loved this

Did not disappoint! Beautiful writing, the reader does a great job. I love how the author dives deeper into her own personal stories as the book progresses. 

Breathtaking!

A privilege to listen. A privilege to share the depth of this exquisite woman. I want to begin again so she stays in my life and honors my/our humanity.

Profound and Beautiful

Loved it!! 'When the student is ready, the teacher will appear...' Tao Te Ching

A story for all daughters

I read this as a fan of TTW, not expecting much... after all, it was a book about women and I am a guy. Within minutes, I was drawn in deeply. Ms. Williams shares what it means to be a daughter, a woman, a wife, a child of LDS upbringing, a writer, a birder in a way that is magical. Her writing, as always, is lyrical and thoughtful--improved on this audio version by her own reading. I plan to buy copies of this book for the women in my life for mothers day.

Riveting and Provacative

What made the experience of listening to When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice the most enjoyable?

Listening to Terry narrate the books was as enjoyable as the story itself. Her voice is velvet, and her intonations enhance the whole experience, which is almost dream-like. The repetition of her line "My mother's journals are..." became almost a mantra as she gave voice to the many shades of meaning of the journals. I listened to this book on a road trip of 2 days, and it made the many miles just melt away with her deep explorations of self and metaphor.

Any additional comments?

This book is a deep meditation, as well as a many-layered exploration of women's issues and relationships. It is a must-read for any woman contemplating the meaning of her life. After hearing the audio book, I want to sit down and read the book myself for further understandings. This will be one of my permanent additions to my library.

So incredibly good.

The best thing I’ve read all year. Insanely easy natural gift for writing. I could spend a week trying to write one of her sentences.

A Needed Voice

Terry Tempest Williams speaks my heart to me in this work. She travels the full journey, exquisitely.

Following her voice in flight

What did you love best about When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice?

Vast and yet compact story of a Utah naturalist who writes like a poet.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The writer, storyteller and narrator--all Terry Tempest Williams--shares that world of birds and wilderness. And humanity's place within this realm.

Which scene was your favorite?

The entire book is indivisible. The entire book is compelling, written graciously though at times irascible--cranky even while still engaging.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I realized at the end of this book that I would love to read it again.

Any additional comments?

Have already secured copies as gifts for friends.