Other Birds

A Novel

By: Sarah Addison Allen

Narrated by: Siiri Scott

Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

From the acclaimed author of Garden Spells comes a tale of lost souls, secrets that shape us, and how the right flock can guide you home.

Down a narrow alley in the small coastal town of Mallow Island, South Carolina, lies a stunning cobblestone building comprised of five apartments. It's called The Dellawisp and it's named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy.

When Zoey Hennessey comes to claim her deceased mother's apartment at The Dellawisp, she meets her quirky, enigmatic neighbors including a girl on the run, a grieving chef whose comfort food does not comfort him, two estranged middle-aged sisters, and three ghosts. Each with their own story. Each with their own longings. Each whose ending isn't yet written.

When one of her new neighbors dies under odd circumstances the night Zoey arrives, she's thrust into the mystery of The Dellawisp, which involves missing pages from a legendary writer whose work might be hidden there. She soon discovers that many unfinished stories permeate the place, and the people around her are in as much need of healing from wrongs of the past as she is. To find their way they have to learn how to trust each other, confront their deepest fears, and let go of what haunts them.

Delightful and atmospheric, Other Birds is filled with magical realism and moments of pure love that won't let you go. Sarah Addison Allen shows us that between the real and the imaginary, there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways.

©2022 Sarah Addison Allen (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“The wistful sweetness in Siiri Scott's narration perfectly complements the small-town South Carolina setting of this audiobook.… Scott movingly depicts each character's hesitant yet hopeful path to friendship and, in some cases, romance. Scott employs light accents and adeptly softens her tone or deepens her pitch to portray every character—male or female, young or old, local resident or transplant.… Scott creates an absorbing, atmospheric listening experience.”—AudioFile Magazine

“Siiri Scott's engaging narration accompanies listeners as the story moves from past to present, revealing the residents' backstories and introducing ghosts, both symbolic and literal.… Scott sensitively takes listeners through the twists and turns in each resident's story, ending on a hopeful note. With ghosts that are comforting rather than frightening, this story, gently laced with magical realism, weaves a charming spell. With its underlying theme of resilience and growth, Allen's (First Frost) latest will have wide appeal. A great match for book clubs.”—Library Journal (starred review)

"The biggest challenge for the reader is to try to not turn the pages so quickly in order to extend the fun. ... An outstanding reading experience. Readers who enjoy a Southern story, a touch of the unexplained, and works by Fannie Flagg and Karen White will all be delighted by this novel."—Booklist (starred review)

Whimsical

Whimsical with some serious childhood issues being the main theme. I have read Sarah Allison Allen before, And I do enjoy her books. She writes in a little bit of magic along with her story. This one was probably not my favorite if hers but I did enjoyed. I thought the narrator was very good

loved it!

another winner from SAA! hated to reach the end. Will reread for sure! I particularly love Zoey, for the way she draws everyone together. includes everyone.

Charming story

My last audio was amazing, but dark. I needed an audio that would brighten my spirits, and Sarah Addison Allen’s “Other Birds” received consistently high marks for “charming” and quirky. Sounds like a winner!

Who wouldn’t enjoy a novel that features birds, ghosts, eccentric characters, and a suspicious death? Plus, the main character, Zoey Hennessey, is a plucky protagonist, in search of remnants of her deceased mother.

The story opens with Zoey arriving at a remote tiny island off the coast of South Carolina named Mallow Island. Zoey’s mother, Paloma, owns a condo there secreted in the middle of town where Zoey intends to stay. She came for the summer to attempt to find information about her mother, who died years ago. Zoey brings an empty bird cage which holds her imaginary bird, Pigeon. The condo building is horseshoe-shaped, and maintained by an elderly man named Frasier who is written like Saint Francis because of the turquoise dellawisp birds that follow him.

Soon after Zoey’s arrival, one of the residents, Lizbeth, is found dead. Her estranged sister Lucy lives in the same building, along with a chef named Mac (who is always covered in corn meal), and Charlotte, a henna artist. Frasier asks Zoey to clean out Lizbeth’s condo (Lizbeth had a serious hoarding problem).

Allen provides chapters for the ghosts. We learn why they are hanging around. There is the back story to Zoey and Charlotte. Lizbeth and Lucy had a disturbing childhood. Mac’s story of how he became a chef is heart-warming.

This is a charming story. I recommend it for those who are in need of a cozy mystery or just an enchanting story that leaves you happy. The magical realism is written well.

The audio is narrated by Siiri Scott and is 9 hours long.

Magical

Magical, marshmallowy & marvelously Southern. Absolutely wonderful like all of her books. I highly recommend this book & all of the others by her.

Not what I anticipated from Sarah Addison Allen but wonderful in unfamiliar ways!

This book is a little different from Sarah Addison Allen’s other novels. I absolutely love her other novels and was a bit skeptical of this one at first. I believe I was searching for the familiarity of how her other books weaved together. Then it hit me…. this is new… different. Stop expecting the familiar. I fell in love with this novel! It is wonderful! The characters are complex and less perfect than the ones in her other novels.

Ghost stories

Author Sarah provides another imaginative story unlike others within the genre. It was a pleasure to listen and well worth the purchase. I love the effortless storytelling and the lingering feelings which resulted. Highly recommended for those who enjoy magical realism and characterizations which aren't always static and predictable. A great way to spend 8 hours is to listen to this book.

It was ok

Entertaining characters but predictable plot. The reader was great though the accents were pretty bad

Could not stop listening

Wonderful storyline . Many twists. Enjoyed the characters - all of them. Bookclub really got into a great discussion. Can’t go wrong with Sarah Addison Allen

Magical as always

If you’re looking for cozy sweetness with a touch of magic, Sarah Addison never disappoints.

oh so wonderful

so excited for another one of Sarah Addison Allen's books. she has a magical way of pulling you in an intriguing you

I loved other birds so much. The story is beautiful and the way it is set up is pure magic

thank you