Synopsis:
The literary landscape of Whirl of Birds interlaces the spatial and temporal complexities of the mind, in narrative flickers and bursts. Whether we glimpse at the plight of Neanderthals in the depths of lost ages, or at the collapse of communism in the mirrors of a children’s theater, whether we’re uplifted by the triumph of friendship over poverty or watch the last cowboy in New York State struggle to save his business, we recognize how much we are driven by our passions. Strange, but all too human obsessions shape the characters: from rat hoarding to an infatuation with a sculpture, from lies we tell ourselves and others to encounters with the dead, readers are swept in whirls of time, chains of connectivity that can break like glass, the unseen that whispers in our ear. The twists and turns of these short stories create a restless world where self and other meet in glimpses. Each small moment becomes an earthquake that echoes through time, each life is wrestled out of its own darkness, to arrive at the one question that is worth asking.
Favorite Lines:
As always with short story collections, I am highlighting my favorite story from the collection rather than quotes. I actually found the title’s namesake story, Whirl of Birds, to be my favorite from the collection. Without giving anything away, it highlights how life can be thrown into chaos and makes us question what we really value. It resonated with me quite a bit and I found myself still reflecting on it days after reading it.
My Opinion:
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
I’ve been getting more and more requests for short story collection reviews lately but what really drew me to agreeing to review this collection was the editorial reviews on the publishing website as well as the cover art itself which I thought was unique and beautiful and I was hoping it was reflective of the content inside. Spoiler: it was.
This collection of short stories explores what it means to be human in a variety of ways. From humans in ancient societies to contemporary ones, Andreasen leads us on rich and emotional journeys through diverse landscapes to tell stories that echo with themes and lessons involving all things life and human.
What I found most compelling about this collection was Andreasen’s writing style – I don’t think I have ever read something quite like it and I found it to be very artistically enjoyable. She crafted scenes with strong imagery that made me feel like I was right there in the worlds she was creating. It felt like each line was written with purpose and I have a feeling that each time a reader gives this a new read through, they will find something new that they hadn’t noticed before to ponder.
Andreasen does a fantastic job at challenging readers to reflect on not only their lives but society as a whole and what it truly means to be a human being. Readers will be immersed in worlds full of thought-provoking narratives full of deep emotions and clever storylines.
Summary:
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection and the deep-dive into the complexities that life has to offer. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys creative short story collections full of emotional narratives that lead to thought provoking reflections. Happy reading!
Check out Whirl of Birds here!
