Before Women Had Wings

No, this book isn't the easiest thing in the world to read. You find yourself wincing at the abusive language & physical violence these characters all endure. Yet, something shines below the surface in this story. Granted, you may have to get a shovel & start digging for it, but all the better. I love reading a novel that teaches me something. Well, this one taught me to always be true to yourself, to always listen to that inner voice, and never to doubt for a second that you're worthy of love. I became enchanted with Avocet ("Bird") & would even like to see a sequel of her further adventures. This book reminded me a lot of "The Secret Life Of Bees" which I also loved!

I was only fifteen when I read this book. I am now twenty one. And, I have to say that it gave me strength and hope that I would eventually get out of my own abusive family. It brought me inspiration to continue to write and put my feelings into words. I think Ms. Fowler is an excellent writer. And, I do have to say that, as hard as it is to read, it is worth reading. Just have some tissue near by. And, make sure you have someone to hug, even if it's a cat or dog. :)

Connie May Fowler introduces us to a six year old girl, known as Bird because most people refused to believe someone was really called Avocet. Although Bird knows no other life, we readers immediately realise she's trapped in a dreadful existence - alcoholic, emotionally and physically abusive and desperately poor. Not a new story, but certainly not derivitive.We see the cycle of family dysfunction, brought on by lost dreams, violence, poverty, hopelessness and alcoholism from Bird's perspective as she desperately tries to make sense of it all. Adding to her confusion, she tries to find hope in religion, where even that is the cause of a family rift - the children are divided between the Baptist father and Catholic mother, and Bird is devastated when she finds she will never be a Bride of Christ, like her sister. Except for the extremes, Bird's childhood is not that different from many of ours. I'm sure I wasn't the only reader remembering the confusion of childhood, trying to make sense of adults' behaviour, the strange religious stories, and the weird stuff taught at school, wondering why everything that goes wrong is our fault, enduring the cruelty inflicted by other children, desperately longing to be loved and safe. But if we were lucky, we had a warm bed, food on the table, arms that hugged us and told us we were loved. Among the not so fortunate, Bird could take none these for granted. Although there are countless stories of difficult childhoods, deprived by abuse, alcoholism, poverty and endless other dysfunctions, there was something about Bird's voice that rang clear and true - perhaps because it was written from the perspective of a child, rather than an adult's recollection, perhaps because she never asked for pity, perhaps because you always knew someone so gutsy would survive.They say you don't need to have murdered to write of a murder, but as I was reading, I found it impossible to believe this story could be written without experiencing that childhood, and having read your interview with the author, I understand it is at least partially autobiographical. I also thought it would be an excellent choice for Oprah's Book Club, and now realise it was, obviously before I started watching Oprah.I picked up this book while browsing through the library in the (increasingly difficult) search for something I want to read and added it to my stack of books after flicking through and reading a few random paragraphs. What a wonderful accident! Now I've added a new author to my list.

This book was very touching. Seeing two young girls go through so much at such a tender age. Seeing them grow up so fast by no choice of their own. It was heartbreaking to read about the verbal and physical abuse that went on in their household and the blame being put on them for everything that went wrong. You will acquire a strong affection for Bird, the main character in the story. She is a curious, loving, forgiving, precious little girl. She goes through alot, and the way the book is written, makes the reader feel that they are walking hand-in-hand with Bird the whole time.Connie May Fowler is a talented writer. God Bless Her!

I received, Before Women Had Wings, as a gift from my sister. Prior to this, I had never heard of Connie May Fowler, and I've come to realize she's a fairly new aurthor, as she's written only three novels.This book had me captivated from the very beginning. The characters were so rich and full of life, and Ms. Fowler's descriptions were so very humanistic -- she generates feelings within the reader and paints her canvas full of elaborate descriptions full of texture.A story about a darling six-year-old girl named Avocet Abigail Jackson, who is mainly called by the nickname "Bird", this story pulls at your hearstrings. It's about this six-year-old dealing with an abusive mother who, not only has a drinking problem, but has a tongue of steel. Added to this dysfunctional family is a loving, but equally alcohol-obsessed father (who later commits suicide), a warm, but absent brother (who flew the coop when he could and came back to visit later), and a coming-of-age older sister.Bird tries to sift through where she belongs in this world when her mother packs the two girls to a trailer home, where Bird meets Miss Zora, a highly spiritual soul who is a healer. Bird is one of the most charming young female characters I have come across in a long time. You not only feel for her, but for her sister, Phoebe and brother, Hank, as well. As for Mom (Glory Marie) and Pop (Billy), they were indeed lost souls. Billy was a well-meaning man and father, but just so lost. As for Glory Marie, she was so easy to dislike, but as her soul unraveled towards the end of the story, you hoped for her sake, as well as for her children's, that she would find her way. Miss Zora, who was like one of those strong but quiet souls, was almost like a fairly godmother to Bird and, in the end, to the whole family.This is one of those books that took you into it, and made you wish you could follow the characters to see how life continued to treat them.After reading this book, I realized that Connie May Fowler was truly a gifted writer and storyteller.