Niklas reviewed Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
wondrous travels through grief
4 stars
Porter is lovely with language. This book also, as with his 'Lanny', carries a lot of solace.
114 pages
English language
Published May 6, 2016
In a London flat, two young boys face the unbearable sadness of their mother's sudden death. Their father, a Ted Hughes scholar and scruffy romantic, imagines a future of well-meaning visitors and emptiness. In this moment of despair they are visited by Crow - antagonist, trickster, healer, babysitter. This sentimental bird is drawn to the grieving family and threatens to stay until they no longer need him. As weeks turn to months and the pain of loss gives way to memories, the little unit of three starts to heal. In this extraordinary debut - part novella, part polyphonic fable, part essay on grief - Max Porter's compassion and bravura style combine to dazzling effect. Full of unexpected humour and profound emotional truth, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers marks the arrival of a thrilling new talent.--
Porter is lovely with language. This book also, as with his 'Lanny', carries a lot of solace.
This amazing book creeps into you as you move through it. Three protagonists, "Dad", "Boys" and "Crow" show different views of grief at the loss of the boys' mother. Written like a disjointed play, the short book manages to be heartfelt and heartbreaking, hopeful and tearful all simultaneously. The poetic writing and the well defined, carefully crafted voices of each character ensure the book wraps its wings around you and holds you, firm but not constricting. And then it lets you go.
Wow. Not sure what to say other than I REALLY liked that book.