Review of The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen

 I came upon the book, The Bird Sisters, by accident one day on Twitter.  Everyone was talking about this debut author, Rebecca Rasmussen, and her upcoming release.  I immediately looked for a synopsis of the plot, since I am an avowed bird lover.  Ah, a tale of two elderly sisters—one who attends to wounded birds and the other to wounded souls.  Upon receiving the book from the author herself (which in no way influenced this review), I was drawn to it—the cover, the concept, and even Rasumussen herself.  And like a cardinal in a pine tree in my yard, the The Bird Sisters spoke to me.

In Spring Green, WI reside two eccentric spinster sisters (known to locals as “the bird sisters”) in their family’s homestead outside of town.  The eldest Milly is a calm, caring soul while Twiss is a wild child whose adventurous heart is held captive by an aging body.  In her debut novel, The Bird Sisters, Rebecca Rasmussen weaves together stories from the sisters past (specifically the summer of 1947) with the present to construct an intricate and clever plot.  The brilliance of her technique shows that Rasmussen is a skilled novelist, but it is her descriptions—sometimes subtle and other times overt—that makes The Bird Sisters a truly intriguing read.

Sixteen and in love with the boy who mows the lawn, Milly is preparing herself to be a wife and a mother while 14 year-old Twiss is a free-spirited tomboy who cannot be contained.  The girls’ mother and father have a dysfunctional relationship, so dysfunctional that their father, a former semi-professional golfer, has moved into the barn to work on a mysterious project.  To further complicate family dynamics, Cousin Bettie (“Bett”) comes to live with the family for the summer, telling all sorts of wild stories.  It is the events of this summer that define and explain each girl’s life path—why Milly, a perfect little house maker ends up a childless old maid, why Twiss is the way she is, and the permanent role that Bett, a temporary resident, plays in the sisters’ future. 

Milly and Twiss are inviting characters, whose adventures reminded me of what was great, confusing, and heart-breaking about being a teenager—and learning that the world can indeed be a cruel, yet lovely, place to live.  I enjoyed each sister for different reasons—Twiss for her spirit, boldness, and tenacity and Milly for her unfaltering kindness and hidden strength.  

The Bird Sisters is a very readable, endearing work of literary fiction that hosts a cast of quirky characters from the bird sisters themselves, to their family, to the town locals.  Each character, however minor, is set into the story with purpose and determination.  Therefore, it is essential to read the story carefully, pay attention to minute details, and enjoy Rasmussen’s lush writing.  

*With thanks to the author for my review copy.*

Do you have a sister or a best friend?  Would you give up your dream to help someone else?  What do you think of this book's cover? (I love it!)