THE NATURE OF SMALL BIRDS
BY SUZIE FINKBEINER
Publisher: Revell
Pub Date: July 6, 2021
Pages: 368 pages
Categories: Fiction / Christian / General
Scroll for Giveaway!
In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When Mindy, one of those children, announces her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives.
Though her father supports Mindy’s desire to meet her family of origin, he struggles privately with an unsettling fear that he’ll lose the daughter he’s poured his heart into. Mindy’s mother undergoes the emotional rollercoaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy’s sister helps her sort through relics that whisper of the effect the trauma of war has had on their family–but also speak of the beauty of overcoming.
Told through three strong voices in three compelling timelines, The Nature of Small Birds is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code.
“Susie Finkbeiner has such an inviting and distinctive voice as a writer that you’ll gladly follow it–and follow her–to any setting.”–Valerie Fraser Luesse, Christy Award-winning author of Under the Bayou Moon
Review
Susie Finkbeiner has written a beautiful story about the value of family. The book is filled with heartwarming stories of the many members of a loving family that struggles together to make it through each life-changing event. Her characters are people you want to know and her dialogue is superb. She writes in a unique format using three different years: 1975, 1988, and 2013, with each year told by different characters; two female and one male. I found this style provided a holistic picture of the family and kept me connected with the characters.
The writing itself is poetic, calm, and peaceful, allowing a deeper, more meaningful connection between the reader and the characters. Even though there are some heart-wrenching moments, the love for each other brings a strong sense of hope to the entire novel.
The setting and background of the book are a little complicated because it deals with the Vietnam War from the viewpoint of adopting a child through Operation Baby Lift, which was the mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to the United States in April of 1975. The family lives in Michigan and decides to adopt one of the orphans. Although this plays a big part in the story it certainly is not all of it.
Finkbeiner has written a book that will bring you joy. My favorite quote and there are many from this book, is “Loving her is the best thing I’ve ever had to work at.” It is a must-read for 2021!
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ONE WINNER:
(Giveaway ends midnight, CDT, July 24, 2021; US only.)
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE
LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THE TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,
or visit the blogs directly:
|
7/13/21 |
Author Video |
|
|
7/13/21 |
BONUS Promo |
|
|
7/14/21 |
Excerpt |
|
|
7/14/21 |
BONUS Promo |
|
|
7/15/21 |
Review |
|
|
7/16/21 |
Review |
|
|
7/17/21 |
Top Ten |
|
|
7/18/21 |
Video Guest Post |
|
|
7/19/21 |
Review |
|
|
7/20/21 |
Playlist |
|
|
7/21/21 |
Review |
|
|
7/22/21 |
Review |
Julia Picks 1 
This sounds EXACTLY like the kind of book I need right now. Thanks for the review!
LikeLike