Customer Reviews

Before Women Had Wings (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Other reviewers do a good job of summing up what the book is about, so I won't try to do that. But I will point out that it is almost unremittingly harsh and violent. The book and the main character do, as the title suggest, soar beyond that, but this material can be hard to read. For those for whom this hits too close to home, every insult and slap will sting. For those who don't already have this kind of violence in their lives, you may not wish to bring it in. It's definitely something to consider before you jump in.

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. :)

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.

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!

Perhaps one of the most difficult stories to write is a story about children and/or abuse. Interjecting just the right amount of sentimentality is often times too difficult of a task for even the most talented writers, but Connie May Fowler tackles both topics with a level of sensitivity and finesse that makes this book a "must read." BEFORE WOMEN HAD WINGS tells the story of Avocet "Bird" Jackson, a world-weary child in search of love among the people whose love should be a given but who are sometimes the most stingy with their affections. Bird tells the story of many young women who have either witnessed or experienced abuse in a matter-of-fact, no-holds bar fashion. The complexity of the relationship between she and her parents and she and her sister and brother provides readers with a wide-open look into a tragic life that eventually makes a transcendent jump into a path of redemption. This is a book well worth reading again and again.

In a world where happiness is hard to come by and love comes with a price, where pain is felt regularly and cruelty is often a consequence, it's a wonder that beauty could live, kindness could thrive, and women could have wings. The main character, Avocet (known as Bird), is part of a disfunctional family made up of an older sister (Pheobe) who craves freedom from her family, an alcoholic mother whose hobby is beating her children, a father who is anything but devoted to his family, and a half-brother (Hank) who claims to love her but is never there. The mother is an outrage, beating them so badly that scars are not only left on the surface of their skin, but also in their souls. Before Women Had Wings perfectly illustrates the hardships of the bright yet unsung hero that lies in a little girl. It also shows that some people are put into other's lives to be an angel, and to give them wings to fly. We are five female English honors students from Colorado. This book was intense but fulfilling for all of us. It made us value our lives, as well as those in less fortunate situations. It is a tearjerker that will bring out a powerful anger from deep within you. People who deal with or have dealt with domestic violence or just want to read about the shocking realities of it should definitely read this book.

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!

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.

I have recently completed reading 'Before Women Had Wings' written by Connie Fowler. It is a 'real life in your face' view of what it may be like to be hopeless and destitute - 'white trash' living within a rural area of the south, or more likely, this story could unfold in virtually any part of the United States. Although the two children are caught in the grasp of a hell all their own, it must be acknowledged: their mother is torn within her own grasp of the Grim Reaper's icy hold. Therefore, out of the only existing resources offered her and a heart wrenching fear to provide, she desperately needs a friend, silently pleading for help to save her children from herself. The novelist leaves little doubt, beyond the obvious socially unacceptable diaseases of mental illness, abuse, and alcoholism, Ms. Jackson must and will survive. Glory Marie, at the very least, has managed to instill this survivalist instinct within Phoebe and Avocet (or perhaps the cruel upbringing provides the instinct)to survive and yet hold love for each other while enduring these excruciating circumstances. One must always remember: Violence begets violence. Ms. Fowler does this 'race' of poor white trash a service, and an exceptional one, by telling this story as it is - with the realistic description of making one feel it; if one doesn't live it. Of making one experience the ache of poverty; if actually they have not. It is a story that is told well, has the ability to emotionally move one to tears and anger within its pages, leaving the color of one's skin irrelevant.

Like the typical southern novel--drink, violence and poverty...

But it becomes richer and fuller as it unravels itself into lovely but somewhat predictable prose.

The characters are well-developed but the strength, in my opinion, is how Fowler puts words to incidents -- they are downright sensual.

Reminds me a bit of "Bastard out of Carolina".

This was my first Fowler reading and I will read another -- this one was enjoyable but like I said--somewhat predictable.