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Birding

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About this listen

In the nineties, Lydia was one half of a teen pop group. Their image was sexy, edgy, girly yet 'in control.' The reality was very different. Now, thirty years later, with #MeToo revelations a daily reality, a famous ex-lover resurfaces with a slick, self-serving apology, demanding forgiveness. Suddenly, Lydia is overwhelmed with memories of a harmful time in her life that refuses to leave her in peace.

Meanwhile, Joyce has never left home and the suffocating grip of her mother, Betty. For decades their lives have intertwined, even wearing matching dresses and make-up, as they follow a rigid daily routine. A single misstep can send Betty spiralling, so Joyce stays inside the tracks. But something unfamiliar is rising inside Joyce—a whispered what if . . .

Against the faded backdrop of a once-grand seaside resort, Lydia and Joyce are trapped in worlds of their own making. But as they both confront their pasts—the toxic men, the forgotten dreams, the twisted expectations—fate is about to throw them together as they wrestle with the question: Can we ever truly take flight on broken wings?

©2024 Rose Ruane (P)2025 W.F. Howes Ltd. Genre Fiction Literary Fiction

Critic reviews

LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION

'A surprisingly moving and uplifting book that asks what it means to fully become ourselves' Irish Times
All stars
Most relevant
Rose Ruane’s command of the English language is exquisite and awe-inducing. I utterly adored Joyce and Betty and could visualise them so clearly. Huge Grey Gardens energy! ‘Birding’ is both beautifully conceived and put together. The writing displays the sort of talent that can't be bought or taught. The suitcase and shape-sorting toy analogies are *chef's kiss* And I can't remember an occasion where I have experienced such a visceral rage towards a fictional character as I did for Henry. I'm genuinely sad to bid farewell to these characters. They felt so real, and so vibrant, to me. The audiobook was superbly narrated by Antonia Beamish. Her performance really is first class, the interpretation of Betty a masterclass in voice acting. Rose Ruane is a rare gem of a writer. I truly cannot wait to see what she does next!

Exquisite!

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