Grief is the Thing with Feathers

hardcover

Published July 21, 2015 by FABER FABER, Faber & Faber, London, England.

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5 stars (6 reviews)

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.--

4 editions

Review of 'Grief Is the Thing with Feathers' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

A family in London is faced with the death of the two boys' mother, the husband's wife. In the depths of their grief, a visitor arrives in the form of a giant crow. Grief is the Thing with Feathers is a surreal book but also manages to be incredibly moving.

I'm not familiar with Ted Hughes' poetry but I do understand that this Crow is based on the crow his book of poems, Crow: From the Life and Songs of the Crow. The father is writing a biography of the poet and appears to be a huge fan, so perhaps Crow was conjured out his mind. Or perhaps he was real.

Crow's narrative is often fractured, as if he is fighting between his animal and godlike states. He is sentimental for this broken family. He could be scary but he is a catalyst for healing. He invites himself in a …

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