What do readers think of The Days When Birds Come Back by Deborah Reed? Write your own review.

A young woman, trying to climb out of her alcoholism returns to her childhood home. Her aim is to restore the home and adjoining house and come to terms with her past. At the other end of the state is a young couple grieving from the loss of their young twins. The husband comes to manage the repairs and somehow, the two lead characters connect. I wish that I could shave connected with these two people, but I couldn't stir up much of a feeling for them. The star of this novel is the magnificent Northwest coastline. That is described lovingly.

I felt the language and writing was superb...but felt that in some ways that took away from the storyline...the depth of feelings was there, but the connections were too weak for me.

This is a novel of deep interiority. The characters June and Jameson are avoiding their past and have a detached relationship with their present reality. Trauma can do that. A fog of gloom hangs like the grayness of the Pacific Northwest that permeates the senses of the characters, described in lush prose by author Reed. Readers with a regional interest will particularly relate to the environmental influence exerted over the story. Those who find inspiration in novels of redemption will appreciate June and Jameson's move at an achingly slow pace from guilt and grief to an uncertain yet hopeful future.

The characters didn't interest me as much as the descriptions of the Pacific Northwest and the home renovations. Wouldn't it be lovely to find someone like Jameson who took such pride in his work, and fulfilled his obligations with the care of a true craftsman. I found June to be rather annoying in spite of feeling sympathy for the circumstances of her early life. It was an okay read, but
couldn't get truly invested in the story or the characters.

June and Jameson needed to find each other in order for readers to experience with them the sad and wide range of bad happenings they sort of survive: death of parents and children, physical injuries, loss of love, alcoholism, misunderstandings, and more. To me it portrays overwrought lives which most of us wouldn't get through. Also had a series of coincidences that I found ludicrous. I gave it a 3 because of the interesting home renovation. I guess I don't see the book as plausible. Especially the ending. Sorry, Deborah.

This was not one of my favorite books - I found it hard to "get into". June was a difficult character to relate to - her story unfolds slowly throughout the book. While feeling some pity for - I also found her annoying. It might be a good read for Book Clubs because I think it would elicit a vigorous discussion.