32 pages • 1-hour read
Grief is the Thing with Feathers
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Book Brief
114
Novella • Fiction
•
FantasyLondon, England • Contemporary
•
Death•
Family2015
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter centers on a family navigating the emotional aftermath of a mother's death. A crow visits the grieving father and his two young sons, helping them process their loss in unconventional ways. The narrative intertwines poetic prose and raw emotion, exploring themes of love, memory, and recovery.
Mysterious
Melancholic
Emotional
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Max Porter's Grief is the Thing with Feathers is lauded for its lyrical prose and innovative structure, effectively blending poetry and narrative. Critics praise its emotional depth and exploration of grief. However, some readers may find its abstract style challenging and the nonlinear storytelling disorienting. Overall, it's a poignant and original take on loss and healing.
Who Should Read Grief is the Thing with Feathers?
A reader who would enjoy Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter is likely drawn to unconventional narrative structures and poetic prose. This reader appreciates explorations of grief and healing, much like fans of Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking and H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald.
Dad's two sons, who are often treated as a single entity in the narrative. They express their emotions through both dialogue and behavior and offer a unique perspective on life after their mother's death.
An anthropomorphic bird who embodies Dad's grief, serving as both a protector and a guide for the family. Crow is a complex figure, characterized by a distinct and evolving voice.
A famous poet whose work and life influence Dad significantly as he writes a book about him. Hughes serves as a distant yet impactful figure in Dad's journey through grief.
114
Novella • Fiction
•
FantasyLondon, England • Contemporary
•
Death•
Family2015
Adult
18+ years
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