Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Walker Books Ltd (2014)
Description
Fantasy. Romance. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: A 2015 William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist. Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga. Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava�??in all other ways a normal girl�??is born with the wings of a bird. In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naive to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the summer solstice celebration. That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava's quest and her family's saga build to a devastating crescendo. First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member mckait
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton has a beautiful cover. I had to pause and read the description, and I was sold. I enjoy magical realism, and Walton did a terrific job.
The story begins with Emilienne Roux and her parents and siblings. Emilienne and all of her
Things don't turn out as he had hoped. Some years after the move took place Emilienne found herself married, and on a train, traveling across the country. She and her husband landed on the west coast and it was there that her daughter Viviane was born. She was born in a faded periwinkle blue house, with a white wrap around porch, an onion dome and secrets of it's own. And it was in that house that she would live, and there that her own daughter, Ava Lavender was born.
This is a story of women in one family, their secrets, their magic and their lives. And magic there is, aplenty. What would you expect from a family where one woman becomes a canary, and years later her niece is born, normal and beautiful and with the wings of a bird. Ava has a brother, a twin who has some magic of his own.
I enjoy magical realism, and I love a well told story. In this book you will find both, as well as a very surprising ending. I recommend this across the board. Don't let the suggested age range stop you, I am not a fan of putting books into little categories. This is a book that will be enjoyed by many, no matter their age.
The story begins with Emilienne Roux and her parents and siblings. Emilienne and all of her
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siblings were born on the first day of March of different years. Their parents, Beauregard were remarkable for different reasons. Beauregard was large and strong and made his living as a phrenologist, but had dreams of moving his family to New York, where hoped to become prosperous, make a better life for his family.Things don't turn out as he had hoped. Some years after the move took place Emilienne found herself married, and on a train, traveling across the country. She and her husband landed on the west coast and it was there that her daughter Viviane was born. She was born in a faded periwinkle blue house, with a white wrap around porch, an onion dome and secrets of it's own. And it was in that house that she would live, and there that her own daughter, Ava Lavender was born.
This is a story of women in one family, their secrets, their magic and their lives. And magic there is, aplenty. What would you expect from a family where one woman becomes a canary, and years later her niece is born, normal and beautiful and with the wings of a bird. Ava has a brother, a twin who has some magic of his own.
I enjoy magical realism, and I love a well told story. In this book you will find both, as well as a very surprising ending. I recommend this across the board. Don't let the suggested age range stop you, I am not a fan of putting books into little categories. This is a book that will be enjoyed by many, no matter their age.
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LibraryThing member loosha
I fell in love with this strange and wonderful little book. Beautiful language, whimsical names (Marigold Pie, Satin Lush, Cardigan Cooper), and a great story with a few ghosts.
LibraryThing member EKAnderson
So. I recently read this incredible book called THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SORROWS OF AVA LAVENDER by Leslye Walton. It's taken me a while to figure out how to review this book. Because I have so many thoughts on it. And it's hard to sum up a book that takes place over several generations, with the
This book has a lot of tragic loss.
And yet, with all that loss, this book is beautiful. The language is beautiful. The bread in Ava's grandmother's bakery is palpably fragrant, every time a character steps into the shop. The rain falling in the Pacific Northwest smells like saltwater and earth. And Ava, a girl born with wings to an unwed mother in the 1940s, is almost a song of a character.
This book is clever and dynamic. I often wondered to myself (and to friends who were reading or about to read or who had already read the book because honestly it's a book you HAVE to talk about) why this book sold as YA. Because it would do equally well labelled as magic realism and shelved in adult literary. It speaks to teens, though. It speaks to people. And there were scenes that were so hard to read, but I turned the pages anyway. Because this book spoke to me.
Leslye Walton is an author to watch. If you haven't picked up AVA LAVENDER yet, you really ought to. It's a fantastic read. I hope it speaks to you, too.
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main character shifting over time, but with the narrator staying the same. So sometimes the narrator -- one strange girl named Ava Lavender -- is telling the story of a character who is a great-great-grand-relation of hers from decades in the future. And sometimes she's narrating her own story of tragic loss.This book has a lot of tragic loss.
And yet, with all that loss, this book is beautiful. The language is beautiful. The bread in Ava's grandmother's bakery is palpably fragrant, every time a character steps into the shop. The rain falling in the Pacific Northwest smells like saltwater and earth. And Ava, a girl born with wings to an unwed mother in the 1940s, is almost a song of a character.
This book is clever and dynamic. I often wondered to myself (and to friends who were reading or about to read or who had already read the book because honestly it's a book you HAVE to talk about) why this book sold as YA. Because it would do equally well labelled as magic realism and shelved in adult literary. It speaks to teens, though. It speaks to people. And there were scenes that were so hard to read, but I turned the pages anyway. Because this book spoke to me.
Leslye Walton is an author to watch. If you haven't picked up AVA LAVENDER yet, you really ought to. It's a fantastic read. I hope it speaks to you, too.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I got a copy of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. I was initially drawn to the beautiful title and the synopsis which talked about a girl born with wings. This book was nothing like I expected, it ended up being much more beautiful and much more strange (so it is aptly
This is the strangely beautiful tale about a girl, Ava, who was born with wings. She takes us back through the odd history of her family in search of an explanation of why she was born with wings. This includes the tales of many female relatives that do slightly magical things or have slightly magical things happen to them. The whole thing has a feel more of magical realism than flat-out magic.
The writing is beautiful and lyrical but a bit dense at times. It’s definitely a book that takes some concentration and time to read. I think the whole story is best defined as tragedy entwined with magical realism. There are sisters that turn into canaries, mothers that can see the future, and a grandmother that can make bread that makes people weep.
I ended up enjoying the story, it was very different from anything I have read before. As mentioned above, while the story is magical and fascinating, it is definitely not uplifting. This is a tragedy plain and simple. The whole book has a sense of dread hanging over it. Ava (and her ancestors) are dealt one horrible tragedy after another and you just know things aren’t going to end well...although you are really hoping and pulling for these characters the whole story.
Much of the story focuses on Ava’s mother and grandmother, the story doesn’t really start to feature Ava until the second half. Ava leads a very isolated life because of her wings, her mother wants to keep her safe. As she gets into her teens, her best friend (a girl whose mother works at Ava’s grandma’s bakery) convinces her to mingle in society more. It is tough for Ava to have wings, people expect her to do holy things...to be their redemption...but she is just a girl.
Ava's grandmother runs a bakery and there is a lot of description of baked goods in here. They sounded soooo good all I wanted to do was run out and visit a pastry shop! So beware of getting hungry while reading about these delicious baked goods...
The ending is much more predictable than I was hoping for, I knew how it would end pretty early on (although I was hoping for something else). Still this book was more about the journey of Ava and her ancestors than anything else.
Overall this was a slightly bizarre yet beautiful read. I would recommend to those who like historical fantasy with some magical realism in it and a somewhat gothic overtone. I really liked how beautifully written and completely different it was. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for future works from this author.
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named).This is the strangely beautiful tale about a girl, Ava, who was born with wings. She takes us back through the odd history of her family in search of an explanation of why she was born with wings. This includes the tales of many female relatives that do slightly magical things or have slightly magical things happen to them. The whole thing has a feel more of magical realism than flat-out magic.
The writing is beautiful and lyrical but a bit dense at times. It’s definitely a book that takes some concentration and time to read. I think the whole story is best defined as tragedy entwined with magical realism. There are sisters that turn into canaries, mothers that can see the future, and a grandmother that can make bread that makes people weep.
I ended up enjoying the story, it was very different from anything I have read before. As mentioned above, while the story is magical and fascinating, it is definitely not uplifting. This is a tragedy plain and simple. The whole book has a sense of dread hanging over it. Ava (and her ancestors) are dealt one horrible tragedy after another and you just know things aren’t going to end well...although you are really hoping and pulling for these characters the whole story.
Much of the story focuses on Ava’s mother and grandmother, the story doesn’t really start to feature Ava until the second half. Ava leads a very isolated life because of her wings, her mother wants to keep her safe. As she gets into her teens, her best friend (a girl whose mother works at Ava’s grandma’s bakery) convinces her to mingle in society more. It is tough for Ava to have wings, people expect her to do holy things...to be their redemption...but she is just a girl.
Ava's grandmother runs a bakery and there is a lot of description of baked goods in here. They sounded soooo good all I wanted to do was run out and visit a pastry shop! So beware of getting hungry while reading about these delicious baked goods...
The ending is much more predictable than I was hoping for, I knew how it would end pretty early on (although I was hoping for something else). Still this book was more about the journey of Ava and her ancestors than anything else.
Overall this was a slightly bizarre yet beautiful read. I would recommend to those who like historical fantasy with some magical realism in it and a somewhat gothic overtone. I really liked how beautifully written and completely different it was. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for future works from this author.
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LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
“To many, I was myth incarnate, the embodiment of a most superb legend, a fairy tale. Some considered me a monster, a mutation. To my great misfortune, I was once mistaken for an angel. To my mother, I was everything. To my father, nothing at all. To my grandmother, I was a daily reminder of
Ava’s story and that of her mother, grandmother and great grandmother is suberbly told by Leslye Walton in her debut novel The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavendar. For me to reveal any more of the story will do it a great disservice. Walton’s writing has this mysterious quality to it.NightCircus For some reason it reminds me of The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern, regardless of the fact that the stories are in no way similar. Although there’s a form of fantasy in both of them.
About love and loss, this book did make me sniffle at the end. I know I’m a softy, but, hey, that’s me.
There are certain writers that warrant you to keep an eye out for and Leslye Walton is definitely one of them.
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loves long lost. But I knew the truth–deep down, I always did…I was just a girl.” So says, Ava Wilhelmina Lavender, “..born on a remarkably clear Seattle night on the first of March in 1944.” The issue is that Ava Wilhelmina Lavender was born with wings. If the first paragraph isn’t enough to pique your interest, then I don’t know what is.Ava’s story and that of her mother, grandmother and great grandmother is suberbly told by Leslye Walton in her debut novel The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavendar. For me to reveal any more of the story will do it a great disservice. Walton’s writing has this mysterious quality to it.NightCircus For some reason it reminds me of The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern, regardless of the fact that the stories are in no way similar. Although there’s a form of fantasy in both of them.
About love and loss, this book did make me sniffle at the end. I know I’m a softy, but, hey, that’s me.
There are certain writers that warrant you to keep an eye out for and Leslye Walton is definitely one of them.
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LibraryThing member emily.s
You know when you catch a TV show you haven’t ever seen, but it's been playing for years? The kind when you just so happen to stop on a channel and it is intriguing and you like the hero’s face and funny one-liners so you Google it, and Google turns into Netflix and Netflix turns into buying
Then, you have 8 seasons to catch up on (Supernatural) or your friend only bought the first season and you have to watch the new ones on ABC (Once Upon A Time) or you watch both seasons on Netflix and have to wait two whole damn years for the next season (Sherlock). But you can’t watch it every second of every day like you wanted to because you have to work or see Catching Fire or attend family Thanksgiving‘s.
And my personal battle—the Netflix plan being DVD only. Cause I live out where wifi is almost nonexistent. (Seriously, think The Last House on the Left without a sexy, uh I mean creepy, Aaron Paul and no lake. Just fields and forests and a Verizon mifi Jetpack that sometimes works because this is apparently a dominant AT&T zone).
THAT is what reading this book was like. I wanted to devout my life to it. But, with an 8 hour work day and the fact that I must have 8 hours of sleep or else I will be a raging bitch in heels, I was cut down to a half hour of reading or less in the 4 days I read the The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender.
It is absolutely strange and beautiful. Don’t take the title for granted.
We meet the title character, Ava, in the first paragraph, but it isn’t her story until about 50% into this book. I mean, in a way, it is her story. It’s an unusual buildup to her current life. She is narrating it, but it is truly a tale of atypical generations.
It is probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. I, however; loved it. It was this perfectly strange mix of beautiful, lyrical prose and peculiar, original characters. Combining those two and you obviously have an interesting book. No doubt, I was hooked from the minute a baby was born with wings.
More than anything, this is a story about family. A beautifully woven, heartbreaking tale centered on a family who, in their own way, will always be the strongest love they find.
There isn’t a single thing in this book that was unnecessary. No character went unnoticed or underappreciated. Every little detail fell in sync with the ultimate ending.
And I absolutely loved it. Every single thing. I loved when it made it me giggle or smile at something clever. I loved when it made me cry. And believe me, I cried. Every tiny, perfect sentence that I soaked in and held until I was sure I would never forget it.
And that’s the best thing about The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender. You will never forget it.
I’ve thrown the world “perfect” around a couple of times. I guess that’s it. Perfect. This book is perfect.
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everything on Amazon?Then, you have 8 seasons to catch up on (Supernatural) or your friend only bought the first season and you have to watch the new ones on ABC (Once Upon A Time) or you watch both seasons on Netflix and have to wait two whole damn years for the next season (Sherlock). But you can’t watch it every second of every day like you wanted to because you have to work or see Catching Fire or attend family Thanksgiving‘s.
And my personal battle—the Netflix plan being DVD only. Cause I live out where wifi is almost nonexistent. (Seriously, think The Last House on the Left without a sexy, uh I mean creepy, Aaron Paul and no lake. Just fields and forests and a Verizon mifi Jetpack that sometimes works because this is apparently a dominant AT&T zone).
THAT is what reading this book was like. I wanted to devout my life to it. But, with an 8 hour work day and the fact that I must have 8 hours of sleep or else I will be a raging bitch in heels, I was cut down to a half hour of reading or less in the 4 days I read the The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender.
It is absolutely strange and beautiful. Don’t take the title for granted.
We meet the title character, Ava, in the first paragraph, but it isn’t her story until about 50% into this book. I mean, in a way, it is her story. It’s an unusual buildup to her current life. She is narrating it, but it is truly a tale of atypical generations.
It is probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. I, however; loved it. It was this perfectly strange mix of beautiful, lyrical prose and peculiar, original characters. Combining those two and you obviously have an interesting book. No doubt, I was hooked from the minute a baby was born with wings.
More than anything, this is a story about family. A beautifully woven, heartbreaking tale centered on a family who, in their own way, will always be the strongest love they find.
There isn’t a single thing in this book that was unnecessary. No character went unnoticed or underappreciated. Every little detail fell in sync with the ultimate ending.
And I absolutely loved it. Every single thing. I loved when it made it me giggle or smile at something clever. I loved when it made me cry. And believe me, I cried. Every tiny, perfect sentence that I soaked in and held until I was sure I would never forget it.
And that’s the best thing about The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender. You will never forget it.
I’ve thrown the world “perfect” around a couple of times. I guess that’s it. Perfect. This book is perfect.
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LibraryThing member Librarian42
Absolutely STUNNING!!!!! I was so upset when I finished this book - it had me mesmerised from the very first sentence to, sadly, the last. How I wish that there were more books like this one!!!!
LibraryThing member BethYacoub
~~~~~~~4.5 Stars~~~~~~~
Magical Realism done perfectly. Leslye Walton's writing style is absolutely magnificent!! The robust list of characters residing within this hauntingly beautiful tale contains some of the best character development I have read in a long time... if not ever. This book harkens
Magical Realism done perfectly. Leslye Walton's writing style is absolutely magnificent!! The robust list of characters residing within this hauntingly beautiful tale contains some of the best character development I have read in a long time... if not ever. This book harkens
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back to a time before Fairytales were sterilized and fluffed, a time when tales mirrored the intrinsic ugliness of Life. The lyrical prose delve into the obsessive/destructive/bewitching beauty of Youth, Lust, Betrayal, Hope and most of all Love (in all of its many forms). Each character is not only breathtaking but an integral part of this intoxicating story. The book's essence is so immersive that I often found myself crying, laughing, cringing and holding my breath... willing the night to last so I could live in its world a bit longer. "Love makes us such fools" indeed and I am undeniably a fool for this book. A must read for any who look for a book that leaves you irrevocably changed. Show Less
LibraryThing member BethYacoub
Magical Realism done perfectly. Leslye Walton's writing style is absolutely magnificent!! The robust list of characters residing within this hauntingly beautiful tale contains some of the best character development I have read in a long time... if not ever. This book harkens back to a time before
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Fairytales were sterilized and fluffed, a time when tales mirrored the intrinsic ugliness of Life. The lyrical prose delve into the obsessive/destructive/bewitching beauty of Youth, Lust, Betrayal, Hope and most of all Love (in all of its many forms). Each character is not only breathtaking but an integral part of this intoxicating story. The book's essence is so immersive that I often found myself crying, laughing, cringing and holding my breath... willing the night to last so I could live in its world a bit longer. "Love makes us such fools" indeed and I am undeniably a fool for this book. A must read for any who look for a book that leaves you irrevocably changed Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
This story takes place in the wet and dreary weather of the Pacific Northwest and the story's mood matches the weather. Ava Lavender was born with wings. Her mother was the victim of rape by a young man who was obsessed with her and obsessed with impressing his father. Ava's grandmother owned a
Ava's twin brother was also normal-impaired. He was able to see ghosts but was unable to communicate with the living, at least not in the regular manner. His allusions were hard to decipher but were obvious when the listener was confronted with the image. (His "bee in the bush" referred to a letter "P" that had fallen off a sign and was found upside down under some bushes.)
I was bothered by the many unexplainable occurrences like why did Ava have wings. The ones she was born with did not give her flight and there were apparently no other people with such disfigurement. I was also bothered by the religiously zealous young man who was secretly psychotic and murderous. What a disturbing trope.
I personally liked the French heritage and my heart was glad that the grandmother arrived in New York aboard the SS France, a ship that I have always loved. The mentions of the French pastries created in the bakery made my mouth water.
In short, this story is odd. If you like odd, you'll like this book.
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bakery that was slow to make its way into the lives of the townsfolk. When she took on a Native American woman to help she overcame their distrust and her shop eventually became a center of trade.Ava's twin brother was also normal-impaired. He was able to see ghosts but was unable to communicate with the living, at least not in the regular manner. His allusions were hard to decipher but were obvious when the listener was confronted with the image. (His "bee in the bush" referred to a letter "P" that had fallen off a sign and was found upside down under some bushes.)
I was bothered by the many unexplainable occurrences like why did Ava have wings. The ones she was born with did not give her flight and there were apparently no other people with such disfigurement. I was also bothered by the religiously zealous young man who was secretly psychotic and murderous. What a disturbing trope.
I personally liked the French heritage and my heart was glad that the grandmother arrived in New York aboard the SS France, a ship that I have always loved. The mentions of the French pastries created in the bakery made my mouth water.
In short, this story is odd. If you like odd, you'll like this book.
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LibraryThing member Xleptodactylous
The writing was good, often too poetical for a novel, but the characters held no sway and their lives were not what I wanted to hear. I cared not for their woes.
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Odd story in the magical realism vein. Not the sort of story I prefer reading but the author has an impressive lyrical style and a great imagination.
LibraryThing member lauriebrown54
Ava Lavender’s family had a history of heartbreaking love. Men who ran away, men who died, a father who married another and left her mother pregnant, an aunt who turned into a bird; it’s just not a cheerful family. To add to it, the dead haunt the living. So when unmarried Viviane gives birth
Despite her mother’s plan to keep Ava away from others, she meets a girl her own age when she is playing in the backyard. The girl is unimpressed with Ava’s condition; she can’t fly, so she is just a girl. As they get older, Ava begins to escape at night and meet other teens, stretching her wings so to speak. But she doesn’t know that someone has developed a dangerous obsession with her. You can’t protect those you love from life or love. Penning them up only makes them try harder to escape. And it’s only after escaping that they can truly spread their wings and fly.
The prose is so perfectly wrought it’s like fine goldwork, tastefully ornamented and shiny. It was a joy to read; very good magical realism. Some readers have complained that it’s not just about Ava; no, it’s about her whole family, a generational novel. In some ways it reminded me of a less weird ‘Bellefleur’ (note: I love that book). This is Walton’s first novel; I can’t wait to see what she does next.
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to a baby girl with wings and an autistic boy, it’s just another heartbreak looking for a place to happen. Viviane keeps Ava penned up in the house, fearing what the outside world might do to Ava because of her wings. But she’s an open secret; the delivery room nurses told all. Despite her mother’s plan to keep Ava away from others, she meets a girl her own age when she is playing in the backyard. The girl is unimpressed with Ava’s condition; she can’t fly, so she is just a girl. As they get older, Ava begins to escape at night and meet other teens, stretching her wings so to speak. But she doesn’t know that someone has developed a dangerous obsession with her. You can’t protect those you love from life or love. Penning them up only makes them try harder to escape. And it’s only after escaping that they can truly spread their wings and fly.
The prose is so perfectly wrought it’s like fine goldwork, tastefully ornamented and shiny. It was a joy to read; very good magical realism. Some readers have complained that it’s not just about Ava; no, it’s about her whole family, a generational novel. In some ways it reminded me of a less weird ‘Bellefleur’ (note: I love that book). This is Walton’s first novel; I can’t wait to see what she does next.
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LibraryThing member crashmyparty
This is another read from my roadtrip last month, and wow, this was a haunting one. I wasn’t expecting this – I had no idea what I was in for. I felt haunted as I read, haunted when I reluctantly had to put it down in the middle (like when it was my turn to drive), and haunted when I finished.
It does take a stretch of the imagination and an acceptance of the unrealistic, though, to really get into and enjoy and immerse yourself into. But I felt it wasn’t too much of a stretch for me. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender recounts the history of the Roux/Lavender family, their sad and tragic accounts of how love goes wrong but life goes on. The storytelling spans from title character Ava’s grandmother and her family’s migration to the US, and it all comes down to Ava Lavender and her twin, Henry, both a little different from the expected norm in their little Seattle town of the 50s – Henry with what I suspect is a form of autism, and Ava with her wings. That’s right, a child born with wings which should grant her freedom but in her mother’s fear only constrains her.
I find that generational stories can go either way – and this one definitely went the right way. The story moved slowly and at times you might wonder to what purpose, but it does have a purpose. I was so caught up in the lyrical writing the time passed quickly and I found the story was over long before I was ready to leave it behind. It follows particularly the love stories through the generations, those who they loved and lost and how it shaped the rest of their lives, and the lives of their children that follow. Love for the Roux and Lavender families has been cruel and tragic and has made them all ‘such fools’ and in this book they long for it, hold on to it and leave it. I loved the observations of the illogical nature of love and they also broke my heart. I was smiling one second, crying the next and I always wanted to read more.
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It is a stunning read that I really, really loved.It does take a stretch of the imagination and an acceptance of the unrealistic, though, to really get into and enjoy and immerse yourself into. But I felt it wasn’t too much of a stretch for me. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender recounts the history of the Roux/Lavender family, their sad and tragic accounts of how love goes wrong but life goes on. The storytelling spans from title character Ava’s grandmother and her family’s migration to the US, and it all comes down to Ava Lavender and her twin, Henry, both a little different from the expected norm in their little Seattle town of the 50s – Henry with what I suspect is a form of autism, and Ava with her wings. That’s right, a child born with wings which should grant her freedom but in her mother’s fear only constrains her.
I find that generational stories can go either way – and this one definitely went the right way. The story moved slowly and at times you might wonder to what purpose, but it does have a purpose. I was so caught up in the lyrical writing the time passed quickly and I found the story was over long before I was ready to leave it behind. It follows particularly the love stories through the generations, those who they loved and lost and how it shaped the rest of their lives, and the lives of their children that follow. Love for the Roux and Lavender families has been cruel and tragic and has made them all ‘such fools’ and in this book they long for it, hold on to it and leave it. I loved the observations of the illogical nature of love and they also broke my heart. I was smiling one second, crying the next and I always wanted to read more.
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LibraryThing member Debra_Armbruster
Part coming of age narrative, part cautionary tale about the pain and fruitlessness of obsession, Walton's novel is a lovely modern fairy tale. Beautifully written and ultimately redemptive, _The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender_ is a gem.
LibraryThing member MelanieTid
I thought it was a good read, but I was confused every now and then about what was really going on. I think that is because it is a magical realism book, and as I've never read one of those before, I didn't really understand the style on the first read through. I liked it though :) I would probably
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read more books like it. Show Less
LibraryThing member MMFalcone
Beautiful and Sorrowful are accurate descriptions of this novel, which managed to also be both humorous and haunting. Using touches of magical realism, it traces the elegiac story of the Roux women and the discovery of their strength in the face of loss, love, fear and despair. This was being
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marketed as YA, wrongly in my opinion (and not because I'm snooty about the quality of YA), so I wasn't at all expecting what I read. Show Less
LibraryThing member iShanella
This book is one of those that are so beautifully written, that you find yourself enthralled.
If I could change only one thing, it would be the last few paragraphs of the story. I didn't really want it to end with that character in front of mind. and the book could have ended just before and be
While not entirely steeped in reality, the story pulled me in and kept me listening. It could also be the narrator, but, I found myself sinking into the narrative, delighting in the metaphors, and wanting to both get to the end and savor the book. I'm not really sure how to classify this book - genre-wise, but I find that it doesn't matter.
The story spans a few generations, but everything fits together. It's interesting how each life interlocks and influences with one another. How each character is fleshed out until they practically walk off the pages. I love it when stories do that! There were frustrating characters (Ava's mom for one), but sometimes you need a few of those.
This was also one of those rare gems of a book where the protagonist did not feel the need to over-explain or point every little difference in the world; there were some magical elements thrown in, but because this was the reality that the characters lived, they did not feel the need to explain it to the reader, and there was enough information shown that the reader isn't left confused. A perfect example of showing, not telling and a great debut!
If I could change only one thing, it would be the last few paragraphs of the story. I didn't really want it to end with that character in front of mind. and the book could have ended just before and be
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lovely all the same. While not entirely steeped in reality, the story pulled me in and kept me listening. It could also be the narrator, but, I found myself sinking into the narrative, delighting in the metaphors, and wanting to both get to the end and savor the book. I'm not really sure how to classify this book - genre-wise, but I find that it doesn't matter.
The story spans a few generations, but everything fits together. It's interesting how each life interlocks and influences with one another. How each character is fleshed out until they practically walk off the pages. I love it when stories do that! There were frustrating characters (Ava's mom for one), but sometimes you need a few of those.
This was also one of those rare gems of a book where the protagonist did not feel the need to over-explain or point every little difference in the world; there were some magical elements thrown in, but because this was the reality that the characters lived, they did not feel the need to explain it to the reader, and there was enough information shown that the reader isn't left confused. A perfect example of showing, not telling and a great debut!
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LibraryThing member PlanCultivateCreate
A whimsical and bittersweet tale.
LibraryThing member Banoczi_Henrietta
read the first 25 pages then i gave up because it was boring
LibraryThing member tamaranewman
Pure poetry start to finish.
LibraryThing member StephLaymon
There were times that I wanted to quit, but I picked the book back up anyway. My feelings waver a little bit every time I think about The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender. On one hand it it different, interesting, engaging, heartbreaking, and triumphant. On the other hand, there were
In the end I think I am more annoyed at the genre classification than anything else. I gladly read YA, but read it from the perspective of a parent or grandparent. My rating is always going to be effected by whether or not I think that it is suitable for the majority of teens. I know that is very different from most readers who read YA, and I think that it shows in the way that YA authors cater to adults who read YA.
With several goals in mind when reading a book, I merely have to decide if this particular book has filled the bill, and I have to say that it would have done it's job nicely if billed as an adult book. The teens in our family are not overly submerged in worldly things, so there were several things that I questioned, but the deal breaker for me isthe guy who "gets off" on feathered pillows.
Yeah, so I am a little prudish when it comes to YA, but I feel like if I want to read something that is racier and/ or graphic, there are plenty of adult books to turn to.
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contradictions in the plot and author did what many of us could do if we set our minds to just writing down the weirdest shiz that we can think of.In the end I think I am more annoyed at the genre classification than anything else. I gladly read YA, but read it from the perspective of a parent or grandparent. My rating is always going to be effected by whether or not I think that it is suitable for the majority of teens. I know that is very different from most readers who read YA, and I think that it shows in the way that YA authors cater to adults who read YA.
With several goals in mind when reading a book, I merely have to decide if this particular book has filled the bill, and I have to say that it would have done it's job nicely if billed as an adult book. The teens in our family are not overly submerged in worldly things, so there were several things that I questioned, but the deal breaker for me is
Yeah, so I am a little prudish when it comes to YA, but I feel like if I want to read something that is racier and/ or graphic, there are plenty of adult books to turn to.
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LibraryThing member Headinherbooks_27
"Love makes us such fools."
A story told over about the generations of the Lavender family on how they faced the agonies of the human heart.
Their ubiquitous emotions of hesitation to heal and their vulnerability were amazingly relatable.
This left me a mixture of emotions: shattered, joyful, vexed,
A story told over about the generations of the Lavender family on how they faced the agonies of the human heart.
Their ubiquitous emotions of hesitation to heal and their vulnerability were amazingly relatable.
This left me a mixture of emotions: shattered, joyful, vexed,
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and charmed. Show Less
LibraryThing member JESGalway
Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.
Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava—in all other ways a normal girl—is born with the wings of a
In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naïve to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.
That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava’s quest and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo.
First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.
Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava—in all other ways a normal girl—is born with the wings of a
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bird.In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naïve to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.
That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava’s quest and her family’s saga build to a devastating crescendo.
First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.
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LibraryThing member MandaTheStrange
This book was beautifully written and was incredibly melancholic. I enjoyed reading it however I felt that the characters were underdeveloped.
I felt like I only got a tiny morsel of a delicious cake, I really wanted to eat the whole thing.
A truly beautiful book though and well worth the read.
I felt like I only got a tiny morsel of a delicious cake, I really wanted to eat the whole thing.
A truly beautiful book though and well worth the read.
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Quirky, strange and eloquent. Show Less
Awards
Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction (Finalist — 2014)
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award (Winner — 2015)
PEN Center USA Literary Award (Winner — 2015)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2016)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — 2015)
William C. Morris YA Debut Award (Finalist — 2015)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2015)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Teen — 2014)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Teens (Fiction — 2014)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — 2014)
OYAN Book Rave (2015)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014
Physical description
5.67 inches
ISBN
1406348082 / 9781406348088
Local notes
Foolish love appears to be a Roux family birthright. And for Ava Lavender, a girl born with the wings of a bird, it is an ominous thing to inherit. In her quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to join her peers, Ava ventures into the wider world. But it is a dangerous world for a naive girl - a world which may view her as girl or angel. On the night of the summer solstice celebration, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air and Ava's journey and her family's saga reaches a devastating crescendo.