Book Review: Lyrebird by Cecila Ahern

This was a library book and I took it back before I took a photo! 

Blurb:

Life is in two parts: who you were before you met her, and who you are after.

A documentary crew discover a mysterious young woman living alone in the mountains of West Cork. Strikingly beautiful she has an extraordinary talent for mimicry, like the famous Australian Lyrebird. The crew, fascinated, make her the subject of her story, and bestow the nickname upon her.

When they leave, they take Lyrebird with them back to the city. But as she leaves behind her peaceful life to learn about a new world, is she also leaving behind a part of herself? For her new friend Solomon the answer isn’t clear. When you find a rare and precious thing, should you share it – or protect it…

My thoughts:

I can't lie; I found this book a bit odd. For the first half, I found the whole premise totally bizarre. A film crew meet a woman in the woods who can mimic any sound, decide they want to make a documentary about her life and end up putting her on a weird version of The X Factor. The blurb really appealed to me but I just found the book a bit strange; I didn't love it, but I still wanted to find out what happened. 

I found the dialogue and general writing a bit off, which I haven't found with other of Ahern's work. Some of the phrasing was really awkward, and parts felt like really basic level chick lit with not much substance. I sympathised with Laura, taken from a quiet world of isolation and nature to the bustling, noisy city, and struggling to adjust. This aspect of the novel I felt was put across really well, making it easy to put yourself in Laura's position and realise how overwhelming this transition in her life must be. Pretty much all of the other characters felt very two dimensional and wooden - Bo is bossy and stubborn, we know nothing about Rachel except that her partner is pregnant with their child, and Solomon comes across as a bit of a drip.

While I wasn't too fussed about the over the top descriptions of reality TV life and celebrity culture, there were elements I enjoyed. Laura's naivety, confusion and distress as she navigates her new life feel plausible and authentic, and I could see why she and Solomon form such a close bond. Even though Laura making coffee machine and ATM noises and Solomon thinking they're the most awe-inspiring thing he's ever heard was a bit strange.

I really struggle to say exactly how I feel about this book. I liked it, but I can't say it's one I'd wholly recommend. 

3 out of 5 stars from me!