When Women Were Birds
When Women Were Birds
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2012
Book Brief
When Women Were Birds
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2012256
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
2012
2012
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
When Women Were Birds by Terry Tempest Williams is a reflective exploration of voice, faith, and art, triggered by the discovery of her deceased mother's three shelves of blank journals. Through fifty-four variations, Williams reminisces about her mother, considers her own spiritual journey, and examines the meaning of silence and voice, leading her to write her own story in the journals left for her.
Contemplative
Emotional
Mysterious
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
9,705 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Terry Tempest Williams' When Women Were Birds receives widespread acclaim for its poignant exploration of voice, legacy, and silence. Critics praise its lyrical prose and emotional depth. Some find it disjointed due to its non-linear structure, but many appreciate its powerful meditation on womanhood and identity. Overall, it’s celebrated as a deeply moving memoir.
Who Should Read When Women Were Birds?
Readers who will enjoy When Women Were Birds by Terry Tempest Williams are drawn to lyrical memoirs and nature writing. They often appreciate works like Cheryl Strayed's Wild or Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. These readers value introspective storytelling and environmental themes, seeking profound connections between personal experience and the natural world.
9,705 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
256
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
2012
2012
Adult
18+ years
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