What a unique read. From the description, I thought it was supposed to be poetry. It did turn out to be extremely lyrical, descriptive, poetic prose.
About the Book
A Compelling, Lyrical Work of Witness, Mourning, and Protest
With the immediacy of an op-ed and the narrative feel of a memoir, CATBIRD embodies the visceral response-angst and exasperating sense of helplessness inflamed by the distance between the will of the people and our national policy, and the bewilderment we feel-to the barbaric violence and violations of human rights happening in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world.
Set against the background of seasonal drama in the bird world, CATBIRD has the sense of a fable, while still holding all the anxiety of the contemporary events we are living through, witnessing, mourning, and opposing.
“Julia Davis’s Catbird is a lyric meditation on a wounded world, one where some of us are safe while horror and war ravage innocent women and children in a distant land. But are we safe? The narrator knows too keenly, and feels too sharply, to believe that we are. Davis writes viscerally and from the heart.”
—Dinty W. Moore, author of The Mindful Writer
“Julia Davis’s Catbird is an urgent, meaningful meditation on war, power, and fragility of the world.
It’s 2022 and the invasion of Ukraine has begun. From her place of relative safety, Eve reads of the bombings, the fleeing families and abandoned crops as she ponders the corrupt desire for absolute power and fears she is witnessing the beginnings of World War III. Woven throughout this witnessing are images of the birds she watches in the trees around her house, making tangible the fragility we share in this time when the possibility of invasion threatens us all.”
—Karen Osborn, author of Centerville, Patchwork (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year), Between Earth and Sky, and The River Road
“As a woman of color cheering for those who wish to survive any and all wars against us I hope you read this book with the fear yet compassion it shares.”
—nikki giovanni, New York Times best selling and Emmy-award nominated author of Bicycles: Love Poems (2009), The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection (2004), and Make Me Rain: Poems & Prose (2020)
My Thoughts
Almost like epic poetry describing a battle of yore, this shows the emotions and experiences of someone at the start of the Ukrainian war that has already gone on much longer than any of us expected.
I’m not an expert on poetry, but I can tell you what moves me, and this absolutely did. I felt the passion, fear, heartache, and tension leap off the pages and into my heart. This is not a conflict that is 5,000 miles away. It is present and real.
Rife with political and social commentary, the author juxtaposes the tension, fear, and reality of the war alongside the gentle reality of everyday life in her relatively safer existence far across the world through the gentle presentation of daily life, including the habits of a nearby Catbird and other bird species.
This brilliant side-by-side makes the harsh realities of the war that much louder when they scream from the pages.
This blend of fiction, memoir, and real events is such an interesting format. I’m intrigued to see what the author does next. I’m grateful to the author and LBT for being included in this tour.
Question of the Day
This might be a bit of an intense question, but it was just Veterans Day. Have you or anyone you love been involved in this or any other war effort?
Answer of the Day
I have two cousins who are veterans, and my daughter’s godfather is on active duty in the Navy.
I often try to help out when I can. I participated in a knitting/crocheting campaign for individuals displaced by this war, making blankets, hats, etc. There was an effort to knit in the colors of the flag to help refugees feel a little more at home, inspired by a lady seen on the train with items knitted in the colors of the flag. It’s nothing big, but I hope it brought some small joy to a few people. Reading this book kind of makes that feel a little silly, though.
Who’s It For?
This is one of those important books I think everyone should read. It has a lot packed into its short, less than 100 pages. If you like birds, lyrical prose, and unique perspectives on the world, this is a great read. It offers a deep introspection about the beginnings of the Ukrainian War, especially for those of us who’ve been watching from afar. Because of the subject matter, there are a lot of potential triggers, so please be aware. However, this is one of those subjects that is important to pay attention to, so if you can handle them, I highly recommend this poignant read.
Content Warnings: War, Weapons, Death, Politics, Hate, Loss, Religious Ideology/Zealotry, Political Zealotry, Conflict, Sexual Assault, Government Corruption (inc. children) This is not meant to serve as a complete list of subjects that individuals may find potentially bothersome.
About the Author
Julia Davis is an American poet and novelist. Her first book, Catbird, was published by Middlecreek Audio and Publishing on October 1, 2024.
A lifelong affinity for birds and wildlife instilled by her mother Elaine, a former college professor of botany, imbues Julia’s work with a unique perspective. Her cherished memories awakening to the melodious calls of a mourning dove that came to her window bird feeder each morning and nurturing two beloved parakeets, Harry and Baby Louise, underscore her connection to the natural world. Her earliest memories of nature are infused with bird calls, bird watching, and in her last year of elementary school, she wrote her “hero paper” on John J. Audubon. She sees birds as our ever-present observers, and sometimes catalysts, in the drama of nature and of life.
“CATBIRD,” while inspired by true events, unfolds as a fictional narrative against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Reflecting on global conflicts and human resilience, Julia underscores the universal relevance of her story, offering a poignant message of hope and solidarity in tumultuous times worldwide.
Her professional background in public relations, coupled with her training in crisis management from the Department of Homeland Security through Texas A&M University, infuse her storytelling with depth and authenticity.
Julia’s writing has appeared in The Bangalore Review, The Dillydoun Review, New Note Poetry, The Moonstone Arts Center’s Nasty Women’s Anthology and TaintTaintTaint Literary Magazine. She shares her insights through a biweekly column on Medium.
Julia holds a BA in English from Boston College and a Masters of Fine Art in Creative Writing from Fairfield University. While at Fairfield, she served as an assistant editor at BREVITY and as a reader for WOODHALL PRESS.
Links
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/fHkO8wX
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/8Hkn8f5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217262729-catbird
Author’s Website: https://www.juliamariedavis.com/
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Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.