Bird Life: a novel

In Ueno Park, Tokyo, two women meet, changing the course of their lives. Dinah has come to Japan from New Zealand to teach English and grieve the death of her brother, Michael, a troubled genius who was able to channel his problems into music. Yasuko is polished, precise, and keenly observant and has suppressed her powers for many years, but sometimes she allows them to resurface. Smaill's novel explores the tension between our internal and external lives and asks what we lose by having to choose between them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2023
Publisher: Scribe Publications

In the bustling Ueno Park, Tokyo, amidst the gathering of workers and tourists for lunch, a gentle breeze carries pollen, a fountain sprays, pigeons take flight, and two women cross paths, forever altering the course of each other's lives. Dinah, hailing from New Zealand, has journeyed to Japan to teach English and mourn the loss of her brother, Michael, a troubled genius who found solace in music as a classical pianist until his untimely departure. Nestled within the seemingly empty and eerie apartment block where Dinah resides, she perceives Michael's presence everywhere, even as his absence lingers sharply within her. On the other hand, Yasuko exudes a sense of polished refinement, precision, and keen observation, encompassing her students, colleagues, and the natural world around her. At the tender age of thirteen, animals began to communicate with her, sharing secrets she sometimes wished to ignore. Over the years, she suppressed these extraordinary abilities, but occasionally, they resurface, causing dismay to her adult son, Jun. One day, Yasuko returns home, only to find Jun gone. Despite her exceptional gifts, she cannot reclaim his presence.

In the face of their individual traumas, these two women forge an unlikely bond, where each becomes a source of support and guidance for the other. Through Smaill's poetic prose, the tension between our internal and external selves is delicately teased, prompting us to contemplate the sacrifices we make when forced to navigate between these two realms. As Dinah and Yasuko navigate their respective journeys of healing and self-discovery, they discover that their differences may be their greatest strength, opening doors to new perspectives and possibilities. Through their shared experiences, they learn to embrace the complexities of life and find solace in the beauty of the world around them.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 144 x 225 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781915590039