28 November 2016

Review #562: Lyrebird by Cecelia Ahern



My rating: 4 of 5 stars


“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”

---- Charlotte Bronte



Cecelia Ahern, the #1 international bestselling author, pens her new contemporary fiction, Lyrebird which reads like a breathy timeless romantic fantasy of music and love and it centers around a young male documentary filmmaker and a lonely exotic and wild girl of the mountains with a rare talent to mimic whatever sound she hears and when these two meet, both of their worlds and lives change for the good. A heart warming tale that is surely going to touch millions of hearts around the world.




Synopsis:

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

Down in the south west of Ireland, rugged mountains meet bright blue lakes and thick forests. Deep in the woods, surrounded by farmland, a young woman lives alone in a small stone cottage.

Then, into her peaceful landscape comes a documentary crew. Solomon’s skill is sound. He records, he listens, he hears. And when he meets Laura, he discovers that she has an extraordinary talent: an ability to mimic sounds. It’s a gift that earns her the nickname Lyrebird.

From that point, Laura’s life is turned on its head. When the documentary crew offers her a way forward, a bridge to another kind of life, she takes it. But while Solomon knows the world will love Laura, will it free her to spread her wings – or will it trap her in a gilded cage? Like all wild birds, she needs to fly free…

Lyrebird is a thoughtful, deeply moving love story; a story of the wild heart in us all and the quiet that lies underneath the world’s noise.



Solomon travels with his crew to shoot a documentary about twin brothers in the Cork countryside of Ireland. The filmmaker is mesmerized by the beauty and the serenity of such an amazing and peaceful village surrounded by mother nature's gifts, mountains, dense forests, exotic plants, clear blue river, and amidst this beauty of mother nature, he found a rare and striking creature hidden away in a forgotten cottage. Laura, a young and wild girl of the village, who has forever lived her teenage and adult life in isolation after the death of her grandma thus she is not quite accustomed to the city folks, the manner they talk or dress or eat. She was forever known the wildness of the forest and the mountains and the various sounds that she heard in this village. Laura is born with a rare talent of mimicking sounds, be it of any kind or type, in a natural way, that made her sound fantastically bewitching. And as soon as Solomon and his crew finds her and her talent, they offer her to take part in a reality show to showcase her talent to the world. And Laura could not say no to the offer, as just like Solomon, who was struck by her charm and quietness, she too was struck by the calm, caring demeanor of a good-looking man. Solomon is happy as Laura is traveling back with him to the city but will the world accept her rare talent of mimicry? Can Laura survive the chaotic madness of a reality TV show's pressure?

Yet once again out favorite author, Cecelia Ahern, pens an arresting tale of love that is not at all stereotypical, instead it will take the readers' breaths away, as the tale is so lush, emotional and serene like a quiet river. The readers are bound to get carried away by the intensity of love while reading this stunning contemporary romance novel. After turning the last page of the book, I was left with an aching feeling that I will miss Laura and Solomon deeply on the other hand, I was also left with a sweet lingering feeling about the story line.

The writing style of the author is eloquent and remarkable that is laced with an air of mystery and sentiments balanced well to make it an intriguing read for readers of all ages. The narrative in this book is engaging and articulate enough to keep the readers glued till the very last page of the book. The first chapter itself struck me so vehemently with its mystical powers that it captivated my mind till the very last page. The pace is smooth although there are not much layers and twists in the story, yet the author gradually peels the layers of emotions that she has painted the story with. The readers are bound to feel like swaying away with this timeless piece of love story between a city man and a quiet village girl.

The characters in this book are well crafted out by the author as she depicts them with their flaws, strongest qualities laced flawlessly with reality. Although Laura's character is highly fictional yet it somehow comes closer to reality and that will make the readers connect with her. Laura is the gem of this novel. Her charm, sheer beauty, green wild eyes, peaceful demeanor, her sing-song voice, her sounds of nature and the people around her, her grace and her naïve yet careful behavior simply steals the show. Her challenge and constant struggle with the reality TV show hosts, producers and the contestants will fill the readers heart with sorrow yet somehow her fight makes her look brave in the face of the readers. Even though most of the time, Solomon protected her, still Laura will not once come across as a damsel in distress. The supporting cast are quite interesting and will leave an impression in the minds of the readers.

The love story that the author penned between Solomon and Laura is full of compassion and care that will make the readers' hearts feel the intensity of that warmth. Their love story is pure and something to be cherished forever, meaning it is promising and hopeful. While reading, I felt, like the author has poured out all the best emotions from within her soul into this story to make it so much poignant and deeply moving. Although the ending is clichéd, but somehow the author managed to turn this simple love story into something spellbinding.

Verdict: Yet once again Ahern shines with another hypnotizing tale of love, hope and peace.

Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Harper Collins India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
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Author Info:
Cecelia Ahern was born and grew up in Dublin. She is now published in nearly fifty countries, and has sold over twenty-five million copies of her novels worldwide. Two of her books have been adapted as films and she has created several TV series.
Visit her here


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