"...the Lyrebird is a creature of the wild..."

Lyrebird - Cecelia Ahern

"Ten thousand in total," Caroline whispers, as if anybody speaking at normal level will break the fragile wings. But they don't look fragile. They are big and strong. The wingspan is six feet in total. They are grand, majestic, so beautiful as they sparkle in the tiny wardrobe room, Laura can only imagine how they will appear on stage.

First off, I have to say that I absolutely adore Ahern's writing...usually. I own all of her books (that I know of) including short stories and compilations. It has become a sort of tradition in my house that my mum gives me a new book of hers every year for Christmas. I was really excited to read this because the hardcover version is absolutely stunning, and it sounded like nothing I'd ever read before. The book is split into four parts and each section is introduced with a quote from Ambrose Pratt's 'The Lore of the Lyrebird'; each quote is an indication of the evolution of Lyrebird in the story.

The premise was good - a young woman, seemingly hidden from the world, who mimics the sounds she hears as a means to understand the world around her. She is compared to the mysterious Lyrebird; a bird native to Australia that can perfectly replicate sounds made by nature, man and machine. Laura was a beautifully sculpted character whose natural innocence made you really root for her from the beginning. As a reader, you want so desperately for her to find happiness, wherever that might be. 

For me, her journey getting there was what let this one down. I felt the reality TV show cheapened the story, which started so pure - although perhaps that was the point? We are so immersed in finding new and exciting elements of life and throwing them under a huge spotlight to shout "dance monkey," that in actual fact we spoil the natural beauty of it. Lyrebird was no exception. I find myself changing my mind about the book as I write this - Ahern has this wonderful effect on her readers, to challenge our own judgements with just a hint of magic. 

As always her books are an absolute pleasure to read, but not one of her best. 6/10 

Thanks for reading!

Rochelle 🌺 xxx

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