Byrd
"Brilliant writing - lively and heartbreaking at every turn." -Jill McCorkle,New York Timesbestselling author ofLife After Life"Kim Church has created an unforgettable and gripping tale about a young  woman's passage to adulthood in a small town in North Carolina in her excellent debut novel,Byrd.There are books we like to read because they provide a window to a world wholly unfamiliar, but there are others likeByrdthat give insight into our own lives." -BookPage"This protagonist is so appealing, with her unflinching moral candor,  her mistakes based on generous instincts. The prose is lilting, joyous.  This novel--about young lives that start out full of promise, falter,  then recover--is a hard luck story that will make you feel good." --Debra Monroe, author ofOn the Outskirts of Normal: Forging a Family Against the Grain"A riveting debut." --Ron Rash,New York Timesbestselling author ofSerenaandNothing Gold Can Stay"Addie is a particular woman -- a character that will linger and grow beloved -- but she could also be your sister, your roommate from college, a friend in the neighborhood. ... Kim Church has imagined a world of good people missing the mark as good people sometimes do. They're familiar, a comfort. I will never forget the impact of the final pages." --Patricia Henley, National Book Award finalist and author ofOther Heartbreaks"A richly layered story that explores motherhood and its attendant relationships in ways that break new ground, both stylistically and thematically. Already recognized for her work in the short story form, Kim Church should gain national attention with this original and important novel." --Angela Davis-Gardner, author ofButterfly's Child"Beautiful, dream-like language ... connects us directly with the experience of the characters. It goes right to the heart, without being filtered through the brain, the way a smell connects you to a memory." --Nancy Peacock,New York Timesnotable author ofLife Without WaterandThe Life & Times of Persimmon Wilson