OTHER BIRDS

The wistful sweetness in Siiri Scott's narration perfectly complements the small-town South Carolina setting of this audiobook. The residents of a five-unit complex become enmeshed in each other's lives when one of them is found dead inside her apartment. Each character is an "other bird," someone whose difficult family history or other trauma creates challenges for them to become part of a community. Scott movingly depicts each character's hesitant yet hopeful path to friendship and, in some cases, romance. Scott employs light accents and adeptly softens her tone or deepens her pitch to portray every character--male or female, young or old, local resident or transplant. Touches of magical realism, delicious food descriptions, and even several ghosts add ambiance. Scott creates an absorbing, atmospheric listening experience. M.J. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2022]