SubscribeEach of our lives is bound to spiral and turn to a certain degree. We do not know where we’ll eventually wind up, which is what makes choosing a path so hard – we do not know where it ends. As such, Linnet Gow, makes some remarkably brave decisions in The Linnet Bird.
As a woman in her era, Linny seems to have few life paths before her. She has few opportunities for independence. She begins life in one of the poorest neighborhoods in England with a bleak future ahead of her. Yet, with every choice she has, she inches closer to being her own woman. This journey through several countries leads her through an amazingly complex series of events that seem to be set in motion with the first page of the story.
Linny’s reactions at the beginning of the book are very reactive and survival based. She obediently obeys her step-father no matter what she is asked to do, for fear of ending up alone on the street. But compared to what he asks of her, being on the street would not be such a terrible fate. She is truly as caged as the bird after which she is named. Slowly, she begins to make more proactive decisions and ultimately takes control of her own destiny.
This glimpse into the life of a strong woman in a time when women were supposed to faint at the first glimmer of inequity is completely moving. Linda Holeman pulls no punches while telling us this tale, and we are all pushed to examine our own choices. Is there a moment when we would decide it is easier to be taken care of than to fend for ourselves? This book is an excellent examination of what truly makes a person captive or free and where your choices can lead you. It also serves as a reminder that evil is around any corner and that you can only control your own choices and thus your own destiny. A great read, highly recommended.
- Kristin
Diverxtrme