Review by Deb Czajkowski
To say that today is a difficult day
for Emma Hazelton would be the proverbial understatement. Today Joseph Barlow ─ Grandpa Joe to Emma─
was buried. Emma’s parents divorced when
she was young, after which her father moved to California. Since then, Emma
spent most of her non-school hours with Grandpa Joe, arguably making Grandpa
Joe the most important male in Emma’s life. So, yes, today is a hard day for
Emma.
But on this very day, 12 months ago,
Emma buried her four-year-old son. Joey
died from a rare genetic disease, paralyzing Emma on the day he died and still
immobilizing her today, one year later. That’s the “proverbial understatement”
part of the difficult day.
One may argue that life still goes on
for the living. Emma’s husband, Noah, though deeply saddened by his son’s
death, has moved on ── to the point where he is talking about trying for
another child. In Emma’s world that is
SO not in the realm of possibilities. Not just today, but ever! Doesn’t Noah understand that they both carry
a genetic gene that created a child born with only the ability to breathe and pre-destined
for an early death? How can he ask her
to do this again? To carry and give birth to another disabled child that she
must daily watch slowly die?
How quickly Emma’s outlook on life turned
from hopeful to helpless. Is her future
truly to be so dismal? Childless and
husbandless? Because isn’t setting Noah free the right thing to do, so that he
can marry someone else and have the family he wants? The one she can’t give
him?
To distract herself from the fateful future
realities that she envisions, Emma begins a genealogy search for the familial
link to Joey’s disease. An old wedding
photograph of her great-grandparents plays into her search in an unexpected
way, giving her a key that unlocks more than one door ─doors that Emma didn’t
even know existed!
You may have noticed above that I delineated
only one character ─Emma Hazelton─ from author Ella Joy Olsen’s novel Where the Sweet Bird Sings. That’s
because this whole novel is really Emma’s story, and everyone else in the book
primarily facilitates her journey. In Emma’s life, Olsen beautifully braids
together three strands: 1. Grief from losing a child; 2. Genetic diseases; and
3. Genealogy ─the potential for hidden secrets and surprises. Three separate facets are cleverly combined
into one piece, one journey, one life. Emma’s journey. Emma’s life.
Historians study the past for many
reasons, one being that we can often forecast the future from the past. In a
very real way, that was true for Emma.
By looking into her family’s history, she gains knowledge and
information that answer unspoken questions and satisfy a heartbreaking
yearning. It gives her hope again for
her future in a unique and unforeseen way.
Finding hope and sweetness in your life
in not always easy. One place to find them
both is Where the Sweet Bird Sings. Listen! Do you hear it? A Sweet Bird is singing just for you: Read me!
Deb’s Note: Where
the Sweet Bird Sings is Ella Joy Olsen’s second novel. Her first novel is Root, Petal, Thorn. It is
not at all necessary to read her first novel before reading this novel. However, if you have read Olsen’s first novel, connecting parts of Where the Sweet Bird Sings will be more
meaningful to you. Be hopeful. Be happy. Enjoy.
Purchase the book at:
Twelve Things About
WHERE THE SWEET BIRD SINGS
By Ella Joy Olsen
1)
Where the Sweet Bird Sings is my
second novel. It’s “linked” to my debut, Root, Petal, Thorn. What’s a linked
book, you ask? It’s not a sequel but it does have one or two characters in common.
When you meet them on the page it will be like unexpectedly running into a
friend from your book club while you’re on a beach vacation. A pleasant
surprise! Each book adds richness to the other (and answers a few burning
questions)…but they can be enjoyed in either order, or as a stand-alone read.
2)
The initial premise behind Where the Sweet Bird Sings is admittedly sad. Emma and Noah
Hazelton have recently lost their young son to a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease, called Canavan Disease. It’s one
of the Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Diseases, and is similar to Tay-Sachs. Both
Emma and Noah carry one copy of the mutated gene, but are both are symptom free.
3)
Because Canavan Disease is so rare, many couples don’t anticipate, or aren’t tested for a
genetic predisposition. Such is the case for Emma and Noah. The book begins
with Emma wondering how this disease appeared, seemingly from nowhere, to
affect their child. She is compelled dig down to the roots of the condition, so to speak. So yes, there are some
heartbreaking scenes…but the book is ultimately about hope and cobbling
together a family from many places.
4)
Meanwhile, buried deep in an old roll-top desk, Emma
discovers an antique wedding photograph
of her great-grandparents. Right away she realizes her extended family isn’t
quite what she believed it to be. Then, when her brother claims he’s long
believed he was adopted, Emma knows she has a few things she needs to figure
out. All this drives her to spend hours at the Family History Library trying to
puzzle through her genealogical puzzle.
5)
The Family History Library is owned by The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) and was specifically created
for ancestral research. The materials available for public consumption are mind-blowing.
Ancestry has long been big business
for the Mormon Church but these days it’s huge everywhere. What is one of the
first things people look for when researching their ancestry? They want to know
if they’re related to anyone famous, most specifically, royalty.
6)
During my research I took a DNA test through the company 23andMe to authenticate the process. I
didn’t discover anything too damning about my own genetic code, but here’s a
secret. I am 3% Neanderthal. Don’t judge. And hand me that leg of mutton.
7)
While reading the 23andMe educational materials, I
learned tons about human migration across the globe. How can a dribble of spit
reveal your country of origin? Here’s the simplified version: Mutations in the genetic code occurred naturally over
thousands of years as people migrated.
Since people didn’t go very far or very fast, those mutations are most common
to certain geographical areas. The percentage of a specific mutation you have
in your code, the more Northern European (or whatever) you are. Of course human
migration is on super-speed now. People can go globe-trotting and find a mate
on Tinder in hours. I’m not
advocating this approach. I’m just
saying it’s an option.
8)
The title of the novel, Where the Sweet Bird Sings, is a nod to the concept of family trees. So, where does the sweet bird sing? In a tree, of
course. Actually, the title is a riff
from a line in a Shakespearean sonnet,
“Where Late the Sweet Bird Sang”. I
think the cover art riffs on I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Both fantastic literary references.
9)
My main character, Emma, learns much about life at
her beloved Grandpa Joe’s side. Many of the textural details of their
relationship I stole from my own relationship with my Grandpa Ralph. The Butter
Rum lifesavers, the hours of Solitaire he’d play at the kitchen table, the out
of date mid-century modern home.
10)
There is an intense hospital scene in the book. I spent a fair amount of time in the
hospital having my entire large intestine removed (but that’s another story), so
I felt I could write about the hospital experience authentically. Even still, I
sent the manuscript on to my good friend, Talli, who is an Emergency Room nurse
to get all of the details right. I named the nurse in the book after her, as a
thank you.
11)
I love to name a character or two after someone
who helps me tremendously in the writing process. In Root, Petal, Thorn, Nathaniel is named after the son of one of my
best readers. It’s the least expensive,
and most lasting, way to say thank you.
12)
I love to dress thematically for my book launch
parties. I had a gorgeous “rose” dress for the launch of Root, Petal, Thorn. Now I’m on the hunt for a fabulous dress
featuring a sweet bird singing. I may have to settle for a hat…
About the author:
Ella Joy Olsen was born, raised and currently resides in Salt Lake City,
Utah, a charming town tucked at the base of the massive Rocky Mountains. Most
at home in the world of the written word, Ella spent nearly a decade on the
Board of Directors for the Salt Lake City Public Library System (and four
decades browsing the stacks). She is the mom of three kids ranging from
just-barely-teen to just-flown-the-nest-teen, the mama of two dogs, and the
wife of one patient husband.
Connect with the author at:
one lucky winner a print copy
of
Where the Sweet Bird Sings by
Ella Joy Olsen
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