#this bird has flown

[cygninae]

Since I know a few people are really looking forward to seeing the next chapter of This Bird Has Flown (thank you!!) here's some vague info about the next chapter :) (feel free to send me asks about it too, it would be very motivating)

for how clever Klaus is, he is unbelievably clueless at times

Isadora is having a really rough time :(

Violet comes into her skin more, we see more of a confident side to her

Duncan and Klaus fall on their asses in a river

oh no we have to share a bed oh noo i hope i dont comfort you after a nightmare ...

Isadora is amazing, I love her, yes I'm picking favourites

[ven10]

A quick Klaus Baudelaire sketch, heavily inspired by ‘This Bird Has Flown’ by @cygninae

(By ‘heavily inspired’ I mean it was supposed to be fanart then I realised “oh shit does this even count if it’s based off the fic’s vibe instead of an actual scene?? Anyway, I recommend reading it if anyone seeing this hasn’t already! It’s on Ao3!)

[illustration-alcove]

Book cover for Susanna Hoffs's This Bird Has Flown, designed by Lucy Kim.

[eyreguide]

Book Review: This Bird Has Flown

This Bird Has Flown by Susannah Hoffs Plot Summary: Jane Start is thirty-three, broke, and recently single. Ten years prior, she had a hit song—written by world-famous superstar Jonesy—but Jane hasn’t had a breakout since. Now she's living out of four garbage bags at her parents’ house, reduced to performing to Karaoke tracks in Las Vegas. Rock bottom. But when her longtime manager Pippa sends Jane to London to regroup, she’s seated next to an intriguing stranger on the flight—the other Tom Hardy, an elegantly handsome Oxford professor of literature. Jane is instantly smitten by Tom, and soon, truly inspired. But it’s not Jane’s past alone that haunts her second chance at stardom, and at love. Is Tom all that he seems? And can Jane emerge from the shadow of Jonesy's earlier hit, and into the light of her own?In turns deeply sexy, riotously funny, and utterly joyful, This Bird Has Flown explores love, passion, and the ghosts of our past, and offers a glimpse inside the music business that could only come from beloved songwriter Susanna Hoffs.

Review:

This Bird Has Flown caught my eye because it takes inspiration from Jane Eyre and the concept of the story sounded fascinating. With the author’s unique perspective to the story as a well-known singer/songwriter just like the main character Jane Start, I felt like this was bound to be a distinctive take on Jane Eyre inspired novels.

What I truly loved about this book was how authentic this perspective felt. Jane Start comes across as a believable and warm character the reader wants to get to know. There are so many layers to her experiences in the music industry - many ups and downs - and Jane shares so much of her vulnerability from the very first chapter making it easy to empathize and understand her.  The plot of the novel can sometimes wander, and the impetus of the romance between Jane and Tom sometimes moved too slowly for my tastes, but throughout, the story focused on painting Jane Start as a real, sensitive, and complicated woman. And as the novel is an homage to Jane Eyre, there is no better way to honor the original than to create a heroine as strong, magnetic, and fascinating as Jane Eyre.

And while romance is at the forefront of This Bird Has Flown - it guides Jane Start in making some pretty important decisions quickly once she has connected with Tom Hardy - I think the only drawback to the building of their relationship was in how monotonous it became.  The lovely moments of their first meeting and insecurity about each others true feelings was fun, but once they made a commitment to each other, the tension stalled, and Jane and Tom’s relationship has the common flaw of lack of communication.  This avoidance of talking about previous relationships seemed more of a needed plot point to stymie their relationship and not so much a believable way they would decide to develop their relationship.  This aspect was not a huge issue though, as Jane Start is such a well written character and she is surrounded by interesting and entertaining characters that help move the story along.

Jane’s best friend and manager Pippa is a definite highlight.  She is so warm and nurturing, while also needing Jane’s friendship to help her through her own issues, and I loved the dynamic of these two women. There’s also Jane’s friends and brother who are delightful to get to know and helped create some moments of humor and connection throughout the story.

Tom Hardy as a character did feel muted as Jane’s romantic other half. He does have a secret to keep and that means he must remain slightly mysterious, but it was difficult to really understand him as a character, other than that he is charming, English, and intelligent.  All great qualities for a romantic interest and that did give the story an alluring escapist romantic quality.  I love an idealistic romantic, and Tom fit the bill to a T.  I just wished that the reader could dive a little deeper into his character.

As a story that takes some aspects of Jane Eyre, I did want to touch upon the reason for Jane “leaving” Tom.  It’s a difficult scenario to recreate in modern versions, as Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre is unable to get a divorce and that is not usually a problem today.  Susanna Hoffs creates an entirely new kind of obstacle that echoes the original novel, but feels very realistic for today and I thought that part was so well done. I felt for Jane, and understood how difficult a situation it was for her.  Having a believable reason for Jane to leave Tom was very important to make the story work, and I felt that Hoffs unique take was perfect.

Overall, I really enjoyed the characters and the perspective and unique insight into the music industry that this book provided.  The romance is sweet, if a little simple, but by the end I was totally invested in Jane Start’s happy ending, and if the author would consider writing continuing adventures in her life, I think that would be wonderful!

Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.

[jimstares]

For those that follow me on insta sorry for the spam, but still just enjoying the moment. Susanna Hoff was funny, witty, and absolutely charming.

[bargainsleuthbooks]

This Bird Has Flown by Susanna Hoffs #TheBangles #BookReview #AudiobookReview #LittleBrownandCompany #April2023Books #PopMusic

Remember the #GirlsGroup #TheBangles? #LeadSinger #SusannaHoffs has written a #contemporaryromance about a washed up #songwriter looking for redemption. Get the audio-Hoffs narrates! #bookreview #littlebrownandcompany #audiobookreview #april2023books

Jane Start is thirty-three, broke, and recently single. Ten years prior, she had a hit song—written by world-famous superstar Jonesy—but Jane hasn’t had a breakout since. Now she’s living out of four garbage bags at her parents’ house, reduced to performing to Karaoke tracks in Las Vegas.  Rock bottom. But when her longtime manager Pippa sends Jane to London to regroup, she’s seated next to an…

[notalisonyet]

Yesterday I finished reading This Bird Has Flown by Susanna Hoffs (co-founder of the Bangles and solo musical artist).

It’s a lot of fun and combines rom-com setups with the music business and dramatic nineteenth-century Austen and Bronte novels.

And now I want a children’s book, The Adventures of Leopard Pants.

[rk-striker-jk-5]

Conversation with my editor Helen O’Hare about This Bird Has Flown

I’m a bit of a huge Bangles fan. Have you been able to tell? ;)

[ohhellno]

My Cat, Tango only needs to see the world Bird in the book title and is ready to pounce! Lol. Love the new Susanna Hoffs Book THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN and her new album THE DEEP END. Yes, it’s signed :) May 2023

[televinita]

Jane Start is thirty-three, broke, and recently single. Ten years prior, she had a hit song—written by world-famous superstar Jonesy—but Jane hasn’t had a breakout since. Now she's living out of four garbage bags at her parents’ house, reduced to performing to Karaoke tracks in Las Vegas. Rock bottom. But when her longtime manager Pippa sends Jane to London to regroup, she’s seated next to an intriguing stranger on the flight—the other Tom Hardy, an elegantly handsome Oxford professor of literature. Jane is instantly smitten by Tom, and soon, truly inspired. But it’s not Jane’s past alone that haunts her second chance at stardom, and at love. Is Tom all that he seems? And can Jane emerge from the shadow of Jonesy's earlier hit, and into the light of her own?

I want you all to know I am having the best time with this book.

[cygninae]

I'm sorry for my absence, I haven't had much to say (for once) I am trying to finish TBHF despite my lack of motivation nor involvement with the fandom only because of the kind comments I recieve on AO3. Thank you for waiting for me :)

[ven10]

‘This Bird Has Flown’ Chapter 5 excerpt comic editionnnnn (Fic by @cygninae ) (Happy belated birthday!!!! 🎂)

(Violet: “But what if he recognises me?”)

Bonus: The remaining problem…

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

this is what I've learned about the practice of politics over the past 8 years:

the time for talking about abstract political ideals is during the primary.

after the primary, the die has been cast, and your two choices are there whether you like them or not. your practical political responsibility still exists. any choice that seems to lie outside the two candidates is an illusion. to cast a vote for a third party or to not vote at all is still, practically speaking, a choice for one of the two main candidates.

furthermore, you are not voting for the candidates as people, you are voting for them as policy. voting for a person is a luxury most countries don't have anymore. you think Canadian Christian voters ever get a truly Christian ticket on either side? Norwegian Christians? Japanese Christians? America might still be able to vote for people in the primaries, but we don't have that luxury in the general election. the general election is about policy, and the candidates are only pieces in a larger game of chess.

the only thing that would persuade me NOT to vote for Trump this time around is if he had the exact same policy platform as Kamala Harris. if Trump ran on all of Harris' policies except for immigration, I would still vote for Trump, because it's materially worse for my family, friends, and neighbors to allow illegal immigration than to stop it. and as a voter, I have the power to stop it.

[pastafossa]

Just been informed by a bird loving friend that the birder community is in chaos and has divided into two factions because some birds are getting new names. Friendships have been broken. Alliances formed. Racist comments made.

Somehow, I did not have 'battle in the bird community' on my 2023 bingo card.