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rugbykake's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
morethanthepages's review
3.0
Coming into this story I wasn't aware of the the occult connection. But Georgie Hyde-Lees and W.B. Yeats were very much intro the paranormal the the idea of communicating to the dead.
We follow Georgie on her journey of wanting to be part of a secret order and learning to communicate with the dead. But that's not what the focus is entirely. It's more watching as she navigates as a young 20 something in London as WWI is going on. She works in a hospital taking care of wounded soldiers, but some nights attending parties, and studying to pass an entrance exam within the secret society. As she learns to become part of The Order we get a sense for why she wants to study this subject and importance of it to her.
I'm just gonna say this isn't a plot driven book. Rather one you're being guided along and reading about what is going on in her life as Georgie makes decisions and choices and how the affect her. There are moments of "whoah crazy" but you're not going to be reading on the edge of your seat the entire time. There was also a touch of romance between Georgie and Yeats and Leitenent Pike who was trying to romance her from his hospital bed and show her she shouldn't bother with a man so much older than her as well as being a poet. Overall she's learning what she wants for herself in life.
The writing was beautiful, and I was kept engaged, but I can see this not being a very entertaining book for everyone. But I found it easy to turn the pages and wanting to keep reading to know more. What I liked most is that we got a look into who the person Georgie Hyde-Lees is and she's not just another "wife" of famous person. We saw her growth and curiosity as well as her passion. As historical fiction it gave more life and knowledge to someone who probably would have been unknown to me.
Thank you again to @tin_house for my copy, I was so glad to read it.
We follow Georgie on her journey of wanting to be part of a secret order and learning to communicate with the dead. But that's not what the focus is entirely. It's more watching as she navigates as a young 20 something in London as WWI is going on. She works in a hospital taking care of wounded soldiers, but some nights attending parties, and studying to pass an entrance exam within the secret society. As she learns to become part of The Order we get a sense for why she wants to study this subject and importance of it to her.
I'm just gonna say this isn't a plot driven book. Rather one you're being guided along and reading about what is going on in her life as Georgie makes decisions and choices and how the affect her. There are moments of "whoah crazy" but you're not going to be reading on the edge of your seat the entire time. There was also a touch of romance between Georgie and Yeats and Leitenent Pike who was trying to romance her from his hospital bed and show her she shouldn't bother with a man so much older than her as well as being a poet. Overall she's learning what she wants for herself in life.
The writing was beautiful, and I was kept engaged, but I can see this not being a very entertaining book for everyone. But I found it easy to turn the pages and wanting to keep reading to know more. What I liked most is that we got a look into who the person Georgie Hyde-Lees is and she's not just another "wife" of famous person. We saw her growth and curiosity as well as her passion. As historical fiction it gave more life and knowledge to someone who probably would have been unknown to me.
Thank you again to @tin_house for my copy, I was so glad to read it.
readtowander's review
3.0
2.5 stars!
I had high expectations for this historical fiction novel based on the life of Irish poet W.B Yeats through the eyes of his young girlfriend, Georgie Hyde-Lees. She is enamored by him from the ripe, young age of 21 and is taken on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the first World War. He even introduces her to the occult known as The Order, a secret society involved with seances and speaking to those who have passed on. She gets a job in a hospital for wounded officers, where she meets a young gentleman Lieutenant Pike, who tries to win her affection over Yeats.
While most of the book is very factual and I appreciate the research that went into it, I just could not get behind Yeats and found myself angry with Georgie for not wanting more for her life and love. I guess you can't help who you fall for though!
Thank you to the author, Tin House Books and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I had high expectations for this historical fiction novel based on the life of Irish poet W.B Yeats through the eyes of his young girlfriend, Georgie Hyde-Lees. She is enamored by him from the ripe, young age of 21 and is taken on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the first World War. He even introduces her to the occult known as The Order, a secret society involved with seances and speaking to those who have passed on. She gets a job in a hospital for wounded officers, where she meets a young gentleman Lieutenant Pike, who tries to win her affection over Yeats.
While most of the book is very factual and I appreciate the research that went into it, I just could not get behind Yeats and found myself angry with Georgie for not wanting more for her life and love. I guess you can't help who you fall for though!
Thank you to the author, Tin House Books and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
shiloniz's review
4.0
More Miracle Than Bird is a compelling first novel from a new voice. It follows Georgie Hyde-Lees through the long and drawn out courtship to poet W.B. Yeats and follows Lieutenant Pike, a soldier in the first World War, whom Georgie cares for in a makeshift London Hospital. This book is filled with uncertainty, secret societies, artistic ego and sensibilities, with spirits, and with the understanding that the hand that guides the pen isn't always the hand holding the pen. I found myself so caught up in Georgie's world that when I tried to sleep at night I woke repeatedly in a state of frantic concern, wondering what was in store for her next and what would become of the charming Lieutenant Pike.
linesuponapage's review
I’ve been reading a lot of WWII Historical Fiction books lately and so this book, More Miracle Than Bird has been a good change of pace.
Knowing little of William Butler Yates I was looking forward to reading more about his and his not so famous wife- Georgie.
The author writes this book as if it is like a secret whisper, it breathes in your ear, tells you things you aren’t expecting, and ravels it all up with gossip between 4 romantic ties.
I enjoyed More Miracle Than Bird.
Thank you, NetGalley, Tin House Books, and Alice Miller for the opportunity to read and review this book in lieu of my honest review.
Knowing little of William Butler Yates I was looking forward to reading more about his and his not so famous wife- Georgie.
The author writes this book as if it is like a secret whisper, it breathes in your ear, tells you things you aren’t expecting, and ravels it all up with gossip between 4 romantic ties.
I enjoyed More Miracle Than Bird.
Thank you, NetGalley, Tin House Books, and Alice Miller for the opportunity to read and review this book in lieu of my honest review.
thebookconfessions's review
2.0
2.5⭐
I'm really picky with historical fiction reads so I didn't have high expectations of this one. I liked the premise but somehow this book fell flat. I couldn't get into the story enough.
I actually listened to the audiobook and the only thing that kept me into the story was the narration. The narration was really gorgeous.
Maybe this wasn't my cup of tea but I still think this book could've been so much more.
I'm really picky with historical fiction reads so I didn't have high expectations of this one. I liked the premise but somehow this book fell flat. I couldn't get into the story enough.
I actually listened to the audiobook and the only thing that kept me into the story was the narration. The narration was really gorgeous.
Maybe this wasn't my cup of tea but I still think this book could've been so much more.
themodvictorian's review
5.0
I’m genuinely confused as to why this book’s rating is so low. I thought it was lovely.
(I’d preferred to have rated this a 4, but I gave it 5 to compensate for what I think an unfair amount of low ratings by people mad that this wasn’t about Yeats or something.)
(I’d preferred to have rated this a 4, but I gave it 5 to compensate for what I think an unfair amount of low ratings by people mad that this wasn’t about Yeats or something.)
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for a 5 week class -Mrs. Yeats and Mrs. Joyce. I have long thought that WB Yeats' involvement with the Society of the Golden Dawn and automatic writing to be silly. This great poet also had a romantic fascination with Celtic myths and history. My impression of him as a person is that he was often supercilious and effete. He was part of the Anglo-Irish class who held themselves above the majority of the Irish.
This historical fiction about his wife Georgie Hyde-Lees for the most part tells the part of the story leading up to their marriage, and the very early years. Georgia was a privileged English "girl" who volunteers to nurse wounded Army officer casualties during World War I. She did this to escape her mother, a widow, whose lacked affection for her daughter. Georgie was not very good at her job initially. Her pay was low and she lived in a dormitory with other young women doing similar wartime jobs. Her mother's ambition for her was a job in the foreign service.
Georgie crosses paths with Yeats occasionally, and develops an infatuation. It is hard to understand her attraction to this aloof man twice her age. The novel portrays a young woman who has potential but doesn't do much with it. She changes her personal study of languages and translation to learning the principles of the Society of the Golden Dawn in her pursuit of Yeats. When they eventually marry, they both think on the honeymoon they have made a mistake.
They stay together until Yeats' death decades later. When they marry, Yeats has finally given up on Maud Gonna who has rejected him for years. Yeats and his wife are rather forlorn people. I didn't find them very interesting people, nor did many of those in my class. We are on the reading [b:Nora: A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce|53018354|Nora A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce|Nuala O'Connor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594618638l/53018354._SY75_.jpg|75124006] by Nuala O'Connor. This is a novel full of sexual interactions between Nora and Joyce. Nora Barnacle is a much more appealing and interesting person than Georgie Hyde-Lees. It is a more "Irish" story (except perhaps for the sex) than More Miracle Than Bird.
We did have a conversation with the author, a native of New Zealand living in Germany. This ambitious novel is probably going to be of interest primarily to readers interested in Yeats and writers of that time period in England and Ireland.
This historical fiction about his wife Georgie Hyde-Lees for the most part tells the part of the story leading up to their marriage, and the very early years. Georgia was a privileged English "girl" who volunteers to nurse wounded Army officer casualties during World War I. She did this to escape her mother, a widow, whose lacked affection for her daughter. Georgie was not very good at her job initially. Her pay was low and she lived in a dormitory with other young women doing similar wartime jobs. Her mother's ambition for her was a job in the foreign service.
Georgie crosses paths with Yeats occasionally, and develops an infatuation. It is hard to understand her attraction to this aloof man twice her age. The novel portrays a young woman who has potential but doesn't do much with it. She changes her personal study of languages and translation to learning the principles of the Society of the Golden Dawn in her pursuit of Yeats. When they eventually marry, they both think on the honeymoon they have made a mistake.
They stay together until Yeats' death decades later. When they marry, Yeats has finally given up on Maud Gonna who has rejected him for years. Yeats and his wife are rather forlorn people. I didn't find them very interesting people, nor did many of those in my class. We are on the reading [b:Nora: A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce|53018354|Nora A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce|Nuala O'Connor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594618638l/53018354._SY75_.jpg|75124006] by Nuala O'Connor. This is a novel full of sexual interactions between Nora and Joyce. Nora Barnacle is a much more appealing and interesting person than Georgie Hyde-Lees. It is a more "Irish" story (except perhaps for the sex) than More Miracle Than Bird.
We did have a conversation with the author, a native of New Zealand living in Germany. This ambitious novel is probably going to be of interest primarily to readers interested in Yeats and writers of that time period in England and Ireland.
emziesreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
jilliebeanreads's review
2.0
"More Miracle Than Bird" is a historical fiction book that introduces us to a young Georgie Hyde-Lees as she navigates her 20's in England during WWI. By day, she works in a hospital, tending to bedpans and patients injured from the war. By night, she joins a Secret Society and studies how to talk to the dead.
Oh, and she's in love with W.B. Yeats, the poet, who is twice her age. Half of the story is about whether or not he'll finally "see" her.
The story weaves back and forth from her days and nights. And quite frankly, I prefered the former (her time with Tom, the Second Lieutenant who had a crush on Georgie). I was not fond of Yeats or definitely could have done without so much attention to her studies of the Afterlife. Yes, it's a true-ish story, but not a fulfilling one. (For me, anyway).
I thought debut author Alice Miller did a beautiful job as a writer. In particular, I very much appreciated the short-form chapters. (It helped keep my attention when I was bored of certain bits). The narrator, Polly Lee, did a fine telling it. I just didn't love the story.
Special thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the audio book in exchange for my honest review.
Oh, and she's in love with W.B. Yeats, the poet, who is twice her age. Half of the story is about whether or not he'll finally "see" her.
The story weaves back and forth from her days and nights. And quite frankly, I prefered the former (her time with Tom, the Second Lieutenant who had a crush on Georgie). I was not fond of Yeats or definitely could have done without so much attention to her studies of the Afterlife. Yes, it's a true-ish story, but not a fulfilling one. (For me, anyway).
I thought debut author Alice Miller did a beautiful job as a writer. In particular, I very much appreciated the short-form chapters. (It helped keep my attention when I was bored of certain bits). The narrator, Polly Lee, did a fine telling it. I just didn't love the story.
Special thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the audio book in exchange for my honest review.