Creative Digital Media > eBook[PDF] > Fed to Red Birds by Rijn Collins (All)

Fed to Red Birds by Rijn Collins

Document Content and Description Below

Fed to Red Birds is the debut novel by award-winning Australian author Rijn Collins, a work of literary fiction with elements of magical realism, exploring themes of identity, obsession, family secrets, an ...

Fed to Red Birds is the debut novel by award-winning Australian author Rijn Collins, a work of literary fiction with elements of magical realism, exploring themes of identity, obsession, family secrets, and the search for belonging against the atmospheric backdrop of Iceland.

Summary

The story follows Elva, a young Australian woman who moves to Reykjavik in search of the Icelandic mother who disappeared from her life as a child. She finds work in a shop of curiosities, studies the Icelandic language, and tries to keep her private obsessions and a secret compulsion under control. Her grandfather, a celebrated children's book author living in a remote village, holds the key to the family's past and her mother's disappearance, but a stroke leaves him incapacitated, forcing Elva to confront her past and her burgeoning compulsions, which include an interest in taxidermy and the macabre. As she builds a life and friendships in the stark, beautiful Icelandic landscape, Elva's journey becomes a haunting exploration of her inner world and the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural.

Key Themes

Identity and Belonging: The novel explores the struggle to find one's place, both geographically (between Australia and Iceland) and within one's own family history.
Obsession and Compulsion: Elva's interests in the "weird and wonderful" — from Victorian collectibles to taxidermy — serve as a coping mechanism that eventually threatens to overwhelm her life.
Family Secrets: A central mystery revolves around what truly happened to Elva's mother and the secrets her grandfather keeps.
Magic and Reality: The narrative interweaves everyday life with an underlying sense of magic, drawing on Nordic folklore and making the possibility of the otherworldly feel real.
Grief and Loss: The story touches on coming to terms with childhood grief and loss, using the metaphor of taxidermy as a way of "preserving the dead, or rather, bringing that back to life".

Reviews

Reviewers have praised the novel for its:

Evocative Atmosphere: The vivid descriptions of Iceland's landscape and isolation effectively create a "haunting (in the best possible way!)" backdrop that acts as a character in its own right.
Intriguing Character Study: Elva is described as a complex, relatable protagonist, whose flaws and guardedness make her engaging.
Unique Blend of Genres: The book is noted as an immersive blend of travelogue, literary fiction, and magical realism, offering something different from typical narratives.
Emotional Depth: Despite dark themes, the novel maintains a "comforting warmth" through the sincere friendships Elva forms, highlighting themes of human connection and acceptance.

[Show More]

Last updated: 6 months ago

Preview 10 out of 201 pages

Buy Now

Instant download