The Spirit Bird
University of Pittsburgh Press, 2014
Summary
The Spirit Bird is a stunning collection that showcases Kent Nelson's mature artistry and profound empathy. These stories traverse a vast array of geographies and human experiences, touching on the complexities and intricacies of what it means to be alive. You’ll encounter characters as varied as a man running a movie business in the desert, another who inexplicably transforms into a donkey, and a woman grappling with an unstable father. What unifies these disparate narratives is Nelson’s singular ability to expose the unsettled nature of the human spirit, the constant flux of our hopes and aspirations. Each plot is masterfully crafted, with unexpected developments that challenge your perceptions of reality. Together, these thirteen tales form a powerful chorus that speaks to universal themes of love and loss, and the arduous yet essential journey of overcoming obstacles. Critics have lauded Nelson's magical way of making ordinary descriptions come alive, and his nuanced exploration of identity, acceptance, and the desire to be whole. If you seek a collection that is as moving as it is surprising, filled with rich characters and exotic backdrops, The Spirit Bird is an absolute must-read.
Critical Praise
"The Spirit Bird is a gift to readers. Its lush, gorgeous prose and deep intelligence create a surprising range of experience in which characters navigate the terrains of the human heart with piercing elegance. The wideness of this author's vision seems able to take in anything and reveals human loneliness and desire with memorable grace."
—Erin McGraw, author of The Good Life: Stories
“The Spirit Bird indicates a seasoned talent at work. It’s a collection set in disparate geographies and touching on disparate lives, but it explores consistently the terrain of loneliness and yearning. One of its more impressive features is the way it artfully balances saying too much with saying too little. These stories open out instead of closing up. They’re moving, which is hard to do, and surprising in the sense that we’re unprepared for how they end. I respect and admire The Spirit Bird. It’s the work of an author whose passionate immersion in life is evident on every page.”
—David Guterson, author of Snow Falling on Cedars
“Over a 35-year career, Nelson has garnered frequent widespread acclaim for his finely crafted short stories, which have been regularly featured in esteemed venues such as the ‘O. Henry’ and ‘Pushcart’ prize anthologies. His newest collection has won the 2014 Drue Heinz Literature Prize . . . Embracing a wide range of stirring themes and exotic backdrops, Nelson draws equally on his imagination and his own colorful experiences in 13 tales that are as moving as they are full of inspired surprises. . . . Nelson captivates his readers with finely nuanced prose that reaches into his characters’ deepest feelings as they confront their unique personal misfortunes. Highly recommended.”
—Booklist
“In more ways than one, Nelson's characters have a lot in common with the birds they share the pages with. There are the restless ones compelled by a migratory desire to come and go as they please; there are the rare ones that feel out of place, like Hakim Bayles, the son of a Caucasian mother and an Egyptian father; also the beautiful ones, and the list goes on. It is this that makes The Spirit Bird an engaging read and an eco critic's nirvana.”
—Loreen Nariari, The Rocky Mountain Review
Quote from Book
“I understand why I am here, what Eric needs, what every person needs in this life. Eric kneels down beside the bones and takes off his gloves and touches the fragile hand, the man’s shoulder, the withered face. He rests his hand lightly on the desiccated lips, and the spirit bird rises from Eric’s hands. I see it, too—misty, vaporous, insubstantial—and when he stands from the bones all I can do is close the few steps between us and put my arms around him.”
From “The Spirit Bird”
Sample Short Stories
The Spirit Bird
Race
The Beautiful Light
My Crazy Father