Enthralling story of Irene, a woman who suffers tragedy and ends up in Guatemala, in a magical hotel. Wonderful story and portraits of the hotel staff, guests, and villagers. ( )

“For the first time in all my days on the road, it occurred to me to ask where I should go. The woman didn’t hesitate. She spoke with surprising firmness. “La Esperanza,” she said. The word meant hope.”

Our protagonist Irene, heartbroken and lost after an unimaginable tragedy, leaves her life in San Francisco, destination unknown. After a period of wandering, she lands up in the town of La Esperanza in Central America and rents a room at La Llorona a hotel at the edge of a lake close to a looming volcano - “a place of extraordinary beauty— heartbreaking beauty, you might say. Heartbreaking, because it was falling apart. Wherever I looked there was something magical. And something broken. It was the broken part that allowed me to feel at home in this place.”

Little did she know at the time that she would soon assume responsibility for the hotel and make a life for herself in this foreign land surrounded by strangers who will become an integral part of her life. The narrative is shared from Irene’s perspective in the first-person PoV and we move back and forth between past and present with flashbacks that give us a glimpse into her unhappy, unstable childhood with her hippie mother and the tragic circumstances that resulted in her coming to live with her grandmother at a young age as well as the events that lead her to La Llorona. When she inherits the hotel, it is in a state of disrepair and we bear witness to the trials and tribulations she faces in restoring it to its former glory. The story follows Irene, her life at La Llorona, the people she meets and how her experiences impact her life and encourage her to open up to whatever life has to offer. Irene, a former illustrator and once-aspiring artist, finds inspiration in the natural beauty of La Llorona. Not all her experiences are pleasant and not all the people she meets are trustworthy but each experience is significant and allows her to grow as a person and gives her a sense of worth after a lifetime of feeling disconnected and wary of attachments. As Leila, the former owner of La Llorona had explained to Irene “You may not find what you’re looking for when you come to this lake,” she’d told me. “But you’ll probably find what you need.”

The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard is a stunningly beautiful novel that touches upon themes of grief, survival, kindness and found family. Elegant prose, masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions of the land and its natural beauty transported me to La Llorona with Irene and I didn’t want to leave. There's a lot packed into this novel without it becoming too heavy or convoluted. I was invested in Irene’s story from the very first page. The descriptions of the characters and their thoughts and reactions are realistic and never exaggerated.

The author captures the beauty of the locale both in its tranquility - the vegetation, the flora, birds and the turquoise lake - and in its turbulence and ferocity– the natural disasters, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions that wreak havoc in the lives of the community of La Esperanza. We meet guests from all around the world who come to La Llorona motivated by personal quests or simply in need of respite from the world outside. The author skillfully weaves the stories of other foreigners who settle in the area as well as the descriptions of the Mayan customs and traditions practiced by the indigenous community of the Mayan village into the narrative. ( In her Acknowledgments, the author clarifies that she has written from the perspective of an American expat. The author has maintained a home for over twenty years in a Mayan village in Guatemala). The beautifully descriptive writing, realistic characterizations and fluid narrative made for an immersive reading experience.

“It’s not important what took place before. It’s what you do now that matters.”

Many thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley for the much-appreciated digital review copy of this beautiful novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )

Nearly a perfect book - it was magical, mystical, lyrical, heartwarming, superb. Read it, you won't be sorry! ( )

The Short of It:

Maynard never fails to tell a story, and tell it well.

The Rest of It:

After a childhood filled with heartbreak, Irene, a talented artist, finds herself in a small Central American village where she checks into a beautiful but decaying lakefront hotel called La Llorona at the base of a volcano.

The Bird Hotel tells the story of this young American who, after suffering tragedy, restores and runs La Llorona. Along the way we meet a rich assortment of characters who live in the village or come to stay at the hotel. With a mystery at its center and filled with warmth, drama, romance, humor, pop culture, and a little magical realism, The Bird Hotel has all the hallmarks of a Joyce Maynard novel that have made her a leading voice of her generation. ~ Indiebound

I was delightfully surprised by this novel. I expected to love it, but I didn’t expect La Llorona to find a place in my heart. I love it when a home, village or dwelling is so well-imagined that it takes on an identity of its own. The crumbling hotel with all its challenges is lovingly restored by Irene. Her sensitivity to the environment around her and the respect she has for the hotel’s original staff, earns her respect in the village.

People come to La Llorona for many reasons. To get away from it all, to find elusive herbs, to profit off the locals and yes, sometimes to hide as Irene continues to lay low to protect the secret she is hiding. Irene’s grief over losing a child and husband continues to grow and hold her captive, Memories of her mother’s last words replay in her head. She is heavy with grief and La Llorona gently calls her mind to other things.

People come together. Some become family, others become enemies. There’s heartache and great displays of loyalty. I found myself completely absorbed by the hotel and its people. It was one of those reads that you fall right into.

Recommend.

For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter. ( )

This is a perfect pre-vacation or vacation read. I just loved it! The story centers around a small hotel in Central America that is very much off the beaten path. In a way, the village consists of locals and misfits from other places.

Irene, the main character, has suffered a devastating loss and has a big secret from her past. She’s at the brink of suicide when she ends up getting on a bus, not knowing where the destination. Somehow, Irene ends up at La Llorona, meeting Leila, the owner of the establishment. Leila senses Irene’s need for healing and lets her stay free of charge.

Eventually Irene begins to heal and help the staff with the daily chores of the hotel. When Leila dies, she passes along a big surprise to Irene. Irene rises to the challenge and the rest of the story centers around her relationships with the employees, other local residents and the guests who come for a stay at La Llorona.

I recommend at comfy hammock with your favorite beverage and an afternoon spent reading this book. It’s a wonderful break from the routine of life.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing, Arcade for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to offer my review and recommend this to other readers. ( )