A Bird in the House: Stories

by Margaret Laurence

Book Overview

A Bird in the House is a series of eight interconnected short stories narrated by Vanessa MacLeod as she matures from a child at age ten into a young woman at age twenty. Wise for her years, Vanessa reveals much about the adult world in which she lives.

Vanessa rebels against the dominance of age; she watches her grandfather] imitate her aunt Edna; and her rage at times is such that she would gladly kick him. It takes great skill to...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226469344
• ISBN13: 9780226469348
• Release Date: June 1993
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

I recommend this book

I really enjoyed this book. We studied it in school this year and at first I found it a bit slow but after a few pages I started to really get into it. It was easy to identify with the main character Vanessa and I really liked the way the rest of the characters were described, especially the grandfather. Here's a little example; "Well, Peter, you've brought the wood." It was his habit to begin conversations with a statement of the obvious, so that nothing except agreement was possible." I like this because it sums up the grandfather' character in two sentences, even though it's being developped throughout the entire novel. I can't really explain exactly why I enjoyed this book so much, I guess it's because of the subtle humor and the emotion involved. The sad parts are quite moving, and that's difficult to do without making the whole book depressing.

It was a good book

I think that these short stories are great. I read the book in 11th grade English. I think she is a great writer

8 Great Stories of Canadian Culture and Heritage

This is a book I chose for a Grade 13 English ISU up here in Toronto. This book is in essence, about the developing process of a young female writer, Margaret Laurence, portrayed in this book as Vanessa MacLeod.I found the story entitled "The Loons" was the most interesting, it dealt the Native Indian issue of segregation and compared it with the crying of the loons.

A Bird in the House: A Great Canadian Book

This book was given to us to read as a part of the Grade 12 English class in Ontario. I wasn't sure I'd like it because short stories are not my favorite kind of story. I was suprised to find that I enjoyed the book. The characters are so real and vivid. Her depitcions and everything about each of them was very good. The best story is the Half-Husky. It has good description and the plot is very well laid out and developed.

Great. Proud to be Canadia

This was an assignment in college. At first did not know how to approch it. I'am glad I kept with it, definatly opened my eyes twords relationships and adults