In a Bluebird's Eye

by Anita Clay Kornfeld

Book Overview

"The kind of book that will be enjoyed by people of all ages, re-read over the years and treasured for its fine characterization with lasting values, beautifully expressed."-The Independent Journal, Marin County

"Anita Clay Kornfeld's sensitive recreation of the people and prejudices of that narrow world opens it for us to think about all the Margates of the world, to love and sympathize with all the Lolas."-The San Francisco Chronicle

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595475868
• ISBN13: 9780595475865
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

In a Bluebird's Eye Review

In a Bluebird's Eye by Anita Clay Kornfeld, is a phenomenal, and suspenseful book taking place in the 1930's. Kornfeld's engraved sensory details strongly pave the way for the reader to place itself within the atmosphere of The Great Depression. A book that not only allow you to escape your own day to day problems, but contains its very own turmoil that so many of us can relate to. With it's historically accurate accounts of events that really did occur, and bring a certain presence along with it that makes you feel a connection with the characters. Just like the real depression the unemployment rate was at an all time high, and with huge manufacturing plants, and mines closing down it was still on the rise. This thus created it harder and harder to find work to support the American family. This is not only a book for all ages, but all levels of knowledge and experience. What does it mean to be an American? To be an American means to face the struggles of everyday life and bounce back using your faith and the acceptance of others. Resilience is a factor to being an American. The ability to find your inner peace after the storm even if it seems like that is nothing left. The main character, Honor Jane Whitfield searches for her inner peace which happens to be another struggling human being. Lola, an African American woman who was recently released 0after serving time for killing a white man. Just like any girl at Honor's age of 11, she was experiencing the world around her, and learning more and more about herself, and the concept of self doubt. The dynamic of her family which included her drunken father, and her self absorbed mother, didn't make it any simpler for this young grow up. She found comfort in Lola who became her dear and unexpected friend who brought her that peace of mind she desperately needed. Both Lola and Honor Jane found comfort in each other, showing the true meaning of resilience and the meaning of being an American. Not only resilience proves to be the meaning of a true American but a person's faith and how the accept others faith. Americans are known for their wide spread of beliefs, and how they react to others. Honor's family are strong Christian believers, but Honor has a mind of her own. She believes in the great power of the bluebird who lives above the big dipper, and can see anything and anyone, at anytime. This bluebird contains the devil within its feathers, and fly's over the earth. She also believes that there is no one way to interpret something and that it depends on the individual. Lola takes honor under her very own wing, and gave honor what she had been searching for, for a very log time, acceptance. She told her to never stop believing in her own faith no matter where the crowd followed. Lola accepted Honor and Honor accepted Lola. They not only had their individual belief explaining the reasoning of the world but faith in each other as well, to provided each other with the moral support o

Bluebird of Happiness

Honor Jane Whitfield, the pricipal character of Anita Clay Kornfeld's literary novel is wise beyone her years (eleven). She lives in the town of Margate, a coal-mining town in Tennessee in the late 1930's. Her mother, Martha Jane, a transplant from southern gentry, yells at Honor a lot. Her father, a scholar, who also drinks too much with the town's lowlifes, teaches at the local highschool that also doubles as a "Hell and Damnation" church whose foot-stomping minister speaks openly against the two blacks who live in the town. "God didn't intend for races to mix." This wonderful story unfolds with Honor believing in a magic bluebird who lives high above the Big Dipper, can fly anywhere and see anything with his magic eye. And the Devil is everywhere wrapped up in jaybird beathers. The only person who believes her is a dynamic character called Lola, a black woman who's spent time in prison for killing a white man, now paroled in custody of the town's doctor and his mean-spirited wife as a "free maid." Honor is fascinated by Lola and their secret friendship is at the heart of the story. She plots various escape routes for Lola. The sassy dialogue is southern exposure at its best. When the coal mines shut down, also the pending death of Margate, Honor's father sees a way out, moving the family to Kentucky and, through a college friend, he finds employment in a better town.Lola tries to escape by means of one of Honor's schemes, and what follows is heart breaking as well as a healing for the Whitfields. Reading this classic work of fiction one is reminded of Tennessee Williams, and Harper Lee's beautiful novel, "To Kill a Mocking Bird." From the very first page of "In a Bluebird's Eye," Anita Clay Kornfeld wraps her magic around you and holds you tight for days after you've savored the last word.