Set against the unexpected splendor of an ostrich ranch in the California desert, April Dávila’s beautifully written debut conjures an absorbing and compelling heroine in a story of courage, family and forgiveness. When Tallulah Jones was thirteen, her grandmother plucked her from the dank Oakland apartment she shared with her unreliable mom and brought her to the family ostrich ranch in the … family ostrich ranch in the Mojave Desert. After eleven years caring for the curious, graceful birds, Tallulah accepts a job in Montana and prepares to leave home. But when Grandma Helen dies under strange circumstances, Tallulah inherits everything—just days before the birds inexplicably stop laying eggs.
Guarding the secret of the suddenly barren birds, Tallulah endeavors to force through a sale of the ranch, a task that is complicated by the arrival of her extended family. Their designs on the property, and deeply rooted dysfunction, threaten Tallulah’s ambitions and eventually her life. With no options left, Tallulah must pull her head out of the sand and face the fifty-year legacy of a family in turmoil: the reality of her grandmother’s death, her mother’s alcoholism, her uncle’s covetous anger, and the 142 ostriches whose lives are in her hands.
“Vivid…uplifting…The fascinating details of operating an ostrich ranch elevate this family tale.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Tension mounts in every chapter, and when the difficult forces converge in the satisfying climax, Tallulah discovers clarity. This is an enjoyable, winning, interesting novel for readers of many backgrounds.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“A story told with depth and beauty about the many things we inherit from our families. Dávila’s characters are familiar, yet unforgettable, and I’m waiting patiently for what she writes next.”
—Wayétu Moore, author of She Would Be King
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Have you ever been in love with an ostrich before? I never thought I would until I read this book. This debut novel by April Davila was so beautifully written about a family operating an ostrich farm in the California Mojave dessert. Davila’s plot and characters are what made this book unforgettable and such an amazing read for me. Tallulah, our protagonist was such a well written character that was an inspiration and considerable my heroine in this story. Tallulah’s character will be one of the few unforgettable characters I will ever read about. Davila wrote with amazing clarity and vividness in a truly uplifting story that I enjoyed thoroughly.
I highly recommend this book for a relatable and fast paced story that could be read in one sitting.
There are 142 reasons to read April Davila’s debut novel, starting with a chance to taste and feel the desert without actually having to leave the coast. Set on an ostrich farm, this page-turner of a book explores all the pluses and minuses of family life and ends happily, even though the girl doesn’t get the guy. Though slightly predictable, it’s highly recommended for anyone who loves slightly gritty fiction and being transported to another world.
142 Ostriches by April Davila is a compelling story about losing someone we love, complex family relationships, betrayal, family love, and 142 ostriches. It is an engrossing novel centered around an extremely strong, independent young woman named Tallulah, her family, and 142 ostriches. The author has perfectly crafted the characters and storyline which encompasses all the elements of delightful, sometimes humorous, enjoyable read. This is a very unique story and for me, it was exceptionally well written . I rated it a five.
Another “wow!” book I’m putting on my “favorites” shelf. The description of this book intrigued me, and after reading this debut novel I have to say it was even better than I anticipated. It is extremely well-written: the characters are realistic and varied with a likable strong-willed protagonist you want to root for, the desert landscape is beautifully rendered to provide a true sense of place, and the premise is different enough to stand out from anything else I’ve read recently. Who knew ostriches have personalities?
Tallulah Jones has lived with her gruff grandmother on the family’s ostrich ranch in the Mojave Desert since she was thirteen, when her grandmother took her away from her alcoholic mother’s Oakland apartment. The novel begins eleven years later when 24-year-old Lu learns of her grandmother’s death in a car accident, and that the ranch is now hers – including the 142 ostriches. This is a story that kept me on the edge of my seat as I was turning the pages, and I have to confess I also shed a few tears.
This is an unforgettable, exciting, and ultimately heartwarming story with Lu struggling between her own desires for her future and her family obligations, as she finally discovers where she belongs.
Thoroughly enjoyed this read. Unique setting, a protagonist you really rooted for, and a plot twist I did not see coming, with a perfect ending that did not fall into trope territory. A great read!
This is the story of Tallulah Jones, her family and the family farm of 142 ostriches.
Tallulah came to the family ostrich ranch when she was thirteen. He grandmother Helen had gone from the farm in Mojave Desert to Oakland to rescue her from her unreliable, drunken mother.
Eleven years later, she accepts a job in Montana and prepares to leave for good. She finds the birds curious and graceful but she cannot handle them the way in which her Grandmother does. She wants to find her own way and make her own decisions for her life.
Just a few weeks before she is due to leave, Grandma Helen dies under strange circumstances. Tallulah inherits everything at the ranch – the birds, the barns, the house and the land.
Wanting to keep to her plans, Tallulah decides to sell the ranch to the neighboring family. Then, the birds quit laying eggs. She tries to keep the secret of the suddenly barren birds from the buyer as she tries to figure out why it has happened and fix it. This task is made even more difficult by the sudden arrival of extended family members. They have their own designs on the land, they are deeply dysfunctional and them being there threatens her life’s ambitions. It even comes to threaten her life.
Tallulah must deal with the fifty-year legacy of a family in turmoil. She must come to the reality of her grandmother’s death. She must deal with her own mother’s alcoholism, her uncle’s covetous anger, but most importantly the 142 ostriches whose lives are in her hands.
Enjoyed reading this story. It is the first novel from this author. Will be looking for her next story in the future.
Who would have thought that an Ostrich Ranch would be so dangerous, but then how many of us ever thought about an ostrich ranch at all?
This is a compelling story about a young woman and her place in a dysfunctional family, trying to find a purposeful life. Tallulah Jones’ mother dropped out of high school when she got pregnant and had dragged her daughter from one apartment to the next, one boyfriend to the next, until when she was 13 years old, her grandmother came to bring her back to Wishbone Ranch, their ancestral home., after learning that the money she had sent for Tallulah’s education was not being used for that purpose. Grandma Helen was lonely and needed help with the ranch. Even after Tellulah graduated high school, her grandmother had convinced her to stay on the ranch and not go to college. But Tallulah had gotten restless and wanted to do something that really had a purpose in the world, so had applied to work for the Forest Service and had received a temporary assignment in Montana- far away from their ranch in the Mojave Desert. They had an argument, her grandmother went out for a drive and died in an accident- or did she?
Four days later, the ostriches stopped laying eggs, which interfered with Tallulah’s plan to sell the ranch, which she had inherited. More complications arrive in the form of Helen’s children, who know their mother would not have wanted the ranch sold. As more the layers of family secrets are peeled away, the more Tellulah has to come to terms with what is really important in life. At the same time she, her aunt and her cousins’ lives are threatened.
This well written book, provides interesting information about raising ostriches and ostrich farming, and living at the Mojave desert. The characters are intriguing as they struggle with independence, hope, trust and love. At 65, I was more able to identify with Helen, than Tellulah. And although the idea was never broach, Tallulah’s doubts about whether it was really an accident or not had me wonder if Helen’s recent despondency had to do with an illness. But have cremated the body, they would never know.
I received a free copy of this book from BETWEEN THE CHAPTERS. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.