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Louise Erdrich meets Karen Russell in this deliciously strange and daringly original novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Margaret Verble: set in 1926 Nashville, it follows a death-defying young Cherokee horse-diver who, with her companions from the Glendale Park Zoo, must get to the bottom of a mystery that spans centuries.
Two Feathers, a young Cherokee horse-diver on loan to Glendale Park Zoo from a Wild West show, is determined to find her own way in the world. Two's closest friend at Glendale is Hank Crawford, who loves horses almost as much as she does. He is part of a high-achieving, land-owning Black family. Neither Two nor Hank fit easily into the highly segregated society of 1920s Nashville.
When disaster strikes during one of Two's shows, strange things start to happen at the park. Vestiges of the ancient past begin to surface, apparitions appear, and then the hippo falls mysteriously ill. At the same time, Two dodges her unsettling, lurking admirer and bonds with Clive, Glendale's zookeeper and a World War I veteran, who is haunted—literally—by horrific memories of war. To get to the bottom of it, an eclectic cast of park performers, employees, and even the wealthy stakeholders must come together, making When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky an unforgettable and irresistible tale of exotic animals, lingering spirits, and unexpected friendship.
First published Oct 2011; paperback reprint Oct 2022.
You can see the full discussion in our legacy forum here. This discussion will contain spoilers!
Some of the recent comments posted about When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky:
After Two Feathers is forced to become more sedentary, how does her outlook change? What impact does this have on her relationships and how does it reshape her view of death?
Reene, that was also my favorite passage in the book. A beautiful description, realization, and connection with her kin. I found it inspirational. - Jessica F
Discuss how the book creates a dialogue about racism and segregation in America.
Ms Verble creates a great dialogue about racism and segregation by placing all these characters of different races and belief in on small area of the park. They are probably seeing each other and getting a sense of each other by living and ... - reene
Discuss the conclusion of the book. Who was ultimately responsible for the death of the animals at Glendale and what becomes of them?
I agree with everyone above. They couldn't go to the police with the murder. Two Feathers would have been accused, and the park would have received terrible press. No one would have ever accepted that a "spirit" killed a man! - Jessica F
Do you think Jack Older killed the animals as revenge for the park firing him or as a way to hurt Two Feathers?
Jack Older is a creepy character. He killed animals because he was fired and to hurt Two because he thought she rejected him. Glad the ghost took care of him before he could physically harm Two. - julianna
How did you feel about the development of each of the characters?
I thought the author did a great job with character development. We got great descriptions and back stories for the main characters (Two Feathers, Clive, Little Elk, and Crawford). The lesser involved characters were painted in just ... - Jessica F
"Verble beautifully weaves period details with the cast's histories, and enthralls with the supernatural elements, which are made as real for the reader as they are for the characters. This lands perfectly." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"This utterly memorable, beautifully written story will linger with readers." - Booklist (starred review)
"An ambitious novel that's impressive in its scope and concept: Glendale Park Zoo and the 101 are rife with narrative possibility and give the author a chance to examine a fascinating cross section of race and class." - Kirkus Reviews
"From race relations to social class to working conditions, Verble addresses key issues while spinning her ghost story around the fictionalized employees of a park that actually existed. Readers of general fiction will enjoy." - Library Journal
"Two Feathers, tough and warmhearted, clear-eyed and funny, captivates from the first striking scene. Margaret Verble has created a remarkable world, rich with vibrant characters and layered histories, long obscured, that emerge to shape their lives in surprising, thought-provoking, and moving ways." - Kim Edwards, bestselling author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter and The Lake of Dreams
"Two Feathers Fell from the Sky is a rich and lively novel, steeped in place and history. Verble's meticulous research and generosity of spirit shine through, lending her characters and their adventures a fullness that lingers." - Kelli Jo Ford, author of Crooked Hallelujah and winner of the Plimpton Prize
This information about When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Margaret Verble is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Her first novel, Maud's Line, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her second novel, Cherokee America, has recently been listed by the New York Times as one of the 100 Notable Books of the Year for 2019. She lives in Lexington, Kentucky.
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