Review Detail

In this National Book Award Finalist, we meet Comfort Snowberger, who lives in the midst of death. Her entire family matter-of-factly participates in the workings of the family's funeral home; their motto is "We live to serve." Comfort's own family members, starting with an elderly uncle, begin to succumb to death, one after another.

When 94-year-old Aunt Florentine dies, Comfort dreads seeing her horrid little cousin Peach arrive (especially after he puked on Declaration, Comfort's best friend, at the last family funeral). In the meantime, she is comforted by her loving dog, Dismay, as she and Declaration come to a parting of the ways. Comfort also finds solace in writing a (usually unpublished) newspaper column called "Life Notices"--much more fascinating than the usual Death Notices the paper runs.

This book has a gentle beginning, full of quirky Southern characters and names, that makes for a pleasurable read. However, it didn't fully grab me until a little more than halfway through. Comfort and company experience a thrilling and terrible disaster in Chapter 20. From that point on until I (reluctantly) closed the book at the ending, I literally could not quit reading.

By turns hilarious, sorrowful, joyful, and always life-affirming, I predict EACH LITTLE BIRD THAT SINGS will now haunt me forever. Highly recommended.