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Anonymous
Posted January 9, 2007
This book is a rare catch in an ocean of animal epics and allegories. The writing is rich, vibrant, and memorable - this is definately an author to keep an eye on. His new take on an age-old story adds a whole new dimension to the well-loved tale of Noah's ark, adding a much-needed degree of humanity both to Noah and the creatures saved from the flood. This enjoyable read shows a keen mastery of language, and will have you turning the page to see what happens next as if you've never heard a flood story before.
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Posted August 7, 2006
What can I say about this book, other than it is a beautifully-written surprise? Or that it is one of the boldest -- and best pulled-off -- literary experiments I've read in years? At first blush, the storyline seems familiar: the story of Noah's ark, told from the point of view of a not especially well-informed crow. Yet our flighty hero's very initial cluelessness pulls the reader into the horror of a wrathful God's attack upon the world in a swift and compelling manner: as the ark grows, so does our little bird. And like most growing children, he deeply resents the forces -- here, wind, rain, flooding, Noah's axe -- that rip his family apart. Author Layne Maheu has clearly done his bird homework, for the crow's-eye-view here is absolutely plausible. Less successful is the device wherein recently-eaten beings live on in the personae of their consumers: while an intriguing premise, it is not always applied consistently here. That is a very tiny quibble, however, about an otherwise astonishing literary achievement. An honestly original twist on a time-worn legend is often attempted, but seldom succeeds as well as in Song of the Crow. I think that both admirers of literary fiction and lovers of mythology will be drawn into this crow's journey -- and remember the trip with fondness for a long, long while.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I Am the crow is upset as he observes the Man-Beast named Noah chopping at his home, a Giant tree containing his nest. I Am thinks he has had enough troubles in his life from being an orphan at a young age while his sibling My Other cannot believe that the Man-Beast would destroy their abode. I Am does not trust those who live in the deadly 'underworld' where predators and food reside. To his surprise, I Am realizes that he understands the language of the God Crow directing Noah to build an ark nowhere near the sea, which makes no sense to the crow. Subsequently as other Man-Beasts plead with Noah to take them on board his ship, I Am also knows what they are saying about an upcoming flood that will soon destroy the world. Just before the torrential rains come, I Am stows away on Noah¿s vessel. --- Though the nomenclature and vernacular used by I Am can be difficult to follow at times, SONG OF THE CROW is a terrific allegory that looks closely at Noah¿s Ark through the personification of a crow. I Am is a fabulous protagonist struggling to survive in a dangerous world about to become eradicated. Mindful (at least of the clips I have seen) of Al Gore¿s ¿An Inconvenient Truth¿, fans of biblical fables will appreciate Layne Maheu¿s look at heaven and earth on the eve of destruction. --- Harriet Klausner
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Overview
From the moment that he looks down on the ancient gray head of Noah, who is swinging his stone axe, the narrating crow in this unique and remarkable epic knows that these creators called Man are trouble. He senses, too, that the natural order of things is about to change.At a time when so many of us are searching for meaning, Layne Maheu’s debut novel lingers in a masterfully rendered ancient world just long enough to ponder our fears of disaster and to watch as humanity struggles to survive, to understand, and finally to prevail.
Recalling both ...