The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender - Hardcover

This is a marvelous reaed that you won't be able to put down! (10 year-old) * Beaufort Street Books * The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender is a rare gem, one that continues, months after reading, to haunt us, largely because of Walton's exquisite, delicate use of language and mastery of magic realism. * Books in Print * WARNING! This book is not for the faint of heart. It will play merry havoc with your emotions. It will charm and beguile you, only to turn around and rip your soul to shreds. It will devastate and delight you in equal measure. * Booktopia * To try to encompass all that is in this book in a review is impossible. It's hugely imaginative and deeply moving. Compiled of so many layers and sub-stories, any attempt to describe it hardly does it justice. It's magical realism at its best. First time author Leslye Watson has created a masterpiece of beauty and fascination, and one of the finest pieces of writing, research and creativity that I have ever read. * Book Buzz * Told with an artistic flair and stunning imagery throughout, there is no doubt that I will be looking out for more books by Laslye Walton in the future. * Chasm of Books * This beautifully written novel is full of charm and will most definitely go down as one of my most memorable reads of 2014. * Fictional Reads * A sensuous tale of a girl born with wings, with a taste of Chocolat and the shadow play of a Tim Burton film. * Girl.com.au * It was simply amazing. * Happy Indulgence * First-time author Lesly Walton has constructed a layered unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human. * Harbourview Magazine * The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender was nothing like what I expected, it completely surprised me in every way, and I loved it for it... I believe it will appeal as much to adults as teens, maybe even more so, and hope it finds the audience it deserves. It truly is an amazing book. * Inside My Worlds * A must read for book-worms! * It Girl * This was a fun read; the story is easy to follow and had me hooked from the first page. 2/3 stars! * Tearaway Magazine * The title of Leslye Walton's debut novel, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, perfectly sums up the story within: it is at times strange and magical, beautifully written, and full of sorrow. * The Bookish Manicurist * The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender is marketed for teenagers but this exquisite novel, reminiscent of Joanne Harris's equally divine Chocolat, means the young adults in your house might have to wait their turn. * The Hoopla * It's hard to put into words the sheer beauty of the novel. I am really surprised that this is a book from a debut author, because the writing sounds so polished and lyrical that it almost sings to you. So much applause for Walton for creating such a hauntingly beautiful novel, which I had such a hard time putting down. * Thoughtsbyj * The writing is gorgeous and clever and delivers the Gondryesque feel of the story perfectly. * Trin in the Wind * It is a wonderful accomplishment when lyrical and engaging writing combines with a breathtakingly original story. * Viewpoint *

Foolish love appears to be a Roux family birthright. And for Ava Lavender, a girl born with the wings of a bird, it is an ominous thing to inherit. In her quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to join her peers, Ava ventures into the wider world. But it is a dangerous world for a naive girl - a world which may view her as girl or angel. On the night of the summer solstice celebration, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air and Ava's journey and her family's saga reaches a devastating crescendo. First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.