Catherine, Called Birdy Paperback – June 19, 2012

This is another gem that I discovered in a graduate class. Catherine, Called Birdy is a historical novel set in Medieval England in the year 1290, and is written in the form of diary entries. Catherine, who is fourteen-years-old, is the daughter of Lord Rollo and Lady Aislinn, and sister to Thomas, Edward, and Robert. She lives in a manor house, and begins the diary upon the prompting of her favorite brother Edward, who is a monk at an abbey.The diary contains Catherine's entries of a year in her life which is filled with rich details of life in medieval England. It begins on the 19th of September, 1290 and Catherine writes on the leftover skins from the household accounts. She writes that she is the daughter of a country knight with ten servants and seventy villagers. Catherine's intense dislike of her father is evidenced throughout the diary. She also laments her situation as a girl with limited prospects. All she does on a daily basis is sew, hem, brew, nurse, and count linen, activities which she does not care for. Instead, she daydreams about going off to fight in the Crusades and lead an adventurous life, like some of her brothers and uncle Robert. She also finds herself in a predicament as her father keeps trying to marry her off to a series of incompatible suitors, finally betrothing her to a vile old man whom she calls Shaggy Beard.Catherine is a complex and multi-dimensional character who is well-delineated. Contrary to the times she lived in, where women were considered no more than chattel to be bartered at will, Catherine is presented as a strong-willed and opinionated young woman. The feelings that Catherine expresses through her diary entries are typical for an adolescent dealing with difficult issues, and though the setting of the story is medieval England, these feelings are relevant in today's context and are feelings many adolescents will identify with.The author's writing style is witty and engaging with the main character using interesting and often funny phrases to convey how she is feeling, such as "Corpus Bones!" as an expression of frustration. Catherine is a young woman ahead of her time and a character many adolescents will relate to.

Let me say that I read this book in one sitting, I enjoyed it that much. Catherine, the 14-year-old daughter of a Knight and Lady, has an arranged marriage in her future: that's how things were done. We the reader are privy to Catherine's journal, which is an absolute delight to read because it shows us how people behaved at the time, what they believed, what they ate, wore, how they cleaned themselves and their homes, and so on. Religion in the form of the Catholic Church is ever-present in the life of the people.Catherine has some of the sensibilities of a modern young woman: though not so much that the story was unbelievable. As one reviewer on Amazon pointed out, she uses precious paper and ink in a very modern way, to write down her thoughts and curses ("Corpus bones, what a torture."). It seems highly, highly unlikely for a young woman of that time to do something like this, and most likely even if she had a journal, her mother would have supervised what was written in it, or checked up on it.On the other hand, if the author hadn't presented Catherine this way, she (the character) wouldn't be very interesting. And so I'm willing to suspend belief for a while to enjoy this story about a young woman trying in her own way to assert her identity, to rebel against the narrow role that society has dictated for her. The ending is realistic and therefore satisfying. This is a very good book that is very deserving of its Newbury Honor Medal.

Fans of diaries will take to Karen Cushman's CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY, wherein a 14-year-old girl in 13th-century England spills her innermost thoughts on matters medieval. Chief among Birdy's troubles is her dad (a.k.a. "the Beast") who chooses to marry her off to the disgusting "Shaggy Beard" (a man old enough to be her father). Birdy has used wit and guile to fend off Dad's previous choices, but this time it appears she's stuck.What works well: the tone and characterization of Birdy. We come to enjoy her humor, stubbornness, and intelligence as she plays "color man" to the action playing out around her. Thus is the late 13th century made palatable to even history-phobic readers, and Cushman has done her homework, accurately protraying family dynamics, village life, and social mores from mating to medicine.What doesn't work as well: Each entry starts with an italicized bullet about that day's saint (Birdy gets a copy of LIVES OF THE SAINTS early on). Some of these are funny, but most are straightforward and drab. With the number of entries in the diary, readers may be tempted to jump over the saint-of-the-day bits without losing much in the narrative. Finally, the book ends with a bit of deus ex machina. In that sense, Birdy's life becomes a Miracle Play in itself. I guess it's a personal call on each reader's part, but I dislike that type of finish.Nevertheless, a spirited, intelligent read that should satisfy most readers willing to appreciate not only history, but how the human heart never changes, no matter what the century.

I read this as a kid and something randomly reminded me of it. I had to buy it again. Still an enjoyable read 20+ years later.

I was intrigued by the different world-view of this feisty 13th century teenager in the recent film adaptation, and so I hunted for the book. Both book and author are new to me, although it was written in the 1990s. And it's a textbook example of how to realise a world entirely different to our 21st Century existence. Catherine's diary tells a matter-of-fact, sometimes hilarious, often tragic story of the confined world she lives in, where few people are literate, and where a mixture of religion and folklore govern the life and expectations of a teenage girl. Essential reading for anyone who wants to step back into an authentic past.

This was a lighthearted, amusing read. There were a few anachronisms - I may be wrong but I don't believe thorn apples (datura) were native to Britain, and I'm always thrown when men's garments are referred to as pants -it sounds too American. But it's rare not to find any anachronisms, and those were the only two I spotted so well done.As.to the rest, I found it easy to imagine a rebellious young girl on the cusp of marriage. Kudos to the author for making her rebellious without turning her into a kickass heroine. She is desperate to find a way out and comes up with some ridiculouzsy far-fetched ideas even while she knows she cannot really carry them out. It was an amusing read.

Lena Dunham has made a film of this book but a movie can be no substitute; it is the words of this book that make it a treasure. Funny, moving, lyrical and authentic, I adore ‘Catherine Called Birdy’ and cannot recommend it highly enough.

Love this book!I only bought it because I heard Lena Dunham might do a film based on it, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying it.It's very funny and informative (like how life worked back in the 13th century England) and even though Birdy has sort of a happy ending, it's still very much in line with how it would have gone down in 1290. A very easy read, meant for teenagers, but I think even adults can enjoy it too.

A great idea, likeable character but ran out of steam and ended predictably.