Colleen McCullough. The thorn birds (№ 31902)

There is a legend about a bird that sings only once in my entire life, but more beautiful than ever. Once she leaves her nest and flies to look for a Bush and will not rest until you find it. Among the thorny branches she sings a song and rushes chest on the longest, sharpest thorn. And, towering above unspeakable flour, singing, dying, this jubilant song of envy and the lark and the Nightingale. The only, the incomparable song, and it goes with my life. But the whole world stills to listen, and God himself smiling in heaven. For all the best is bought only at the cost of great suffering... At least, so says the legend.