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rochellem's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
tricksyliesmith's review against another edition
4.0
With thanks to Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group UK, Virago and the author for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
An unusual, and at times disturbing take about motherhood, Chouette is a frustrating read - not in a negative way, but more in a surreal, and also gaslighting kind of way.
Tiny is pregnant, and immediately convinced that her baby is an 'owl-baby', that her female owl lover came to her in the night and they created this hybrid child. Her husband is unimpressed by this when she tells him, implying her mental health is involved, and when Tiny does give birth to the creature she saw in her mind's eye, a lot of dark and weird follow.
There is a disturbing downward spiral in the behaviour of the husband and then later his family towards Tiny, raging from gaslighting, control, abuse, isolation, and I found it quite uncomfortable to read the longer this went on for her.
The book really captures the isolation and alienation a new mother can feel, and the strangely liminal change within yourself, like the point when Tiny accepts her child fully and unconditionally, yet the husband is almost hysterically searching for a cure.
The 'owl-baby' can be taken as a metaphor for disability, illness or deformity; the father sickeningly wishes that the child will pass away when he first sees it, and then spends all his energy on finding 'cures' which become more and more depraved until he virtually has her lobotomised..
It's very difficult subject matter to read but also viscerally emotive, you feel for Tiny and this baby, even when they are tearing animals and people to pieces.
You spend a lot of time trying to understand whether this book is a story about a mother with mental illness losing her grip on reality (the husband keeps referring to her fears about her unborn baby being an 'owl-baby' as though it is something that has happened before), or about a child with a disability or genetic condition, or whether it is magical realism and abstract at play. It's one that keeps you thinking throughout, and is hard to stop thinking about afterwards.
An unusual, and at times disturbing take about motherhood, Chouette is a frustrating read - not in a negative way, but more in a surreal, and also gaslighting kind of way.
Tiny is pregnant, and immediately convinced that her baby is an 'owl-baby', that her female owl lover came to her in the night and they created this hybrid child. Her husband is unimpressed by this when she tells him, implying her mental health is involved, and when Tiny does give birth to the creature she saw in her mind's eye, a lot of dark and weird follow.
There is a disturbing downward spiral in the behaviour of the husband and then later his family towards Tiny, raging from gaslighting, control, abuse, isolation, and I found it quite uncomfortable to read the longer this went on for her.
The book really captures the isolation and alienation a new mother can feel, and the strangely liminal change within yourself, like the point when Tiny accepts her child fully and unconditionally, yet the husband is almost hysterically searching for a cure.
The 'owl-baby' can be taken as a metaphor for disability, illness or deformity; the father sickeningly wishes that the child will pass away when he first sees it, and then spends all his energy on finding 'cures' which become more and more depraved until he virtually has her lobotomised..
It's very difficult subject matter to read but also viscerally emotive, you feel for Tiny and this baby, even when they are tearing animals and people to pieces.
You spend a lot of time trying to understand whether this book is a story about a mother with mental illness losing her grip on reality (the husband keeps referring to her fears about her unborn baby being an 'owl-baby' as though it is something that has happened before), or about a child with a disability or genetic condition, or whether it is magical realism and abstract at play. It's one that keeps you thinking throughout, and is hard to stop thinking about afterwards.
charliejude's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
gratiamortis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
woobat's review against another edition
5.0
This was a sometimes brutal and deeply weird parable about mothering - particularly mothering a child who is different in some substantial way. I loved how it could be read in multiple ways - how much do we trust Tiny (our narrator)? Is Chouette actually an owl baby, or is that just how Tiny interprets her, perhaps in the depths of postpartum mental illness.
I listened to this, and Julia Whelan did a superb narration.
I listened to this, and Julia Whelan did a superb narration.
clouden's review against another edition
5.0
This book gutted me. In the best way. Oshetsky’s voice sings clear and bright through this book as she regales a tale of broken, battered, perfect motherhood. The gory details remind me very much of Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder, and the female rage is palpable. I would say it all feels justified, but it needs no justification. The honesty, the mixed feelings, the carnage, the love, the discarding of hope. It’s all pretty perfect.
Looking back, this was easily one of the most important books I read this year. The writing was so outstanding that I often had to pause, read a passage out loud to my friend who I co-read it with (which was a beautiful experience all its own), and continue on.
Looking back, this was easily one of the most important books I read this year. The writing was so outstanding that I often had to pause, read a passage out loud to my friend who I co-read it with (which was a beautiful experience all its own), and continue on.
stephaniells's review against another edition
5.0
Claire Oshetsky is a new favorite author of mine after reading this and Poor Deer back to back. She handles painful subjects with a lot of cleverness but also a lot of care. I will read anything she puts out!
8bitlapras's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5