Reviews

Over the past few years I have been reading some excellent books on motherhood; from the multi generational aspect used in Burnt Sugar to the more visceral The Bitch . Claire Oshetsky’s Chouette is another novel which takes motherhood and gives it a fresh (and occasionally fearsome) perspective.

The main protagonist, Tiny is pregnant and, as stated in the beginning, she thinks it’s a female owl who impregnated her. As the book proceeds the owl metaphor becomes stronger and takes on different meanings. At this stage Tiny is worried about her pregnancy and is reflecting on what it means to be carrying a baby. During an ultrasound Tiny notices that her foetus is birdlike. Thus the owl also represents a potential problem.

Unlike most motherhood narratives, the father is included in the narrative. Here he is presented as the antithesis to his partner. He dismisses his wife for fussing and ignores her pleas for help.

When the actual birth happens, we discover that the child may have some sort of problem. Once again the bird motif is strong. once again the husband tries to normalise the situation but these plans backfire due to the child’s problems. Some are brutal, some with gory results but the fine line between reality and fantasy are crossed quite a few times.

By the end of Chouette the owl occurs as a metaphor for trauma and the narrator describes an event which provides a sort of closure for the reader.

Chouette is surreal at times but it’s also an expansive novel. By this I mean Claire Oshetsky, not only includes pregnancy and birth but psychological effects and the husband’s involvement in mother. At times this book does feel highly personal. Also, like the many works of contemporary/experimental music mentioned (as Tiny is a cellist) the book moves and shifts in the same way.

One her Goodreads page, Claire Oshetsky, under her Lark Benobi alias states that Han Kang’s The Vegetarian was an influence. I can see that. Like that book, Chouette balances moments of ugliness with beautiful ones. Either way, this is an unforgettable novel.

ebooklover's review

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5.0

What a beautiful, thoughtful experience reading this book was.

I have to admit I got emotional towards the end knowing I was about to finish the story. I had gone on a similar journey as the lead character, Tiny. I struggled to love her strange daughter but once I did I fell head-over-hells. There was a protectiveness I couldn't help but feel. By the half-way mark I was in lock-step with Tiny in wanting Chouette to be loved for who she is. It pained me to read about the way those around her wanted her to change, or couldn't accept her for who she was.

The book was enjoyable as a "straight-forward" story about a woman who gives birth to an owl. I mean, the writing alone is so compelling and intriguing. The prose is some of my favorite I have ever read.

But, the metaphor at the center of this story is one that I think anyone can relate to. Especially mothers of "different" children or those of us who were "different" ourselves. I use the word "different" because there are really so many ways the book can be applied to real life experiences. I found Chouette's plight to be similar to children with autism, developmental/physical disabilities and sensitive personalities; or, more loosely, children that are LGBTQ.

leakaroo's review against another edition

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4.25

This book exceeded my expectations honestly! I knew I would love the story to some extent, but what really surprises me is how much I adore Claire Oshetsky's writing style. It's very fun (the use of 'yabber-yabber' and 'scrabble-scrabble' is so fun throughout the book without being too much), as well as rhythmic which aligns with Tiny's character and how she's a cellist and often soundtracks her life with music.
The book delved into the topic of motherhood and the difficulties of mothering a "not normal" child much deeper than i was expecting. Here's some things that stood out to me:
- Tiny loses her hobbies and much of her previous life joys once she is pregnant. This is mainly discussed at the beginning, but I loved the way Oshetsky brings it back near the end, with the husband questioning why Tiny has become so 'boring' and "given up" her hobbies. It shows in a realistic way how people don't realise that motherhood takes a lot of sacrifices.
- I also love the father's absurd rationale for his actions. The way he defends that he is "trying to help" Chouette, and manipulating Tiny to think she is the one harming the family was executed is a realistic way! I could see how the husband's deceptive words would actually work on someone in real life.

With the idea of Tiny's owl-lover, I interpreted it as possibly Tiny's own neurodivergence that she has tried to embrace on-and-off throughout her life. After escaping her dad and meeting with owl-lover, it seems to imply she was on a journey to accepting her neurodivergence OR her feelings towards her trauma.
Anyway, I'm just extremely impressed with this book and the many metaphors it manages to balance in this lovely little book.

svmreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

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