A review by inlaraland
Chouette by Claire Oshetsky

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I was discussing "fever dream" books when a follower recommended that I check out "Chouette". I had no expectations when I started listening to the audiobook, but by the end I was incredibly moved by this unique story that focuses on a mother's love. "Chouette" follows our main protagonist Tiny, who finds herself pregnant with an owl-baby after having cheated on her husband with her owl-lover (yes, you read that correctly). When Tiny's baby is born, she enters the world as a predatory, strange creature trying to find her place in the world. Tiny vows to care for and love Chouette with all her heart despite protests from her husband who simply wants to "fix" his daughter. 

Chouette is a a story of a mother's love and determination. Through the whimsical imagery and magical realism, the author describes the emotional journey between Tiny and her child. There were moments that were shocking, bittersweet, affectionate and horrific but they all reinforce Tiny's devotion to Chouette. 

This book felt like an experience. I thought it had such a unique take on exploring the themes of identity, motherhood, ableism, and sacrifice. The writing itself is like a night at the orchestra, which makes sense considering Tiny is a cellist and classical music plays a key role as a device throughout the story. Overall, I thought it was a stellar novel and highly recommend it to those who enjoy out of the ordinary fiction. 


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