Ratings9
Average rating4.2
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FOR FICTION "Claire Oshetsky’s novel is a marvel: its language a joy, its imagination dizzying." —Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind An exhilarating, provocative novel of motherhood in extremis Tiny is pregnant. Her husband is delighted. “You think this baby is going to be like you, but it’s not like you at all,” she warns him. “This baby is an owl-baby.” When Chouette is born small and broken-winged, Tiny works around the clock to meet her daughter’s needs. Left on her own to care for a child who seems more predatory bird than baby, Tiny vows to raise Chouette to be her authentic self. Even in those times when Chouette’s behaviors grow violent and strange, Tiny’s loving commitment to her daughter is unwavering. When she discovers that her husband is on an obsessive and increasingly dangerous quest to find a “cure” for their daughter, Tiny must decide whether Chouette should be raised to fit in or to be herself—and learn what it truly means to be a mother. Arresting, darkly funny, and unsettling, Chouette is a brilliant exploration of ambition, sacrifice, perceptions of ability, and the ferocity of motherly love.
Reviews with the most likes.
Oh, this is beautiful. I am not always drawn to this genre as I don't relate to it (no desire to be a mother here), but my, what a raw story of devotion and all-consuming love to your child. Oshetsky writes beautifully, and it truly made me emotional despite my lack of ties to the experience.
Still thinking about this now. It's not a novel I think I'll ever forget really. Motherhood was tackled hard in this one and done in a way that I just couldn't put the book down. Listened to this on audio as well, and highly recommend that.
Rating: 3.75 leaves out of 5
Characters: 3.5/5
Cover: 4/5
Story: 3.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Genre: Magical Realism/Fantasy/Contemporary
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Sure
Tiny ends up pregnant with an owl baby, to which whatever that means. The whole story seemed metaphorical. Metaphor for what? Hell if I know. I did keep reading because I was interested in Chouette and what would become of her. Her mother's backstory is also kind of interesting. I absolutely hated the father and ugh if I could just throat punch him I would.
Julia Whelan, my favorite narrator, narrates it and as usual she always brings in the whimsicalness of the book. First heard her in The Invisible Life Of Addie Larue and fell in love! Is it worth reading? Probably if you have nothing else to really read or in a kind of rut.