A fever dream of a novel that will enchant fans of contemporary fabulism., Searing and ethereal. In its exploration of difference - of disability, of queerness - it feels truly modern, but in its themes of love and sacrifice, it is the oldest tale in the world., Chouette is deeply felt, linguistically gorgeous, and wonderfully disorienting up to its final breathless pages-a stunning meditation on motherhood and identity truly unlike anything I've ever read before., Oshetsky's writing is virtuosic, laced with dry humor, and perfectly matched to the parable she unfolds.

It has lingered in my mind in a way that only the most original works do. an Engrossing, Surreal Portrayal of Motherhood., It would not surprise me if Chouette finds a place in the feminist literary canon. It's a truly exhilarating read., Dark wit, tenderness, music, enchantment - they're all part of a story that remains oddly relatable despite its dazzling strangeness., By Turns Poetic, Gory, Heartbreaking and Strange. Every time I thought I had cracked Chouette's central metaphor-aha, it's about motherhood! No, marriage! No, music!-the book flew out my grasp like a wary bird. Arresting, darkly funny, and unsettling, Chouette is a brilliant exploration of ambition, sacrifice, perceptions of ability, and the ferocity of motherly love.Ĭlaire Oshetsky's novel is a marvel: its language a joy, its imagination dizzying.

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. Even in those times when Chouette's behaviors grow violent and strange, Tiny's loving commitment to her daughter is unwavering. 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. '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. 'You think this baby is going to be like you, but it's not like you at all,' she warns him. 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.

Chouette claire oshetsky review