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nina_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
If you enjoy a book narrated by an animal well have I got a hot tip for you! The Axeman's Carnival by NZ author Catherine Chidgey is out next month and I think it will take a few people by surprise.
The book is set in New Zealand and centres on a baby magpie that falls from its nest. It is rescued by Marnie who lives on the farm with her husband Rob. She cares for the baby bird and names him Tama. Despite Rob's misgivings, Tama soon cements his place in the family and starts to speak "human". While what his speaks doesn't always make sense he can make his meaning plain. He still sometimes interacts with his magpie family who try to show him the wickedness of humans while he also watches how violently Rob behaves. All the while he feels more and more protective of Marnie.
In an unexpected turn of events, Marnie starts posting videos of Tama online and soon his popularity rises. This has implications for Marnie and Rob, especially as Rob is readying himself to compete in the local Axeman's Carnival.
I don't think I should try and explain much more than this. I invite you though to suspend your disbelief a little and immerse yourself in a story told solely from the point of view of a hand reared magpie. While this sounds preposterous it works so well. Tama is partly Marnie's child but partly the witness to the violence. His disconnected human words ring true while you are also invited into his thoughts. He mimics what he sees to excruciating effect.
This book is so much more than the title would have you believe. The wood chopping event depicted towards the end is the culmination of a character study of a very dysfunctional family. The bond between Marnie and Tama was beautiful to witness though and the descent into the final act was sadly satisfying. I really enjoyed the writing here. The author manages to combine serious topics with humour to great effect. And now I'm very excited to see what others think of The Axeman's Carnival. It's my first book by Catherine Chidgey but I'm quite sure it won't be my last.
Thanks to @netgalley and @allenandunwin for my #gifted copy. The Axeman's Carnival is out on 19 March.
The book is set in New Zealand and centres on a baby magpie that falls from its nest. It is rescued by Marnie who lives on the farm with her husband Rob. She cares for the baby bird and names him Tama. Despite Rob's misgivings, Tama soon cements his place in the family and starts to speak "human". While what his speaks doesn't always make sense he can make his meaning plain. He still sometimes interacts with his magpie family who try to show him the wickedness of humans while he also watches how violently Rob behaves. All the while he feels more and more protective of Marnie.
In an unexpected turn of events, Marnie starts posting videos of Tama online and soon his popularity rises. This has implications for Marnie and Rob, especially as Rob is readying himself to compete in the local Axeman's Carnival.
I don't think I should try and explain much more than this. I invite you though to suspend your disbelief a little and immerse yourself in a story told solely from the point of view of a hand reared magpie. While this sounds preposterous it works so well. Tama is partly Marnie's child but partly the witness to the violence. His disconnected human words ring true while you are also invited into his thoughts. He mimics what he sees to excruciating effect.
This book is so much more than the title would have you believe. The wood chopping event depicted towards the end is the culmination of a character study of a very dysfunctional family. The bond between Marnie and Tama was beautiful to witness though and the descent into the final act was sadly satisfying. I really enjoyed the writing here. The author manages to combine serious topics with humour to great effect. And now I'm very excited to see what others think of The Axeman's Carnival. It's my first book by Catherine Chidgey but I'm quite sure it won't be my last.
Thanks to @netgalley and @allenandunwin for my #gifted copy. The Axeman's Carnival is out on 19 March.
arsa_charles's review
dark
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
I really liked this. Seeing the world from the POV of a magpie was a really cool technique. The divide between the brutal magpie world and the complex human world was very interesting to see.
Marnie was a wonderful character, so developed and complex and human. You feel in her shoes the whole way
Rob is a monster.
The lives of Marnie, Rob and Tama as a strange screwed up family is well written but boy it is heavy. Rob is abusive and violent and Catherine Chidgey doesn’t hold back on details.
By the end I was speeding through just so I could find out if the story ends happily.
A masterwork in building and sustaining tension, 4.5 stars only because it was too bleak at points for me.
Marnie was a wonderful character, so developed and complex and human. You feel in her shoes the whole way
Rob is a monster.
The lives of Marnie, Rob and Tama as a strange screwed up family is well written but boy it is heavy. Rob is abusive and violent and Catherine Chidgey doesn’t hold back on details.
By the end I was speeding through just so I could find out if the story ends happily.
A masterwork in building and sustaining tension, 4.5 stars only because it was too bleak at points for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
charlottelobb_author's review
5.0
A super clever and skilfully written story about some important issues in society (e.g. domestic violence and our preoccupations with social media) as portrayed through the eyes of the witty and memorable magpie, Tama.
meghancoo's review
5.0
4.5 rounded up, who would have thought a book narrated by a magpie would work!
loujbee's review
5.0
I’m always a bit doubtful on talking animals, particularly as narrator but it came highly recommended and it lived up to expectations. This is a very good book and I hope it gets a wider release so more can read it. Very keen to read more by Chidgey.
billycancreek's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0