Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
First, although this is in the horror genre, I would say it is more a contemporary paranormal fantasy.
The horror element I was expecting just wasn’t there, but that doesn’t take away from how delightfully bizarre this is.
The cover is gorgeous, and what initially caught my eye then, after reading the synopsis, I was intrigued, but by the time I came to read the book, I had forgotten what it was about and went in blind. I’m pleased I did.
From the way the story is still playing on my mind, it will stay with me for a while, and once it is released, I will be buying a physical copy.
Okay, so time to talk about the main character, Josie. She is fabulous! Flawed, a little bitter, and grumpy, her interactions with the other characters, including her dog, Po, are hilarious and wonderfully entertaining.
Josie is intelligent and cleverly disguises her pain and sadness with her humour, blunt manner, and rudeness.
Josie is more complex than she first appears to be. Her loneliness is palpable, lost in her self-imposed isolation with nothing but her work and alcohol to keep her company. And she is drowning in both.
Okay, she does have Po, but even the cutest dogs cannot save a person.
The introduction of a new neighbour and a skeleton (called Skelly) sitting on a throne made of vines in Josie’s garden dramatically changes the course of her life in a way I never anticipated.
The peculiar relationship between Josie & Skelly is humorous, to begin with, but it doesn’t take long before the interactions become confusing and intricate, unearthing a hidden meaning lurking underneath.
The cover perfectly captures the essence of the book.
A story so tragic and beautiful, it is easy to relate to in ways you would not think possible.
Even as I am writing this review, I am rethinking my rating.
One final thing I liked was that the chapters were days. It is little touches like this that help a book to stand out.
Trigger warnings: Alcoholism. Grief. Dark Themes.
Thank you, NetGalley & Black Spot Books, for the gift of the arc ebook in return for an honest review.
The horror element I was expecting just wasn’t there, but that doesn’t take away from how delightfully bizarre this is.
The cover is gorgeous, and what initially caught my eye then, after reading the synopsis, I was intrigued, but by the time I came to read the book, I had forgotten what it was about and went in blind. I’m pleased I did.
From the way the story is still playing on my mind, it will stay with me for a while, and once it is released, I will be buying a physical copy.
Okay, so time to talk about the main character, Josie. She is fabulous! Flawed, a little bitter, and grumpy, her interactions with the other characters, including her dog, Po, are hilarious and wonderfully entertaining.
Josie is intelligent and cleverly disguises her pain and sadness with her humour, blunt manner, and rudeness.
Josie is more complex than she first appears to be. Her loneliness is palpable, lost in her self-imposed isolation with nothing but her work and alcohol to keep her company. And she is drowning in both.
Okay, she does have Po, but even the cutest dogs cannot save a person.
The introduction of a new neighbour and a skeleton (called Skelly) sitting on a throne made of vines in Josie’s garden dramatically changes the course of her life in a way I never anticipated.
The peculiar relationship between Josie & Skelly is humorous, to begin with, but it doesn’t take long before the interactions become confusing and intricate, unearthing a hidden meaning lurking underneath.
The cover perfectly captures the essence of the book.
A story so tragic and beautiful, it is easy to relate to in ways you would not think possible.
Even as I am writing this review, I am rethinking my rating.
One final thing I liked was that the chapters were days. It is little touches like this that help a book to stand out.
Trigger warnings: Alcoholism. Grief. Dark Themes.
Thank you, NetGalley & Black Spot Books, for the gift of the arc ebook in return for an honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is such a wonderful and weird book that combines horror and fantasy. It is about Josie, a woman who's divorced from her husband and her father died. She now avoids interacting with people and lives with her dog Po. She is also estranged from her mother and drinks a lot of beer as a way to deal with her grief. One day Josie notices a sudden plant growth and then there's a talking skeleton in her backyard who calls herself Skelly. There's also a new neighbor named Sue who insists on interacting with Josie and won't take the hint to go away, and who may know the truth about the vines and Skelly. The interaction between Josie and Skelly was both funny and frustrating. I enjoyed it whenever Skelly told a story and really grew attached to her, as well as all the characters in this book. This is now one of my favorite and I am definitely reading more of Tiffany Meuret's writing. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent
*thank you to the publisher for providing me with an arc!*
little bird is the first book i had heard of by tiffany meuret, but now i know just how damn weird she gets? it for sure won’t be the last.
little bird is one of those horror novels that is about This but is *actually* about THIS. it is so multifaceted, saying so much in so few words.
the main character, josie, is a complete wreck, and in a lot of ways i think i related to her. the urge to hide away when you feel broken by things that have happened, and the way you try to repair yourself afterwards - or not. the development of josie coming to understand herself and deal with the trauma she’s endured was so engrossing i could barely look away.
this book got weird in the very best way. little bird is the type of book that you have to reread to pick up all the nuances (in my opinion) because the sheer fever dream quality of it blinds you to it on first pass. i thought the otherworldly elements (that i don’t want to spoil) made for one of the most compelling, ‘confusing in the best way’ books i’ve read so far this year.
if i had to compare it to something, i’d say it’s like the disorientation of Bunny by Mona Awad had a baby with the bizarre characterisation of The Beauty by Aliya Whitely. dare i say it though, i personally think this was better than both of those books.
overall this has put tiffany meuret on my radar, and i can’t wait to read some more of her work.
*thank you again to the publisher for providing me with an arc!*
Some spoilers, here.
This wasn't a bad little book. Weird and funny enough to keep me interested with a happy ending. I might have liked it because I very easily could picture myself in Josie's shoes...angry at everything...alone except for her beloved dog (who she would fiercely protect in the blink of an eye)...just isolated from the real world. I really enjoyed the "if you're sad and alone, a secret, long-lived band of sisters will become your new family" aspect. Comforting to think about never really being alone because ancient, all-knowing beings will have your back...although I'm still not quite sure why they were around or what they did except adopt lonely ladies. :D And! Her little dog, Po, still got to be her BFF...he wasn't abandoned forever. This is a book that forever hang out in my brain and I'll probably buy a hard copy once it's released. Thank you NetGalley, Black Spot Books, and Tiffany Meuret for allowing me to read this!
This wasn't a bad little book. Weird and funny enough to keep me interested with a happy ending. I might have liked it because I very easily could picture myself in Josie's shoes...angry at everything...alone except for her beloved dog (who she would fiercely protect in the blink of an eye)...just isolated from the real world. I really enjoyed the "if you're sad and alone, a secret, long-lived band of sisters will become your new family" aspect. Comforting to think about never really being alone because ancient, all-knowing beings will have your back...although I'm still not quite sure why they were around or what they did except adopt lonely ladies. :D And! Her little dog, Po, still got to be her BFF...he wasn't abandoned forever. This is a book that forever hang out in my brain and I'll probably buy a hard copy once it's released. Thank you NetGalley, Black Spot Books, and Tiffany Meuret for allowing me to read this!
Weird and different! Touches on grief and reclusion, with a snarky skeleton and a whole lot of sentient, anthropomorphic vines (love!) Reads like a cozy supernatural instead of outright horror. Had me hooked for suspense but ultimately the exposition was just a little flat for my taste. Great premise though, kinda liked the climax so I don’t regret picking this one up at all!
I came for the cover; I stayed for the writing.
This book is so delightfully odd.
I’m enamored with the prose and the fairy-tale esque storytelling.
It reminds me slightly of that parody mystery show with Kristen Bell, “The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window” on Netflix, with our alcoholic, homebody main character, but swap out the parody elements for supernatural elements.
This is one of those books not everyone will appreciate, but for those of us who do, it is a VIBE. I’d almost classify this as literary speculative fiction. It’s a book that makes you really contemplate life and THINK, if you can get into it.
Underneath the enthralling prose is a sad story about a lonely women who favors alcohol as a numbing agent. She works from home, avoiding any interactions that aren’t with her dog, Po. One day, she meets an animated skeleton that changes her life.
The ending is unexpected yet fittingly strange and somehow satisfying. I recommend this if you appreciate literary/speculative works or books that make you think.
This book is so delightfully odd.
I’m enamored with the prose and the fairy-tale esque storytelling.
It reminds me slightly of that parody mystery show with Kristen Bell, “The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window” on Netflix, with our alcoholic, homebody main character, but swap out the parody elements for supernatural elements.
This is one of those books not everyone will appreciate, but for those of us who do, it is a VIBE. I’d almost classify this as literary speculative fiction. It’s a book that makes you really contemplate life and THINK, if you can get into it.
Underneath the enthralling prose is a sad story about a lonely women who favors alcohol as a numbing agent. She works from home, avoiding any interactions that aren’t with her dog, Po. One day, she meets an animated skeleton that changes her life.
The ending is unexpected yet fittingly strange and somehow satisfying. I recommend this if you appreciate literary/speculative works or books that make you think.
I received an arc of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
A novel written in a poetic script, filled with raw emotions and stories. It made me reflect, wonder and hope.
Our main character, Josie, has gone through some major changes in her life, and some would say she is not doing so well. She has lost her father, is divorced, and drinks too much alcohol on a daily basis to get by. Her mother ruins her fond memories of her father by invading the only place they had for themselves. And then something bizarre happens in her garden. Vines and vines growing and a skeleton that is looking for a story. And as if that didn't worry Josie enough, she has a new neighbor who does seem very eager to talk to her and who seems to know more about the garden problems.
A magical-realism novel that makes you wonder about what it is trying to tell us. Behind the layers of the poetic and the magical is something we all recognize. It is not just Josie's story that we read, but that of many. And probably our own in some way.
I thought the skeleton would bring Josie a wake-up call, but there is more to the story. It confused me at times, but that's what I love about stories of magical realism. They are never all that they seem.
I recommend this book to people who like magical realism, poetic stories about struggling people, and who don't mind the bizarre skeleton.
4/5 stars
A novel written in a poetic script, filled with raw emotions and stories. It made me reflect, wonder and hope.
Our main character, Josie, has gone through some major changes in her life, and some would say she is not doing so well. She has lost her father, is divorced, and drinks too much alcohol on a daily basis to get by. Her mother ruins her fond memories of her father by invading the only place they had for themselves. And then something bizarre happens in her garden. Vines and vines growing and a skeleton that is looking for a story. And as if that didn't worry Josie enough, she has a new neighbor who does seem very eager to talk to her and who seems to know more about the garden problems.
A magical-realism novel that makes you wonder about what it is trying to tell us. Behind the layers of the poetic and the magical is something we all recognize. It is not just Josie's story that we read, but that of many. And probably our own in some way.
I thought the skeleton would bring Josie a wake-up call, but there is more to the story. It confused me at times, but that's what I love about stories of magical realism. They are never all that they seem.
I recommend this book to people who like magical realism, poetic stories about struggling people, and who don't mind the bizarre skeleton.
Josie is a mess. She’s divorced, her father has died, and she’s not coping at all. She’s not left her house in a while, has her groceries delivered after a breakdown while shopping, and actively avoids talking to her neighbours. She runs her online business, dealing with irate customers, loves her little dog, and drinks herself to sleep each night.
When a new neighbour moves in next door, Josie grouses about the stranger, but that stranger soon comes knocking on her door, inserting herself into Josie’s life.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, a weed begins growing in her backyard, and suddenly, there is much greenery, and even worse, a skeleton sitting amidst the leaves.
When the skeleton begins speaking to her, challenging Josie, too many other things begin happening as well:
-her neighbour implies she understands something about the rampant growth in Josie’s backyard
-Josie’s estranged mother keeps calling to connect,
-Josie’s having blackouts
-her business is suffering, and
-her little dog is becoming wary of her.
The pressure builds and builds for the angry and sad Josie, to the point of her having to confront a number of things in her life.
Though not a long book, the author did a great job showing us the deeply unhappy Josie, who continues her downward spiral through most of the book, as she’s unwilling to deal with the reasons behind her unhappiness.
I was a little surprised that once Josie began honestly confronting her thoughts and feelings how quickly the story wrapped up. Considering how much time we spent in Josie’s mess, I didn’t expect to come out of it as rapidly as we did. The background behind the skeletal presence in her garden, and the history of other similar presences, could also have used a little more elaboration, but otherwise, I liked this story.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Black Spot Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
When a new neighbour moves in next door, Josie grouses about the stranger, but that stranger soon comes knocking on her door, inserting herself into Josie’s life.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, a weed begins growing in her backyard, and suddenly, there is much greenery, and even worse, a skeleton sitting amidst the leaves.
When the skeleton begins speaking to her, challenging Josie, too many other things begin happening as well:
-her neighbour implies she understands something about the rampant growth in Josie’s backyard
-Josie’s estranged mother keeps calling to connect,
-Josie’s having blackouts
-her business is suffering, and
-her little dog is becoming wary of her.
The pressure builds and builds for the angry and sad Josie, to the point of her having to confront a number of things in her life.
Though not a long book, the author did a great job showing us the deeply unhappy Josie, who continues her downward spiral through most of the book, as she’s unwilling to deal with the reasons behind her unhappiness.
I was a little surprised that once Josie began honestly confronting her thoughts and feelings how quickly the story wrapped up. Considering how much time we spent in Josie’s mess, I didn’t expect to come out of it as rapidly as we did. The background behind the skeletal presence in her garden, and the history of other similar presences, could also have used a little more elaboration, but otherwise, I liked this story.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Black Spot Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
I tried to like this book but I couldn't. I tried to understand this book but I couldn't. I tried to finish this book but I couldn't. DNF at 90%. Skelly was intolerable, more so than Sue will ever be. The voice was funny and full of dry jokes. But otherwise, the book was convoluted and weird. Not my cup of tea, tbh.
Thank you, NetGalley and Black Spot Book, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you, NetGalley and Black Spot Book, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a strange yet cozy book. At only a bit over 200 pages long, it was a quick read, and I found the writing to be engaging and entertaining enough that this book was easily bingeable. The main character was flawed but easily endears herself to you, and, in a surprising turn of events, the same goes for the skeleton that grows in her yard; the interactions between the two were snarky and lowkey dryly hilarious.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.