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anawest's review
5.0
This was not a perfect book, but it had a perfect beginning and a perfect ending, and also most of it felt like someone was taking a meat cleaver to my insides and then laying them out on a table in a pretty table arrangement. Which is my ideal reading experience. Anyway, loved loved loved this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Medical trauma and Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts
belovedb33's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Child death, Body horror, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Self harm, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Blood, Abandonment, Child abuse, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Grief, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Fatphobia
katewillread's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In this novel that feels like a dark fairytale there is a thick fog that blurs the line between reality and Margaret’s imagination/memories after the death of her friend when she is 4 years old. Her relationship with her mother deteriorates after the death and she is left to grapple with grief and guilt with little to no guidance. Growing up this way begins to not only shape the way she is perceived from the outside world but how she sees herself as well, manifesting in the creation of Poor Deer, the grotesque creature that haunts Margaret’s inner thoughts. Ultimately the way Oshetsky uses magical realism so seamlessly in their story telling is my absolute favorite and this cements them as an auto buy author for me. In both Chouette and Poor Deer the internal struggle with mental health, being “othered” and the external judgements that follows is so well done and captivating. I’m going to be thinking about this one for a while. Highly, highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
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