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vishnork's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Excrement, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Ableism, Death, Violence, Child abuse, Medical content, and Misogyny
Minor: Abortion
redrockhoney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Ableism, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content and Excrement
Minor: Abortion
alyssapusateri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Infidelity, Excrement, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abortion, Sexual content, Blood, and Bullying
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Cursing, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
i'm not really sure how to tag this considering there is such a mix of metaphors or what i thought were metaphors... i don't even knowsavvylit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Utilizing magical realism, Oshetsky leaves it up to the reader to decide whether or not baby Chouette is an actual owl. I personally am firmly in the camp of readers who believe that this whole tale is a metaphor for the challenges of raising a disabled child. The way that Tiny's in-laws call her "courageous" for raising Chouette, the way that her husband is obsessed with finding medical "fixes"... It's more than clear that Tiny's isolation throughout the novel is due to other people's heartlessness and lack of understanding. The people around Tiny refuse to acknowledge her mental illness before and after her pregnancy. And they refuse to engage with Chouette, choosing to be frightened by her differences.
All in all, Chouette is an emotionally devastating book written in an engaging, lyrical manner. I highly recommend reading this - as long as you are prepared to join Chouette & Tiny as they take on the world alone.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Medical content, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Animal death
desireewoodwhite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Maybe I spoiled the read for myself by constantly comparing this one with Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova, which I absolutely loved!
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Toxic relationship
hotdrinks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Excrement, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Dementia, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Child abuse
Minor: Racism, Abortion, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Grief, Car accident, and Body shaming
conspystery's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Ultimately, though, I think my favorite thing about Chouette is the versatility of its resonance-- something that is achieved, I think, by Oshetsky’s authenticity in this story. No matter how you interpret Chouette, no matter what allegorical or literal meaning you find in it, it has something important and personal to say about the measures society uses to evaluate, predict, and judge individuality-- and how we can and should transcend those measures which emphasize perceived acceptance over authentic personhood, no matter what society has ingrained in us to do instead. I adore Chouette. I can’t wait to read it again.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Excrement, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Blood, Animal death, Ableism, Medical trauma, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
emilyexley's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Blood, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Animal death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Pregnancy, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Vomit
Minor: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Abandonment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Cursing, and Religious bigotry
cocoreads02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Death