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A review by eferguson
Barn 8 by Deb Olin Unferth
4.0
I have been going back and forth about how to rate this book. I think I'm landing around a 3.5-4 stars. This was an interesting read, and the first 25% of the novel was written beautifully. As soon as the book expanded beyond Janey (narration by chickens?!) I was more lost. There were lines that took my breath away. I was madly confused by the motivations of some of the characters. I did not like how absurdly the perspective and timeline flipped (usually I love this, but here it felt frivolous). I finished and wondered what the point was. But also, I can't ignore the fact that I was madly intrigued by this book, something kept me turning the pages madly even if the plot itself was mad. Maybe there was a larger point I missed here, maybe I am not smart enough to understand larger meaning in this novel, but I appreciated the madness.
Lines I highlighted:
"Janey was most interest in when the two Janeys might intersect. It was a game she played. For example, what if the old Janey and the new would have said the same word at the same time? What if both Janeys said, or would have said, the word hey at the same moment, 2:04pm CST/3:04pm EST?"
"Which of these chickens do humans most resemble: the ones roaming in ovals...Or the genetically modified monsters--wobbling inside our boxes, clutching our pieces of plastic and metal, mincing and crimping in our shoes, snapping at each other in tight spaces, poking our various machines that swivel or light up or open in simulation of activity, 'amusement,' 'exercise', 'work', 'love'?"
"We always think it's over for us--and it is over--then it starts again. Reincarnation in this lifetime."
Lines I highlighted:
"Janey was most interest in when the two Janeys might intersect. It was a game she played. For example, what if the old Janey and the new would have said the same word at the same time? What if both Janeys said, or would have said, the word hey at the same moment, 2:04pm CST/3:04pm EST?"
"Which of these chickens do humans most resemble: the ones roaming in ovals...Or the genetically modified monsters--wobbling inside our boxes, clutching our pieces of plastic and metal, mincing and crimping in our shoes, snapping at each other in tight spaces, poking our various machines that swivel or light up or open in simulation of activity, 'amusement,' 'exercise', 'work', 'love'?"
"We always think it's over for us--and it is over--then it starts again. Reincarnation in this lifetime."