Review Summaries

• Readers strongly praise Tama's inventive voice, the dark humour, and the way the novel holds violence and comedy in the same frame. Its unusual premise is widely seen as part of what keeps it compelling to the end.

Reviews

• Brilliant

  Amazing! Contender for the best book I've ever read.

• Magpie Celebration

  This book has it all- ingeniously crafted, its thoughtful, funny, imaginative and uplifting. The magpie has all the best lines and remains the hero of the day. Very satisfying ending.

• Unique

  An interesting story of a magpie attached to a human.

• A Brilliant Book. Just.Read.it.

  I've put off writing a review of this novel for some time. It is so powerful, intense, and beautifully written that I don't feel a review can do it justice. JUST.READ.IT. If you are someone who reads or follows my reviews, then I encourage you to go out and buy this book ASAP. It is one of the best books I've ever read. The novel starts out in rural New Zealand with Marnie rescuing a Magpie chick that has fallen to the ground from its nest. She takes the chick home and names him Tama. Tama grows and flourishes, learning things quickly. He speaks words, then sentences. Is he a mimic, a witness, a prophet, or a Greek Chorus, letting the reader know what depths lie in the darkness of Marnie's home. For, as we come to find out, Marnie's husband Rob, abuses Marnie badly, especially when drunk and in a blackout. Tama forewarns the reader about Rob but even he realizes that there may be nothing he can do. Rob and Marnie live on a sheep farm in rural New Zealand and are in financial trouble. The economy is down and the prices of sheep and wool are low. Marnie works part-time in a woman's clothing store in town. They are unable to make ends meet. On a whim, Marnie dresses Tama up and puts him on the internet. Almost immediately, they become an internet sensation with thousands of followeres and Marnie realizes that because of all this, Tama's publicity could be a source of income. Will anything change? Will money start pouring in? What does happen, is that because of their social media fame, they are in the world's eye and have to be careful about what's seen and heard on camera. The book has a mythical and magical element to it that fits perfectly with its theme. Because Tama is living in a human house, he is ousted by his flock. His mother is dead, killed by humans, and Tama's father is filled with omnipotent warnings about humans and criticisms about Tama's way of life. Tama is no longer sure where he belongs but it is Marnie who is his touchstone. Tama's speech is amazing. The question is whether he's just mimicking or does he really understand what he is saying? Often, what he says is repetitive of what he hears, but at other times it seems prophetic. He serves as a witness to Marnie's abuse and as a surrogate for the child that Marnie lost recently. Tama loves to be near Marnie and especially enjoys sleeping with her in bed. Rob resents Tama to the point of hatred. He brings out Rob's jealousy and insecurities about his relationship with Marnie. As Rob works daily on his strength and agility to enter the Axeman's Challenge at the local carnival, he gets moodier and moodier. He has one 9 medals and he is set on winning his 10th. He realizes, however, that he is now older than he was and that a younger contender could beat him. The novel reveals itself layer by layer. We watch as Tama and Marnie struggle to stay out of Rob's way and then realize the seriousness of their situation. Throughout the book, Tama's speech is by turn hilarious and mimicking, but it is also intelligent and advisory. How much can a bird know? And how much intent can it have? All these questions are answered in The Axeman's Carnival, a glorious book and a tribute to the spoken language.

• Answers are found in unexpected places.

  Highly recommended. Unusual story incorporating a disturbing chain of events. I loved the narrator and his enduring lifeforce. This novel was chosen for my Book Club. Everyone was moved by the storyline and the prose. Catherine Chidgey is a brilliant writer.

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