Poor Deer A Novel
Poor Deer A Novel by Claire Oshetsky, published by HarperCollinsPublishers in 2024, is a poignant exploration of childhood and loss, spanning 226 pages in English. The narrative follows Margaret Murphy, a young girl who grapples with the tragic death of her friend Agnes. As she navigates her grief, Margaret creates fantastical stories to cope with her reality, while her mother insists on a narrative that absolves her of blame.
In this tender tale, readers will encounter Poor Deer, a mysterious creature that challenges Margaret to confront her past and seek atonement. The novel delves into themes of family life and the complexities of memory, illustrating how children cope with trauma through imagination. Claire Oshetsky’s work invites reflection on the narratives we construct to understand our experiences, making it a significant addition to contemporary literary fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
WINNER OF THE KAFKA PRIZE FOR FICTION
A wondrous, tender novel about a young girl grappling with her role in a tragic loss–and attempting to reshape the narrative of her life–from PEN/Faulkner Award nominee Claire Oshetsky
Margaret Murphy is a weaver of fantastic tales, growing up in a world where the truth is too much for one little girl to endure. Her first memory is of the day her friend Agnes died.
No one blames Margaret. Not in so many words. Her mother insists to everyone who will listen that her daughter never even left the house that day. Left alone to make sense of tragedy, Margaret wills herself to forget these unbearable memories, replacing them with imagined stories full of faith and magic–that always end happily.
Enter Poor Deer: a strange and formidable creature who winds her way uninvited into Margaret’s made-up tales. Poor Deer will not rest until Margaret faces the truth about her past and atones for her role in Agnes’s death.
Heartrending, hopeful, and boldly imagined, Poor Deer explores the journey toward understanding the children we once were and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of life’s most difficult moments.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Poor Deer A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “Poor Deer A Novel”?
When was “Poor Deer A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “Poor Deer A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
