Nestlings - Motherhood, Living Arrangements, and the Grotesque
I received this book in my November 2023 Night Terrors Night Worms package with a signed bookplate by Nat Cassidy. The haunting image on the front had me hooked from the get-go.
This is my first book by Nat Cassidy, although I’ve had Mary on my list for some time now. His writing style struck me first. It is smooth, conversational, and completely relatable. The care he took with exploring each character from their own perspective was tangible. The disgust, exhaustion, and fear they experienced was so real to me.
The story follows Reid and Ana who have just recently won a lottery to move into a gorgeous apartment. Ana had just recently lost the ability to use her legs when she gave birth to their first child, Charlie. While their “Baby Bird” was a blessing to them, they felt shaky under the weight of Ana’s new disability. This new home seemed like the answer, but their neighbours and their inclinations prove to be a little too interesting.
I honestly can’t say more without giving things away, but the real story here is the strength with which Nat Cassidy imbues these characters. Reid is a loving husband, but has quiet doubts and fears. Ana is a strong woman who has to live her life from a perspective she never had before. They are new parents entering a new stage of their life together in a strange and creeping place. It is truly well-written and captures the human experience gently and powerfully.
In addition to the book being a great read, the Author’s Note at the end made me understand why Nat Cassidy can write grief and pain so well. The amount of hardships the author had tossed at him during 2021 seems nearly insurmountable, and yet, he and his wife did it. The fact that he managed to write this interesting, creepy, and very human book during that time in his life is one heck of an achievement and this story is well worth your time.
