Feral Chickens: A Hawaiian Comedy

by C. McGee

After coming into unexpected money, Ingrid Kristiansen decides to leave the frigid plains of the Upper Midwest for the surreal beauty of Kauai. Unfortunately, upon arrival, she learns that her idyllic paradise has one serious flaw: the goddamn chickens. Those bastards are everywhere, pecking at the ground, pecking at each other, pecking at people's patience. They ruin paradise. Deciding that the island would be better off without such clucking monstrosities, Ingrid makes it her mission to remove the foul creatures, no matter the cost... The hilarious second novel from author C. McGee.

Genres: Fiction, Humor

248 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2018

About the author

Raised in Minnesota, C. McGee now lives in North Carolina with his wife Beth and their daughter Jo. He went to school for a very long time and now makes much less money than all of his friends.

By night, he is a writer. His novels include Exteriors and Interiors (2016), Feral Chickens: A Hawaiian Comedy (2018), and Owen O’Shea: Stay-At-Home Dad, Wannabe Detective (2024).

By day, he and his wife are professors in a department of two at a small university. Everyone on campus adores him, save the other person in his department who is obviously jealous that their students like him better.

When he isn’t teaching or writing, he can often be found on the golf course with his daughter, where he doesn’t cheat at all because it would be wrong for a thirty-nine-year-old man to resort to such measures. His house is pink and not at all emasculating. He works out a lot, not because he’s compensating for something, but because he’s vain.

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ingrid Kristiansen came into some unexpected money and decides to leave the frigid plains of the Upper Midwest for the surreal beauty of Kauai. On arrival, she learns that paradise has one serious flaw: the goddamn chickens.

Kauai was a place Ingrids family visited while they were on vacation when she was nine years old. But things just aren't how she remembers them. There are chickens everywhere. She spends most of her free time plotting how to get rid of the chickens that are taking over everywhere..

This is quite a funny story but it contains bad language. It's not everyone that likes to read books with swear words in them. Ingrid likes a drink. She does not like the chickens. The plans she makes to kill them is hilarious. There is a lot going on in this quick read. From shark attacks to investment deals. A fun read with some laugh out loud moments.

I would like to thank NetGalley, John Hunt Punlishing and the author C. McGee for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, slightly bonkers read. Ingrid, along with a cast of zany characters, is obsessed with ridding the island she lives on of wild chickens and ends up getting herself into several dodgy and funny situations. 

It's fun, it doesn't tax the brain and it's a fairly short book. No good if you're easily offended by swear words though. Luckily I'm not :)

An enjoyable way to pass a few hours

Free arc from netgalley

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

GNab Feral Chickens is a hoot. A fast read, rarely a paragraph goes on that doesn't bring laughter with it and the occasional yearning to be 23 again. And I LOVE chickens....

There is a great deal of foul language but it fits the profile of our protagonist, Ingrid Kristiansen, who comes in to a great deal of money and decided to forgo Fargo and return to the Hawaiian Isles, a place visited on family vacation when she was nine years old. Things aren't all as she remembers!

C. McGee paints a picture of Hawaii that calls to any of us who have spent time on the southern coast as it sounds like home. Unfortunately the 'home' of today is as the Hawaii of Feral Chickens - tourists and snow birds crowd the beaches and highways. But is still home in the early hours of the day and night. McGee is an author I will follow. Feral Chickens is a book I can happily refer to friends and family.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, C. McGee, and Roundfire Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

pub date August 31st 2018
Roundfire Books

[C. McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next great American novel has been written. This is it. I would call Feral Chickens a tour de force but that would be a tragic understatement. Comedic fiction will never be the same, nay fiction will never be the same, nay the world will never be the same. This book is that good. C. McGee is an unparalleled talent. And handsome, he's handsome too.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I too, grew up in Minnesota like the author and later moved to California. And having literally just returned from a vacation in Kauai (Princeville and Hanalei), I was really excited to read this book! And it is hilarious for sure! Ingrid moves from frosty North Dakota to Kauai when she is 23 and gets a job as a tour guide. That is short-lived however, as her cohort is a raging... (well, I won't put that language in a review)! Kauai is paradise of course, but Ingrid absolutely hates the chickens that run rampant over the island and plans to kill them in any way she can--and believe me--these schemes are outrageous and hysterical. But beneath the humor we see politics at work as there are protests and controversies surrounding the impending development of peaceful Hanalei Bay with bigger and better resorts. So if you need a humorous beach read this summer--better yet, read it on a beach in Hawaii to capture the full flavor of the islands and Ingrid!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Reading Badger · Rating 3 out of 5]

So let me tell a little about the book’s plot. It has as the main character a young woman, named Ingrid, who after winning a considerable sum of money, decides to leave North Dakota and move to Hawaii. To be honest, I cannot blame her. Have you seen the series “Fargo”? I mean, damn…how can a small town like that can have stories live those?
Anyway, Ingrid, who has a drinking issue, discovers soon after moving to Kauai that the island is full of feral chickens and that she and the local “rat-birds” cannot co-exist.
From this point, the book starts to be funny. With all Ingrid’s evil plans to get rid of all the chickens from the island, to the drinking talk and the description of the obese Yorkie, named “Biggie Smalls”.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest books I've come across. Cluckin' hilarious.

An absolute side-splittingly funny book at times. Farce, black comedy - all about chickens?!

I would recommend this if you're after something a little bit different. Ingrid is not your usual heroine, but she is definitely a strong, capable and determined woman, fighting against the villainy of an evil foe... the chickens of her island home.
"I hate those g*dd*mn chickens with the fire of ten million suns..."

Ingrid is a relative newcomer to the Hawaiian island, after coming into some money unexpectedly. Paradise it may be, in all ways but one - humans must share the island with the chicken population. And Ingrid, to put it mildly, is not a fan...

"The larger hobby is war, war against the chickens. God I hate those little bi***es. They have been my sworn enemy since day one..."

"An abhorrence of chickens...incessancy...torment...monstrosity...secretion...wretchedness" - Ingrid takes delight in choosing a suitable group noun for the menace. But she'll go farther than that in her her quest to rid her home of all chickens.

How Ingrid tries to kill off the chicken population had me chortling away, it's crazy the lengths she goes to, and there are some fantastically bizarre scenes. My two favourites involved a guillotine and a mongoose in a boat. Trust me, craziest couple of chapters ever. Comic genius.

I want to see this filmed, even for those two scenes, but Ingrid is an excellent role for a young actress, there are great minor roles for Hawaiian actors, and mongoose wranglers will find themselves in great demand.

A refreshing comedy, with a wonderful setting and appealingly amoral protagonist. Very, very funny.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

[Dawn Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous, fun read. A balance of light humor and real cultural difference. Would highly recommend as a read for most.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I admit it, it was the title that drew me to this book. Followed swiftly by the blurb. It definitely set my "bonkers" alert off, and anyone who knows me, knows that I do love a bit of bonkers in my reading!
It was also a bit of a sign when, just after I started this book, one of my facebook friends said in her status that she was fed up cleaning wild turkey poop off her property! I really was meant to read this book.
So, Ingrid comes into am inheritance which enables her to up sticks and move to the beautiful, idyllic Kauai. Obviously it soon transpired that she really hasn't done her homework about her new paradise as she finds it overrun by chickens. Somewhat ruining things for her. So, she wages war on the feral beasts, making it her mission to rid the island of them. Well, when she isn't living it up partying with her friends or working her great job for her horrible boss. Add into the mix a new resort that she debates investing in and some rather interesting interaction with locals in a bar and you got yourself a rip roaring scream of a book that definitely hit my funny bone!
This might not be a literary great in terms of content or execution but, you know what, it ticked every box for me as a read along the way and left me satisfied at the end. Some of the scenes had me holding my sides, almost crying with laughter. Others had me really sympathising with Ingrid as she suffered at the hands of her nasty boss. And I haven't even mentioned the mongooses yet! I had visions of cane toads in Australia in mind as I was reading about that solution to her problem. And the guillotine, an engineering masterpiece for sure. But fear I may say too much if I detail everything I loved about this book. The rest is yours to discover at your own pace. Suffice to say, it's bonkers and deliciously over the top in places and I blooming loved it! So much so that I am desperate to squeeze the author's other book into my already bulging tbr.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ingrid Krisiansen comes into some money she decides to escape cold and dull North Dakota and embark on a new life in the sunshine of Kauai. In many ways Kauai is indeed paradise but it has one great drawback – chickens. Lots and lots of feral chickens, which swarm everywhere and make a lot of noise. Ingrid starts to find their constant clucking and the early morning wake-up calls unbearable. The only thing she can do is wage war on them and exterminate them. How she sets about this is at the core of this amusing and quite ridiculous novel, one which I very much enjoyed. Her madcap attempts are really remarkably funny and if the book is somewhat over-the-top at times, well, it matters not, as the author carries it all off with great verve and ingenuity. But it’s not all comedy – there’s a serious aspect to the book as well, as it explores tourism and development on the island, for one man’s paradise can soon turn into another man’s money-making exercise. I understand that there are indeed a multitude of feral chickens on Kauai, and in fact they really can be a pest. I’ve also just discovered that they are a pest on Jersey in the Channel Islands in the UK – who knew? For me this reality check added to the novel’s depth, making it not just a laugh-out-loud entertainment but a thoughtful one as well.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ingrid has moved from the Midwest to Hawaii and hates the chickens that run free through the island. She comes up with a plan to eliminate all the feral chickens of Kauai that involves smuggling mongooses. I really enjoyed this. It was amusing and definitely made me laugh. Even the kind of horrible parts (the multi-chicken guillotine and the whole kayak/mongoose debacle) were funny. I liked Ingrid and her attitude. Overall a dark-ish comedy with some kind of outrageous moments that I liked a lot. 4.5 stars, rounding to 5.

[Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ingrid ditches her freezing hometown in Minnesota for the paradise of Kauai after she comes into a sizable inheritance. She knows her money won't last forever so she has two part time jobs: working as a tour guide and drinking with her independently wealthy (read: jobless) boyfriend Ethan and his buddy Charlie. When she isn't working or drinking, she spends a lot of time plotting how to get rid of the chicken population taking over paradise with their loud crowing and general stupidity.
In her quest to rid the island of feral chickens we meet a cast of interesting characters including: Koa, the wise Hawaiian with a permanent seat at the bar; Biggie Smalls, the obese Yorkie; and an "assassination of mongooses" (yeah, that is the plural) under anesthesia.
Shark attacks, shady investment deals, and illegal animal smuggling are what you're in for when you pick up this Hawaiian comedy. Dramatically over the top and absolutely hilarious, the crude humor and ridiculous situations Ingrid puts herself in are laugh out loud entertaining even when I found myself rolling my eyes a couple times.
Thanks to Roundfire Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very strange and very funny book that was thought provoking and made me laugh at the same time. Ingrid was relatable and so was her boyfriend Ethan and friend Koa. When you genuinely enjoy a character, the story flows better. Ingrid made me want to exterminate poultry too, so tonight at the grocery store I bought a giant pack of organic chicken and some Thai peanut sauce. Tomorrow's dinner is for you, Ingrid.

[Helen Callahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feral Chickens: A Hawaiian Comedy by C. McGee. A. Very. Worthy. Read. My first CM book. Looking forward to reading more. Main character Ingrid Kristiansen is done with her upper Midwestern life. After wining money, she is moving to Hawaii. Her dream place. As soon as stepping off the plane her dream is CRUSHED! By chickens! Feral. Chickens! Everywhere! Everywhere she steps. Everywhere she looks. They wake her every morning. Noisy! All day long. They are messy! The book is engaging. Entertaining! Readers will...Remember. Enjoy. Recommend! And laugh out loud. A lot! The storyline and it's wonderful, eclectic mix of characters keep the pages turning. C. McGee's Hawaii is quaint, unique. Original! A place to belong. Warm, down home. I received this book as an ARC from John Hunt Publishing Ltd and Roundhouse through NetGalley. I am voluntarily posting this view. Ingrid, liked or disliked. Her antics, captivating and/or torturing. An exceptional story! A book to recommend!

[Cristie Underwood]

This offbeat and unusual read was the perfect way to unwind after a long day, as there were some parts that were hilarious! This is definitely the book for anyone looking for a unique and fun read!

[Marie (UK) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this book really fits into the category of everything I hate about books with an MPG of humour. BUT it so works I was hooked from the outset, the characterisation is fabulous. Ingrid is beleaguered day in, day out by feral chickens who don't appreciate her need for peace to think, make lists and generally make the most of Island life. The book follows her attempts to solve the problem whilst also settling into her new home and enjoying her new friends. I can't really do this book justice but it is one that has really caught my imagination and i shall look out for more by this author

[Richard Shanerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty and crass humor at it's best. This book is a fun, fast-paced read, with some interesting social commentary thrown in the mix. Definitely worth reading, especially if you're headed toward Kauai anytime soon.

[Nancy Graben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Laugh out loud funny novel. I would love to see it made into a film.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really funny and made laugh out loud.
The plot is quite weird and hilarious at the same time, the cast of characters is interesting and the style of writing is unsual and creative.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to John Hunt Publishing Ltd and Netgalley for this ARC

[Annette Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light and humorous read that had me chuckling out loud from time to time, this story about one woman's war against the feral chickens on her Hawaiian island home was certainly an entertaining read. The author cleverly uses a repeating motif of lists throughout the book, which I thought worked incredibly well and had some of the funniest moments in the book. It's clear that the author has a quick wit and a clever turn of phrase, both of which I enjoyed as a reader. I did however have one reservation about the book, I felt the characterisation and portrayal of Ingrid, our one woman chicken slaying machine, did not quite ring true. I was not surprised to find, when I checked after reading, that the author was a man, as I felt while reading that Ingrid was more of a man's idea of what he thought a strong, feisty female character would be.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely enjoyable and the perfect summer read, as the characters and the plot keep you laughing, excited, invested, and thinking about not just the story but also broader things like culture and identity. Feral Chickens is exactly what you need in this current world we live in ... when you need to escape to gorgeous Kuaii, have some fun, and tag along on Ingrid’s adventures. Highly, highly recommend!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ingrid Kristiansen leaves her icy cold life and hometown the northern mid-west after coming into some unexpected money, deciding to go to Kauai, where she has memories of a wonderful vacation years ago. However, Ingrid finds out quickly that things are not all great in the paradise she remembers. The island is overrun with feral chickens. Disgusted and despising them, Ingrid formulates some crazy ways to get rid of the “rat-birds”. The book follows Ingrid through her attempts to eliminate the feral chickens, while otherwise spending time as a tour guide and drinking with her wealthy and unemployed “boyfriend” Ethan and his buddy Charlie.

This is a funny book, but I personally think it could have been just as funny without the constant inclusion of crude, swear-word language. I am by no means a prude, but this got on my nerves after a while. Ingrid, not surprisingly, also was going down the dark tunnel of alcoholism, and kept up with her friends drinking as the book went on. I am not sure why, but I wondered if this was really an allegory, unless I am making too much of it. The chickens, in this case, represent the multitude of tourists who flock to Hawaii on a regular basis—and who drive the residents crazy. I also was in Hawaii years ago and left with a memory of a grand and glorious trip to an island paradise. Then, after returning recently, I wondered how I ever even thought of it as a paradise, with all the tourists swarming around, complete with noise and constant activity. Nevertheless, I guess I fell right into that category myself, being a tourist. Anyway, the book is a short, quick read. There is not much of a plot, but there is one. The story itself lends to the humor of the piece, not just the crazy plot. This book provided me a great escape from the hot, sultry days of summer. I think it can also provide any reader respite from the hectic hub-bub of daily life and heat and humidity (if that is still present in daily life where the reader is). I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

[Sandra The Old Woman in a Van · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 3 rating means this: I found a few good qualities in the book, but it wasn’t my style. I will not likely read anymore from this author. That said, if you like snarky sarcasm and mostly annoying characters then you will probbaly find the book entertaining. I also did learn quite a bit about Hawaii I did not know previously, and as I read it for my 50 state challenge it worked. I kind of wish I had read Michener’s Hawaii or Brennart’s Moloka’i. Some of the problems I had with the book - the scene in the veterinarian’s office was wrought with errors. I won’t include spoilers but, as a vet, the author would have benifitted from getting a vet to review for accuracy. The mongooses and the plan just bothered me for the total disregard for the impact - but then the characters are largely aimless, self centered, Kardashianesque people. I did love the Mother and she nailed ND mother dialogue.

So read it if you like sarcastic humor and ethically sketchy people. I do like funny stories and sarcasm to an extent, but the characters have to be more redeemable than those portrayed in this book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ingrid cashes in on a family plot in N. Dakota. Fresh with a chunk of change, she heads to Hawaii. On the island of Kauai, she finds the island replete with wild chickens. So begins her vigilante mission to free the island of said chickens.

Ingrid is privileged. She uses her pretty blonde status to her advantage and talks back to cops. She seeks to change an environment that she has inhabited for a very short time. She is very direct with an f-off attitude. She’s also the girl who can throw down with the boys.

This book is not one to be taken seriously. It will entertain you with numerous laugh-out-loud situations such as punching a shark while fighting off a mongoose. Or using a mongoose to fight off a shark. You decide. If you want a lighthearted parody, check this one out.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite a strange book, and while I enjoy reading unusual and inventive narratives, this just didn’t do it for me. It felt to me as though it was trying a little too hard to be different.
I didn’t empathise with Ingrid at all; in fact I didn’t really like her unfortunately, and I felt it took too long to get into the ‘meat ‘of the story.
That said, the writing is pretty sound and this has some good reviews – it just wasn’t for me.

[Sophie Childs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comedy is a very difficult genre because humour is so subjective. Unfortunately, "Feral Chickens" just isn't funny. At all. I read the entire thing from cover to cover and didn't even snigger.

I get that the chickens are meant to be metaphorical, but I really didn't enjoy reading about animal abuse in the guise of being hilarious.

On the upside, this is a light and easy read that didn't take me long to get through and had some thought provoking moments about culture and cultural identity. It's well written and gave me an insight into life on a Hawaiian island.

It. Just. Wasn't. Funny.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC with no obligation to review.