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savvylit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Animal is a dark story filled with abuse. Do not read this if you're in search of a light-hearted story. Joan is a confessional and shameless narrator. It was jarring and thrilling at the same time to read someone carelessly reveal the ugliest parts of themselves.
Overall, Animal was a slow burn. Throughout the book, Taddeo slowly unravels all of Joan's terrible and predatory encounters with men. While I appreciated that this represented simmering female rage, the pacing felt off to me. I found that the middle of the book seemed endless.
I did love that Animal was an exposé of the nuanced spectrum of male cruelty and violence. I think that Taddeo explored this topic very effectively. However, I did not like that every single thought or conversation in this book was either about men or with men. This book wouldn't pass the Bechdel test - at all. I really wanted Joan to have something else to think about or discuss. I suppose that her obsession with men is indicative of her own particular traumas. But I found the constant talk of men and their ideas of sex/sexiness to be grueling.
Overall, I'll add Animal to my list of dark & thought-provoking books about female rage. But I do not plan to read this again.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Vomit
thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Joan likes married men. She doesn't know why, since they only bring trouble. After one kills himself infront of her and another married man, she leaves on a journey to find Alice.
After renting a place near Alice, from Lenny, a older man with a sordid past and dementia, she befriends and is obsessed with Alice. But life is never straight with Joan, her past ensures she's always on guard.
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Dementia, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
tegalodon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
ladymirtazapine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, Murder, and Alcohol
igfromero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
emmamoulton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
laurenparham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
miriameckl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Dementia, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
jessicaw8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, and Death of parent
lauriankuipers's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment