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A review by maggiedialtone
Animal by Lisa Taddeo
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5
WILD ride. God, men can be so fucking disgusting. The story oscillates between Joan’s childhood memories and her present search for her half sister, Alice, after Joan’s ex shoots himself in front of her, in a restaurant. We learn about her history with this man and many other (mostly shitty) men who’ve crossed Joan’s path. the prose is simple, yet cutting and the chapters are short so I just flew through it. it was interesting and pretty engaging the whole time.
to be considered: a lot of the subject matter is pretty fucked up.
Maybe I’m just ovulating, but I feel like a sapphic b plot opportunity was missed between Eleanor & Joan, if even in Carmillaian undertones.
The pacing felt weird/inconsistent at times.
The end was ambiguous and I can see how this is a choice but I didn’t love it.
ALSO major trigger warnings (TW) for domestic violence, suicide, r@pe, loss of pregnancy, blood, lotta wacky shit
long story short I support women’s rights and wrongs 🤷♀️
WILD ride. God, men can be so fucking disgusting. The story oscillates between Joan’s childhood memories and her present search for her half sister, Alice, after Joan’s ex shoots himself in front of her, in a restaurant. We learn about her history with this man and many other (mostly shitty) men who’ve crossed Joan’s path. the prose is simple, yet cutting and the chapters are short so I just flew through it. it was interesting and pretty engaging the whole time.
to be considered: a lot of the subject matter is pretty fucked up.
Maybe I’m just ovulating, but I feel like a sapphic b plot opportunity was missed between Eleanor & Joan, if even in Carmillaian undertones.
The pacing felt weird/inconsistent at times.
The end was ambiguous and I can see how this is a choice but I didn’t love it.
ALSO major trigger warnings (TW) for domestic violence, suicide, r@pe, loss of pregnancy, blood, lotta wacky shit
long story short I support women’s rights and wrongs 🤷♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Pregnancy