AD - Gifted

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury for sending me this ARC of Animal.

When I say I was excited to read this - it would be an understatement. I was absolutely buzzing. I adored Three Women and I knew as soon I saw the title and the slogan that I’d love this book.

Now, why did I only give it 4/5 when I knew I’d love it and I did, definitely, love it?

I’ll start with the good points of the novel:

- Joan. I loved her to pieces: she was so toxic and filled with trauma that to not like her would be diabolical. She was more than human, she was animal. Joan suffered in every possible way that women do suffer; yet, she owned it and she ran with it and she used it to her ability. Her relationships with the many multifaceted, different characters were flawed and brutal, and the worst part is that they were so relatable. That comes to my second point.

- It was so real. Taddeo has some killer one liners that I want to re-read and highlight and underline and memorise. They will stick with me for ages and I have already used her style as inspiration for something I’ve started to write. She’s absolutely raw and doesn’t try and sugarcoat anything. Joan’s voice comes to life just as much as Joan’s character does, arguably the character is the voice - witty, sharp, sexy and no bullsh*t.

- The story itself (and the ending: spoilers alert) was very well crafted and thought through. At first, I was hesitant about the way Alice was put on a platform and yet the reader didn’t know who she was, but that becomes clear the more you read on. You guess it before Joan tells you. Equally, I liked the flash fiction - esque use of memory and image. You get to really take part in Joan’s past and live it in the present moment. Every little detail adds up to the climax (no pun intended) and we understand who the ‘you’ really is. FYI: It’s not the reader.

- The feminist angle (I’m a sucker for a ‘good for her’ moment). She really said f*ck men and I loved it. We get this gentle build up of more and more men in her life knocking her down, and in one moment she manages to take back control. It’s a novel for any woman who wants to know that they can do it, no matter what dickhead has made them cry and wonder what’s wrong with me? Honey, it’s not you - it’s him. Everytime. Trust.

...However, what let it down that one star for me was the structure. I felt that the memories became a bit muddled and the story became confused (although this could reflect Joan’s chaotic, traumatic psyche)? Likewise, Big Sky never had a proper name and I didn’t quite understand that - was it symbolic? Even though he was the biggest dick ever? Who knows?

Also I wish Taddeo could have explored the scene that draws everyone in at the beginning with a bit more visceral tangibility. I wanted even dirtier descriptions than animal blood. But that’s just me and my need for the real. Finally, the middle did lag at points with Eleanor coming to kill her - how did she know where she was? It was a bit too Hollywood for me, but I understand why it was needed.

Overall, a very exciting read and I hope everyone else is anticipating Joan in June 2021. Meet the Animal. She is depraved.