Animal: A Novel
Joan has spent a lifetime enduring the cruelties of men. But when one of them commits a shocking act of violence in front of her, she flees New York City in search of Alice, the only person alive who can help her make sense of her past. In the sweltering hills above Los Angeles, Joan unravels the horrific event she witnessed as a child—that has haunted her every waking moment—while forging the power to finally strike back.
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Community Reviews
This book continues to haunt me, weeks after I put it down. The protagonist is someone unhinged, yet so relatable. If you are a woman with feelings, you cannot help but find a piece of yourself in this book. There are some dark moments in these pages, but they makes you feel something so primal - so ANIMAL - that I understand why this book is named as such. I am officially obsessed with this author!
i think about this book at least once a month since finishing it. the character development, the absolute insane sh*t show of her inner thoughts had me ripping through this book and wanting more. Highly recommend if you like self-loathing protagonists and can relate to having a wild inner monologue.
This isn’t a book for everyone.
It’s a dark, complex story that will have you feeling a mix of emotions. Half the time you spend hating Joan and the other half having sympathy for her. Which shows how complex she is. It was difficult to get through at times. The first half felt a little bit like rambling back and forth. It wasn’t until about half the book that I felt the plot moving. The book spent a lot of time building up Alice and the revelation felt a bit anticlimactic. I enjoyed reading overall, but I had to put down a few times with how graphic the scenes were.
It’s a dark, complex story that will have you feeling a mix of emotions. Half the time you spend hating Joan and the other half having sympathy for her. Which shows how complex she is. It was difficult to get through at times. The first half felt a little bit like rambling back and forth. It wasn’t until about half the book that I felt the plot moving. The book spent a lot of time building up Alice and the revelation felt a bit anticlimactic. I enjoyed reading overall, but I had to put down a few times with how graphic the scenes were.
What a peculiar story and sad story. I know we are supposed to like the protagonist, Joan, but I couldn't help screaming in my head "YOU NEED THERAPY!"
She never gets therapy.
She never gets therapy.
THIS!! I’m obsessed with the protagonist. Moral ambiguity at its finest. A raw piercing inspection of trauma. The idea of “rape” as expansive and beyond physical touch was like a retching. Cathartic despite its brutality and cries of pain
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