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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368 pages

Average rating: 6.91

34 RATINGS

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3 REVIEWS

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Community Reviews

MAS
Jan 12, 2024
6/10 stars
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.
rshormsby
Jun 21, 2023
8/10 stars
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.
Abbieo
Jun 21, 2022
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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