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seawarrior's review against another edition
5.0
The Memory of Animals is a novel both terrifying and serene. It is gripping as a character study and a horror story of apocalyptic proportions, one with a central argument that flows throughout the novel before its answer drowns with despair: is it greater to live in captivity, or to die in unlimited freedom? The novel is likely an indirect response to the pandemic we have all lived through, and its central themes are heightened by our knowledge of the doom promised by denial of the seriousness of disease, resistance to quarantine, vaccine hesitancy, and delayed government response. Yet these themes are never too overt, which allows us to get lost inside Neffy's memories, especially the fierce love and life-altering tragedy she endured in an idyllic place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Confinement
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Pregnancy
cc_shelflove's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I hate when you finish a book and say, “Well that’s x amount of hours of my life that I won’t get back.” 😅 I really thought this would be interesting based on the first chapter. Neffy arrived to a medical laboratory, Vaccine Bio-Pharm, to partake in an experimental vaccine trial during a global pandemic. The rest of the book really went off the rails, though. Instead of just focusing on the present timeline and the strangers holed up in the lab, the author decided to include Neffy’s random ass letters addressed to an octopus. That’s not all! Neffy also used a device to “Revisit” her memories, and I unfortunately had to read through those, too. The book was two storylines too many, as Neffy’s letters and memories did not contribute to the overall plot at all. And the ending? So terrible it’s not even funny—entirely abrupt and rushed. I would like to know who reviewed this woman’s outline and thought it was cohesive? 😅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Confinement, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Blood and Car accident
ruthjenkins's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Violence
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