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rowanhill's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Unlikely Animals has been popping up in my recommendations for a while now and I am so glad I finally took the plunge! This quirky book is a conceptual menagerie that will make you feel all of the emotions…ALL OF THEM. Though the characters in this story are dealing with tragedy in its many forms, their journey shows how life in all of its complexity still moves forward. It is funny, sad, clever and everything in between. This is a must read for anyone who loves literary fiction and doesn’t mind some speculative elements tossed in.
The small town of Everton, New Hampshire rarely sees miracles. That is, not until Emma Starling was born with a gift for healing. With her eyes set on becoming a doctor and a desire to leave her complicated life in New Hampshire behind, Emma left for California with no intention of coming back. But when Emma’s father, Clive, has been diagnosed with a terminal, degenerative brain disease that is causing him to hallucinate and strike up a close friendship with the ghost of naturalist Ernest Harold Baynes. Things haven’t gone so well for Emma either and what should have been a triumphant return is overshadowed by a crushing truth: the gift of healing is gone. To top it all off, Emma’s best friend from High School has gone missing. But despite all of this hardship, Emma still has the fine folk of Maple Street Cemetery cheering her on.
The story is told through a Greek chorus of ghosts residing in Maple Street Cemetery. Being omniscient of all things in Everton, the mystery that was Emma’s life in California is very quickly revealed. Usually, it would bother me how quickly the information is divulged, but there is so much more to this story that it is almost a necessity. Despite having an omniscient narrator, Hartnett has still found a way to allow the story to gradually unfold and keep the reader guessing. The gossipy ghosts also have such a charming and sincere narrative voice that it is easy to get sucked in and feel like part of their group. I could see how the narrative style could be off-putting to some readers, but I quickly grew to like it.
What really makes this a stand out novel for me was that it felt true in a way that’s hard to express. Though faced with tragedy and struggle, the characters in this novel still feel like they are really living. There are still moments of joy, triumph, and comedy even while Clive’s condition deteriorates and Emma struggles to find her place after losing something that has always defined her and made her special. The affirmation and support the ghosts give to all of these experiences is a really beautiful and masterful touch that rounds out the whole experience.
The small town of Everton, New Hampshire rarely sees miracles. That is, not until Emma Starling was born with a gift for healing. With her eyes set on becoming a doctor and a desire to leave her complicated life in New Hampshire behind, Emma left for California with no intention of coming back. But when Emma’s father, Clive, has been diagnosed with a terminal, degenerative brain disease that is causing him to hallucinate and strike up a close friendship with the ghost of naturalist Ernest Harold Baynes. Things haven’t gone so well for Emma either and what should have been a triumphant return is overshadowed by a crushing truth: the gift of healing is gone. To top it all off, Emma’s best friend from High School has gone missing. But despite all of this hardship, Emma still has the fine folk of Maple Street Cemetery cheering her on.
The story is told through a Greek chorus of ghosts residing in Maple Street Cemetery. Being omniscient of all things in Everton, the mystery that was Emma’s life in California is very quickly revealed. Usually, it would bother me how quickly the information is divulged, but there is so much more to this story that it is almost a necessity. Despite having an omniscient narrator, Hartnett has still found a way to allow the story to gradually unfold and keep the reader guessing. The gossipy ghosts also have such a charming and sincere narrative voice that it is easy to get sucked in and feel like part of their group. I could see how the narrative style could be off-putting to some readers, but I quickly grew to like it.
What really makes this a stand out novel for me was that it felt true in a way that’s hard to express. Though faced with tragedy and struggle, the characters in this novel still feel like they are really living. There are still moments of joy, triumph, and comedy even while Clive’s condition deteriorates and Emma struggles to find her place after losing something that has always defined her and made her special. The affirmation and support the ghosts give to all of these experiences is a really beautiful and masterful touch that rounds out the whole experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, and Death
Minor: Kidnapping, Child death, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
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