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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
This is a reread for me- it’s a tragic comedy where a daughter returns home to help take care of her dying father (having lied about going to med school). The story unfolds into a coming of age, missing persons case, an examination of the opioid epidemic, a real life doctor doolittle, a fifth grade musical, and small town collective story. Not to mention ghosts from the town graveyard yard act as Greek chorus. It sounds like a lot of story lines and it is, but Harntnett weaves them together seamlessly. You root for everyone - even when their flaws are out in the open. This is for lovers of quirky family and community stories.
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I found Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett on my TBR list, I thought it seemed a bit too cheery for my taste and I couldn't remember why I had bought it. Then I realised it was narrated by a cemetery full of dead people and it suddenly made more sense. In a small town in New Hampshire where the inhabitants are watched over by their dearly departed dead, the Starling family has started to fall apart. Emma Starling has returned home having dropped out of medical school only to find out that her best friend is missing, her brother is an addict, her father is dying, and her mother is having an affair with her father's doctor.
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Honestly, I don't think there is much of a novel story to this book - it's a bog standard small town mystery with some feel good vibes - but I quite enjoyed reading it anyway. The narrative voice of the ghostly New Hampshire residents is humorous, and I liked the insight into naturalist, Ernest Harold Baynes, whose ghost haunts Emma's father in a hallucination only he can see. (Baynes used to have a pet fox, which was a childhood dream of mine and, truthfully, not one I've quite relinquished.)
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Unfortunately, while the story starts strong, it quickly descends into an overlong spiel bursting with implausible events, and culminates in an ending that I didn't really care about. In spite of its obvious flaws, I can't really bring myself to be too negative - Unlikely Animals is charming, quirky and relatively amusing, and at least it has some character, which makes a nice change compared to some of the disappointments I've picked up recently.
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Would I read it again? No. Did I hate it? Also no, so I guess that's a win.
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Honestly, I don't think there is much of a novel story to this book - it's a bog standard small town mystery with some feel good vibes - but I quite enjoyed reading it anyway. The narrative voice of the ghostly New Hampshire residents is humorous, and I liked the insight into naturalist, Ernest Harold Baynes, whose ghost haunts Emma's father in a hallucination only he can see. (Baynes used to have a pet fox, which was a childhood dream of mine and, truthfully, not one I've quite relinquished.)
📚
Unfortunately, while the story starts strong, it quickly descends into an overlong spiel bursting with implausible events, and culminates in an ending that I didn't really care about. In spite of its obvious flaws, I can't really bring myself to be too negative - Unlikely Animals is charming, quirky and relatively amusing, and at least it has some character, which makes a nice change compared to some of the disappointments I've picked up recently.
📚
Would I read it again? No. Did I hate it? Also no, so I guess that's a win.
📚
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Dementia, Death of parent
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Some seriousness and a lot of quirkiness makes this book an original favorite.
A poetry professor, Clive Starling, has a brain disease and after seeing invisible animals in his classroom, he is asked to step down. His daughter, Emma, who was going to college in California, drove home to New Hampshire to help out. When she was a baby, the midwife instantly revealed she was gifted; a healer. The woman’s sciatica disappeared with the baby’s hands. Emma didn’t especially use any special powers during the years but it was her parents hope, that she would do something to reverse her father’s illness.
When I first looked at this book, I saw a cover with happy animals on the outside and wondered what the hype was about. I read the first page and I was instantly captivated by the characters along with the ghosts and invisible animals. I learned a few things. “Hallucinations of small animals or children are common in people who have types of dementia.” My favorite part was the last 100 pages with an ending that worked well. It’s impressive how the author was able to put all the pieces together to make this a one-of-a-kind.
A poetry professor, Clive Starling, has a brain disease and after seeing invisible animals in his classroom, he is asked to step down. His daughter, Emma, who was going to college in California, drove home to New Hampshire to help out. When she was a baby, the midwife instantly revealed she was gifted; a healer. The woman’s sciatica disappeared with the baby’s hands. Emma didn’t especially use any special powers during the years but it was her parents hope, that she would do something to reverse her father’s illness.
When I first looked at this book, I saw a cover with happy animals on the outside and wondered what the hype was about. I read the first page and I was instantly captivated by the characters along with the ghosts and invisible animals. I learned a few things. “Hallucinations of small animals or children are common in people who have types of dementia.” My favorite part was the last 100 pages with an ending that worked well. It’s impressive how the author was able to put all the pieces together to make this a one-of-a-kind.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is incredibly charming. I loved all the characters. This entire atmosphere of this story seems feels so comforting, even when bad things happen. The ghostly narrators were a great addition, I liked their interjections. I felt that all the characters were very human and respected. I felt that the author handled her discussion of the opioid epidemic and its impacts respectfully. The inclusion of Harold Bynes and his writings was very fun. The author's love for the characters and the place shines through.
Hallmark-esque plot, but great story nonetheless.
Hallmark-esque plot, but great story nonetheless.
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
The photos were a nice touch. Flawed characters, but not unlikable ones. I found myself rooting for all of them.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
Reminded me a bit of Remarkably Bright Creatures. This was an audiobook listen. I like the perspective the book was written from. Sweet, quirky, and feel good.