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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
The Art of Taxidermy is a novel about grief and growing up with the shadow of it. Lottie has lot her mother and has now begun collecting and "fixing" dead things. Her aunt is horrified, since taxidermy or an interest in dead things is nowhere near appropriate for a young girl in the 1960s. Her father, however, might see that there is more to her interest than just grief. Kernot shows us Lottie's growing interest while also slowly developing the world around her. Lottie makes a Aboriginal friend through whose presence both Lottie and the reader are confronted with a very different but equally traumatic loss of identity. Kernot also adds another layer of loss and grief by delving slightly into Lottie's family history as Germans, especially into her father and grandfather's stay in a detention camp during the second World War. Kernot shows us that loss and grief are all around us and it makes for a very raw reading experience at times.
Sharon Kernot's writing is beautiful. The Art of Taxidermy is full of vivid descriptions, of the vastness of the Australian landscape as well as the minute beauty of a mouse skeleton. At times the descriptions may be quite morbid, but by not hiding the blood, guts and gore, Kernot packs a much more powerful punch. Although The Art of Taxidermy could seem sensationalist, involving taxidermy and young grieving girls, it is actually a very meditative novel, which is aided by the fact that it is a verse novel. Kernot takes her time with Lottie but spares words. Acts are repeated, stubbornly, with everyone involved expecting a different outcome each time. For some readers this may be off-putting, but the way the story circled back to Lottie's grief or coping mechanism made sense to me. In the end The Art of Taxidermy was a quick read for me but an interesting one. I found myself thinking of how we look at grief, at loss, how crippled families can be by it, and how we can, maybe, move on from it.
For full review: https://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2019/09/review-art-of-taxidermy-by-sharon-kernot.html
Sharon Kernot's writing is beautiful. The Art of Taxidermy is full of vivid descriptions, of the vastness of the Australian landscape as well as the minute beauty of a mouse skeleton. At times the descriptions may be quite morbid, but by not hiding the blood, guts and gore, Kernot packs a much more powerful punch. Although The Art of Taxidermy could seem sensationalist, involving taxidermy and young grieving girls, it is actually a very meditative novel, which is aided by the fact that it is a verse novel. Kernot takes her time with Lottie but spares words. Acts are repeated, stubbornly, with everyone involved expecting a different outcome each time. For some readers this may be off-putting, but the way the story circled back to Lottie's grief or coping mechanism made sense to me. In the end The Art of Taxidermy was a quick read for me but an interesting one. I found myself thinking of how we look at grief, at loss, how crippled families can be by it, and how we can, maybe, move on from it.
For full review: https://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2019/09/review-art-of-taxidermy-by-sharon-kernot.html
Thank you to @netgalley and @text_publishing for this free e-ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review!
I read this book for my herbology exam for the #owlsreadathon2019!
The lyrical style writing was difficult to get accustomed to, but once the reading flow began, this book was incredibly difficult to put down.
Lotti is a young girl struggling with the death of her mother and in turn has taken an interest in the scientific process of death. She is determined to re-create life probably in an attempt to bring life back to those in which she has lost.
Despite there being many challenges to pursue her recreations, she perseveres and still manages to learn as much as she can about decomposition and Taxidermy.
This book was heart-wrenching as I was the same age when I lost someone as close to me as Lotti’s mom. I finally found the character I can relate to. We both grieved through science.
I loved this book immensely.
I read this book for my herbology exam for the #owlsreadathon2019!
The lyrical style writing was difficult to get accustomed to, but once the reading flow began, this book was incredibly difficult to put down.
Lotti is a young girl struggling with the death of her mother and in turn has taken an interest in the scientific process of death. She is determined to re-create life probably in an attempt to bring life back to those in which she has lost.
Despite there being many challenges to pursue her recreations, she perseveres and still manages to learn as much as she can about decomposition and Taxidermy.
This book was heart-wrenching as I was the same age when I lost someone as close to me as Lotti’s mom. I finally found the character I can relate to. We both grieved through science.
I loved this book immensely.
4.5 ⭐️
“The revival and recreation of something that has expired is an honour and a gift..”
This was such a beautiful novel. I loved how it was written and how the story progressed. I can’t even describe how it feels to read something like this, something so dark yet beautiful and meaningful. So much emotional has been put into this. Absolutely wonderful read ❤️
“The revival and recreation of something that has expired is an honour and a gift..”
This was such a beautiful novel. I loved how it was written and how the story progressed. I can’t even describe how it feels to read something like this, something so dark yet beautiful and meaningful. So much emotional has been put into this. Absolutely wonderful read ❤️
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I usually avoid poetry books, and I didn't even know this was a poetry book. I just requested it on Netgalley because the cover and blurb seemed attractive.
I'm so glad that I got to read this book, because it was beautiful, small and big at the same time. Sad, but beautiful, yes.
Full review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
Small, yet big. Cryptic, yet easy to understand. A book that made me believe that maybe I can love poetry. A small book with a big story, big emotions and revelations. Definitely worth your time, even if you're not sure you will like poetry!
I usually avoid poetry books, and I didn't even know this was a poetry book. I just requested it on Netgalley because the cover and blurb seemed attractive.
I'm so glad that I got to read this book, because it was beautiful, small and big at the same time. Sad, but beautiful, yes.
Full review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
Small, yet big. Cryptic, yet easy to understand. A book that made me believe that maybe I can love poetry. A small book with a big story, big emotions and revelations. Definitely worth your time, even if you're not sure you will like poetry!
I never would have read this book if it hadn’t come up in my book club, as I’ve never really warmed to poetry. The idea of it sounded interesting, but I was nervous about it being written in verse. But within a few pages I was captivated and couldn’t stop reading. I loved the characters, the beautiful imagery of the words, how it painted a picture as much with what the author didn’t say as with what she did. It was a stunning read from start to finish.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A beautifully written and decidedly different raw look at how we all deal with grief and loss in our own ways.
a touching verse novel about grief and taxidermy; I received a copy via Netgalley and finished it an hour later. lovely descriptive writing that gave me a newfound appreciation for taxidermy
Read it in one sitting! really enjoyed this collection, my review up on my blog - www.thebookishwiccan.wordpress.com
I’m torn on this one, it was good and the premise so interesting, but the book dragged quite a lot and was almost boring at times.