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israology's review against another edition
4.75
“Animal Spirit” leaves you walking away saying “huh”. I fucking loved it. Marciano captured different peoples and their thinking so masterfully. I got pretty upset when some stories ended which is how I knew I was in love. It is a year later and I have been thinking about the collection even know.
This was the first story collection I read. I care very little for story collections and never finished a single story if I tried. But with “Animal Spirit”, I walked away from every story like walking away from a hearty meal. Fulfilling. I realized I was reading only after there were no lines left. An incredible feat.
It is obvious I’m in love with the piece.
This was the first story collection I read. I care very little for story collections and never finished a single story if I tried. But with “Animal Spirit”, I walked away from every story like walking away from a hearty meal. Fulfilling. I realized I was reading only after there were no lines left. An incredible feat.
It is obvious I’m in love with the piece.
juliwi's review against another edition
5.0
I adore short story collections, especially ones like Animal Spirit that seem bound together by specific themes. Each story builds on the next, perhaps not with the same characters, but by developing a feeling or a message, until, by the end of the collection it is almost a rallying cry. Thanks to Knopf Doubleday and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The title story of Animal Spirit concerns a group of friends, made up of two couples, who go on a holiday together, where tensions slowly rise. All of this is alleviated when a little dog finds its way to them. Being able to care for something, almost selflessly, allows them to put their other worries and concerns to the side for a moment, to be better. In 'Terrible Things Could Happen to Us' Marciano shows us the end of a relationship from the perspectives of multiple people involved. Through all the perspectives the true consequences of such a fall out. In 'The Girl' a young woman, who remains nameless, escapes to the circus, before escaping once again. It's a story of someone in the search for freedom and home. In each story animal imagery comes to the fore to help highlight unspoken themes. In 'There Might Be Blood' aggressive seagulls and swooping falcons battle it out as a woman considers her marriage and life. In 'The Girl' a giant albino python is both constrictive and liberating.
Marciano's stories stuck with me for a long time after I finished Animal Spirit, in a large part because she so effortlessly creates moments that shine. A mother and her daughters, waiting at the dinner table for her boyfriend to show up. A middle-aged woman in an Italian palazzo. A girl writhed in snakes in a circus tent. These images came across so strongly that sometimes they almost overpowered the rest of the stories. But all the stories have strong themes as well, that mostly come through by the end. I will definitely be looking out for future stories and collections by Francesca Marciano.
I greatly enjoyed reading Animal Spirit, which contains nicely crafted stories about conflicts and, hopefully, growth.
The title story of Animal Spirit concerns a group of friends, made up of two couples, who go on a holiday together, where tensions slowly rise. All of this is alleviated when a little dog finds its way to them. Being able to care for something, almost selflessly, allows them to put their other worries and concerns to the side for a moment, to be better. In 'Terrible Things Could Happen to Us' Marciano shows us the end of a relationship from the perspectives of multiple people involved. Through all the perspectives the true consequences of such a fall out. In 'The Girl' a young woman, who remains nameless, escapes to the circus, before escaping once again. It's a story of someone in the search for freedom and home. In each story animal imagery comes to the fore to help highlight unspoken themes. In 'There Might Be Blood' aggressive seagulls and swooping falcons battle it out as a woman considers her marriage and life. In 'The Girl' a giant albino python is both constrictive and liberating.
Marciano's stories stuck with me for a long time after I finished Animal Spirit, in a large part because she so effortlessly creates moments that shine. A mother and her daughters, waiting at the dinner table for her boyfriend to show up. A middle-aged woman in an Italian palazzo. A girl writhed in snakes in a circus tent. These images came across so strongly that sometimes they almost overpowered the rest of the stories. But all the stories have strong themes as well, that mostly come through by the end. I will definitely be looking out for future stories and collections by Francesca Marciano.
I greatly enjoyed reading Animal Spirit, which contains nicely crafted stories about conflicts and, hopefully, growth.
monikasbookblog's review against another edition
4.0
Animal Spirit is a collection of 6 short stories. Marciano’s characters are imperfect and real, unlike characters written for fictional purposes, they are flawed and visceral. The emotional parts are brilliantly imagined with animal characteristics. These are short stories, so don’t expect a definite start and end point. They make the reader think and feel!! The synopsis may make this sound like a magical realism story, but it really isn’t which was a disappointment for me, because I love realism stories/novels. I have to check out more of Marciano’s works
Thank you Pantheon/Double day books and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thank you Pantheon/Double day books and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
adogmomsbookishlife's review against another edition
3.0
I had varying responses to each of these stories. A few I was not a big fan of and a couple others I really enjoyed. I was leaning towards a two star rating for this book until I read the last story. I believe the biggest problem for me is that I was expecting a lot more of a tie in with animals and how we are connected to them. In my opinion, the title of this book and the description of what it contains is a little deceiving.
jo_crescent's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Well written & absorbing stories. Interesting characters in complex transitional situations
sawyerbell's review against another edition
3.0
This was a solid collection of stories, filled with relatable characters facing relatable dilemmas. I enjoyed the international settings, the author's descriptive powers and the compelling nature of the conflict each character is working through. In places, these stories felt a little unfinished and the prose a little unpolished so it wasn't my favourite book from Marciano. I'd still recommend it for those who like realistic short stories without the kind of magical realism that is prevalent in so many short story collections today.
jennaemeyers's review against another edition
5.0
This is the short story collection I have been looking for all year. Love.
bellwetherdays's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0