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redwrapped's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Animal Spirit is such a gorgeous, clear-eyed portrayal of the complexities of the human experience, and in each story, these multitudes of feelings and schemes and plans for the future become tied in with the freedom and simplicity of animals. Animals, and especially birds, are used to refer to inner strength and a return to wildness that's been lost from the human characters.
I adore story collections set in a very specific place, where the setting almost becomes another character or the story itself, not a backdrop used for convenience. Setting many of the stories in Rome or the characters having to go back home to Rome was actually sort of intimate, due to the respect and warmth toward the setting. And using animals as a recurring symbol? That is my Achilles heel.
My favorite stories were "The Girl" and "Indian Land". Those two just really delivered gutpunches and I was--but I wasn't--expecting either of their ends. The characterization and the usage of setting was phenomenal and succinct. Pretty much every single story was a 4 or a 4.5 star story, but the one that felt unfinished was "There Might Be Blood". It was also good, but it felt like it was missing a couple of pages of development or resolution.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pantheon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
litpicks's review against another edition
4.0
I loved her last collection so much. Glad to have read this one too!
sfetzer's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really solid short story collection by an author with an interesting narrative voice. Longer review later.
linnea's review against another edition
1.0
⭐.5/5. Rounded down to a 1.
Honestly, I should have DNF:ed this one, so I feel a bit bad giving it such a bad rating when I know there are people out there who would really enjoy these stories, but hear me out.
This was the synopsis Goodreads provided the book:
Centered in Rome but transporting us into worlds as varied and alluring as they are emotionally real, Francesca Marciano's stories paint landscapes that are populated--vividly, hauntingly--by animals: from violent seagulls and starlings circling the evening sky in exhilarating formation to magical snakes and a tiny dog on the side of a deserted road.
In unforgettable, cinematic frames, events unfold, especially in the lives of women. An affair ends painfully at a dinner table, an actress's past comes crashing down on her during an audition, an unhappy wife seeks respite in a historic palazzo sublet. Two starkly different couples imagine parenthood during a Greek island holiday and a young girl returns from rehab, deciding to set out anew with a traveling circus. A man in crisis draws his ex-lover deep into the New Mexico desert.
With spellbinding clarity, the six masterly stories in Animal Spirit inhabit the minds and hearts of Marciano's characters. They chronicle deeply human moments of realization and recognition, indelible instants of irrevocable change--epiphanies sometimes sparked by our connection with animals and the primal power they show us.
Given the title of the book and this synopsis, I felt a bit cheated when only half of the stories actually contained animals. I thought the stories were going to be a bit more gritty whilst exploring the animal instinct in humans, and I was a bit disappointed when that wasn’t the case. This, however, wasn’t the biggest issue I had with these stories.
The thing is, I was just so bored throughout the whole thing. Every time I started a new story, I was waiting for something to hook and reel me in, but nothing ever did. The Girl, Indian Land and The Callback had me a bit in the beginning, but it wore off pretty quickly, which was a shame. I also didn’t connect with the writing. Somehow it managed to be descriptive without evoking an atmospheric setting for me, which is something I highly value in books.
The few things I did like weren't worth dragging myself through the rest, unfortunately.
Honestly, I should have DNF:ed this one, so I feel a bit bad giving it such a bad rating when I know there are people out there who would really enjoy these stories, but hear me out.
This was the synopsis Goodreads provided the book:
Centered in Rome but transporting us into worlds as varied and alluring as they are emotionally real, Francesca Marciano's stories paint landscapes that are populated--vividly, hauntingly--by animals: from violent seagulls and starlings circling the evening sky in exhilarating formation to magical snakes and a tiny dog on the side of a deserted road.
In unforgettable, cinematic frames, events unfold, especially in the lives of women. An affair ends painfully at a dinner table, an actress's past comes crashing down on her during an audition, an unhappy wife seeks respite in a historic palazzo sublet. Two starkly different couples imagine parenthood during a Greek island holiday and a young girl returns from rehab, deciding to set out anew with a traveling circus. A man in crisis draws his ex-lover deep into the New Mexico desert.
With spellbinding clarity, the six masterly stories in Animal Spirit inhabit the minds and hearts of Marciano's characters. They chronicle deeply human moments of realization and recognition, indelible instants of irrevocable change--epiphanies sometimes sparked by our connection with animals and the primal power they show us.
Given the title of the book and this synopsis, I felt a bit cheated when only half of the stories actually contained animals. I thought the stories were going to be a bit more gritty whilst exploring the animal instinct in humans, and I was a bit disappointed when that wasn’t the case. This, however, wasn’t the biggest issue I had with these stories.
The thing is, I was just so bored throughout the whole thing. Every time I started a new story, I was waiting for something to hook and reel me in, but nothing ever did. The Girl, Indian Land and The Callback had me a bit in the beginning, but it wore off pretty quickly, which was a shame. I also didn’t connect with the writing. Somehow it managed to be descriptive without evoking an atmospheric setting for me, which is something I highly value in books.
The few things I did like weren't worth dragging myself through the rest, unfortunately.
sarahc3319's review against another edition
3.0
Solid stories with animal themes that were subtle - no hit you with zoos stuff here. I actually loved the circus one, and the one in Greece with Hermes the dog. Easy to read.
adogmomsbookishlife's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
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.
monikasbookblog's review
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.
shannonrose's review
5.0
Absolutely captivating in a subtle & sublime way. Marciano is a master.
I didn't want to put this book down; nor did I want any of her stories to end.
I stayed up way too late (Early?) to finish this new collection.
I didn't want to put this book down; nor did I want any of her stories to end.
I stayed up way too late (Early?) to finish this new collection.
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