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jillmarlo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book was kind of underwhelming overall. When I originally read a synopsis for this book, I thought the post apocalypse aspect of it would be much more apparent and therefore this book would be much more sci-fi, but I realize now that the whole virus thing is really just an excuse to cram a bunch of characters together to create interpersonal conflict and provide a basis for why this girl can go down memory lane so much. It was much more character driven and reflective than I usually read. It wasn’t bad necessarily there was just some stuff that wasn’t super well done in my opinion. Especially the ending was just so weird. Like there’s this huge build up to realizing that the other people in the hospital locked the other participants in their rooms and sentenced them to death and then it was immediately moved past. Also the characters were all just…weird. Like Piper and Rachel and Yahiko would fly off the rails at a moments notice and fight with each other. Rachel acted like a child sometimes, but then acted normal at others. Piper is actually insane and thinks the army is coming for her and is trying to get Neffy to sleep with Leon in order to make more babies which makes zero sense. And then Neffy ends up having a baby anyways?? Also the whole octopus thing felt like it was supposed to be super impactful and a massive message on freedom and the balance between having freedom, but being exposed to dangers because of those freedoms, but it just seemed so silly that this girl keeps getting fired from all of her jobs. Eh I don’t know it was just like of underwhelming in many aspects.
booklovingcatmom's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty
atenderwitch's review against another edition
I've seen a lot of reviewers touch on the disconnect of the memory machine in this book and want to argue that there was another out of place bit of science fiction in this book -- the experimental growing of organs inside of a womb???
motherofladybirds's review against another edition
2.0
This is a pandemic book. That did not put me off. It has a lot of flashbacks, that did not put me off. I loved the oct0pus facts. I found the pacing very slow and I found it hard to engage with the characters. I prefer a bit more action, although I understand this is a literary novel. Not for me.
kokobean_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gelliestar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
wayward's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
thebobsphere's review against another edition
4.0
I am a huge fan of Claire Fuller’s books. I love the way she drops hints and clues in her novels and slowly reveals her character’s backstories. I am noticing that with each book Claire Fuller manages to take this techniques to new levels.
The Memory of Animals is, to a certain extent. a science-fiction novel. The main protagonist Neffy enrols herself to test out a vaccination in order to combat a virus that is spreading (it’s not COVID-19) in the meantime a new strain of the virus has developed and is causing havoc, making the hospital staff depart and leave the test subjects to their own devices.
One of the characters creates a method for visiting the past called revisiting and Neffy responds well to it and through her revisits, we readers get a full picture of her backstory and the reason why she decided to test the vaccine. Not to give much away but it involves octopuses.
The Memory of Animals is about the trauma that memory can dredge up. Neffy’s past consists of decisions which affect her present state. In a way she’s trying to confront it but it’s the actual revisits help her overcome her actions.
Due to the fact that the novel consists of people trapped in a building it’s also about survival. As the COVID-19 pandemic is now a thing of the past, I could not help feeling a bit uncomfortable reading those sections as I’m still not 100% over the anxiety lockdown brought to me. Obviously that’s just me though.
The Memory of Animals is probably, Claire Fuller’s most layered book to date. It also contains her most memorable characters. I may be biased but I do think it’s another great novel from a consistently interesting author.
The Memory of Animals is, to a certain extent. a science-fiction novel. The main protagonist Neffy enrols herself to test out a vaccination in order to combat a virus that is spreading (it’s not COVID-19) in the meantime a new strain of the virus has developed and is causing havoc, making the hospital staff depart and leave the test subjects to their own devices.
One of the characters creates a method for visiting the past called revisiting and Neffy responds well to it and through her revisits, we readers get a full picture of her backstory and the reason why she decided to test the vaccine. Not to give much away but it involves octopuses.
The Memory of Animals is about the trauma that memory can dredge up. Neffy’s past consists of decisions which affect her present state. In a way she’s trying to confront it but it’s the actual revisits help her overcome her actions.
Due to the fact that the novel consists of people trapped in a building it’s also about survival. As the COVID-19 pandemic is now a thing of the past, I could not help feeling a bit uncomfortable reading those sections as I’m still not 100% over the anxiety lockdown brought to me. Obviously that’s just me though.
The Memory of Animals is probably, Claire Fuller’s most layered book to date. It also contains her most memorable characters. I may be biased but I do think it’s another great novel from a consistently interesting author.
readwith_adele's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The Memory of Animals was weird and slightly snoozy if I’m being honest. The beginning held promise but fell off in the middle. There’s a pandemic dystopian era where the characters are test subjects for a vaccine.
There’s a lot of octopus facts, as the main character was once a marine biologist. There is also weird scenes where the main character goes into a state of revisiting the past, done through a process of vaccines, but I felt they didn’t add to the story and therefore made them useless. She writes letters to one octopus throughout the entire book that, while interesting, was strange.
2.5 stars - which is such a shame because this cover is beautiful
There’s a lot of octopus facts, as the main character was once a marine biologist. There is also weird scenes where the main character goes into a state of revisiting the past, done through a process of vaccines, but I felt they didn’t add to the story and therefore made them useless. She writes letters to one octopus throughout the entire book that, while interesting, was strange.
2.5 stars - which is such a shame because this cover is beautiful