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devin_raquel's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Dark, gritty, emotional, “Animals Eat Each Other” is an expose on obsession and the power dynamics of a toxic relationship.
Nash did an incredible job being consistent in her themes, but the same wasn’t extended to her characters. Frances and Matt felt flat, Jenny and Sam were empty, and Lilith felt disconnected from the book despite being the narrator.
The imagery is detailed and vulgar, from drug use to hardcore sex. The grunginess bled through the pages, and at times I felt dirty while reading. Lilith’s self-hated and hopelessness were palpable from the very first page.
An interesting but inessential read, so check content warnings before picking this novel up.
QUOTE: “It is instinctual to live in the dark.”
Nash did an incredible job being consistent in her themes, but the same wasn’t extended to her characters. Frances and Matt felt flat, Jenny and Sam were empty, and Lilith felt disconnected from the book despite being the narrator.
The imagery is detailed and vulgar, from drug use to hardcore sex. The grunginess bled through the pages, and at times I felt dirty while reading. Lilith’s self-hated and hopelessness were palpable from the very first page.
An interesting but inessential read, so check content warnings before picking this novel up.
QUOTE: “It is instinctual to live in the dark.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse and Blood
taliatalksbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
1.0
Animals Eat Each Other by Elle Nash was fast paced and compelling, though incredibly cruel and traumatic with each page turn. I was surprised by the lack of regard the narrator has for herself, and though this is regarded as a queer novel, it didn’t feel particularly queer. Instead, it came across (at least to me) as misogynistic and harmful to the queer community. While I think talking about queer relationships is important, there is also an importance regarding speaking about HEALTHY queer relationships. Additionally, this was more of an explicit BDSM enslavement than it was a book promoting queer relationships. While I’m not shaming anyone for their sexual preferences, it’s clear that the narrator had other issues that kept her tied to this unhealthy and frankly concerning couple throughout the 121 pages of this novel. Additionally, there wasn’t a much of a plot, rather it was a recounting of explicit moments shared between characters perpetuating a cycle of abuse. While I found it quick to read, and well written, I didn’t find the story, or explicit scenes enjoyable, even from a literary perspective. I am a firm believer in literary texts urging readers to feel discomfort and confront the reasons why they were uncomfortable, but this doesn’t ask us to confront anything in a positive way. While I respect the effort all authors pour into their novels, this one made me incredibly uncomfortable, and not in a good way. I don’t feel as though this novel made the leap from bad situation, to positive lesson/moral most literary works set out to accomplish, and though I think it had the potential, I just can’t recommend a book that doesn’t have a greater payoff to its suffering. While I don’t believe every story needs to have a positive end, I think that this story needed something more to make up for the gross abuse and misogyny of the characters who repeatedly and unapologetically use the narrator every chance they get (INCLUDING the other female characters). 2/10 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Addiction, Cursing, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Sexual content, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
books_r_cool's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
A slightly depraved story about obsession and the self destruction that often accompanies it. I think the exploration of that is so interesting and I was essentially hooked on the relationships the main character had, how they progressed and how she was on a path of destroying herself for something she (and the reader) don’t even know what.
I would recommend this book to people who like reading stories about unhinged, sad women, but it is a little dark so read the cws first.
I would recommend this book to people who like reading stories about unhinged, sad women, but it is a little dark so read the cws first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Addiction, Incest, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
pleasedaspunch's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug use
backpackfullofbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
“Pain is closer to love than indifference right?”
~
A unnamed young woman is bored with life in her hometown but has no motivation to leave. She enters into a variety of sexual relationships, including one with a previously established couple. The only emotion she seems to feel for any of these people is need, she is manipulative in the extreme and is constantly searching for a novel sensation, she only really wants someone when she can’t have them.
As these relationships start to wind down and then disintegrate she commits to more and more self destructive behaviour.
~
So I read this one for a book club and it isn’t something I would have chosen by myself. Even with that said, I really didn’t enjoy reading it.
I thought from the description that it would explore polyamory in a way that shows how it can be both functional or dysfunctional (like all relationships). However this books characters are in a state of complete dysfunction, all the relationships are unhealthy and manipulative (often verging into abusive) and there seems to be no consent discussions at all, which I understand from the book club discussion is generally an important part of polyamory.
I may be skewed against this book as I don’t like reading about characters that are in self destruct mode, which the main character definitely is, and as the book is from her perspective I found it even harder to read. Maybe if this interests you you’ll like this book 🤷♀️
Wouldn’t have finished it without the book club.
~
I recommend this book if you like reading about true dysfunction and self destructive tendencies (I guess).
~
A unnamed young woman is bored with life in her hometown but has no motivation to leave. She enters into a variety of sexual relationships, including one with a previously established couple. The only emotion she seems to feel for any of these people is need, she is manipulative in the extreme and is constantly searching for a novel sensation, she only really wants someone when she can’t have them.
As these relationships start to wind down and then disintegrate she commits to more and more self destructive behaviour.
~
So I read this one for a book club and it isn’t something I would have chosen by myself. Even with that said, I really didn’t enjoy reading it.
I thought from the description that it would explore polyamory in a way that shows how it can be both functional or dysfunctional (like all relationships). However this books characters are in a state of complete dysfunction, all the relationships are unhealthy and manipulative (often verging into abusive) and there seems to be no consent discussions at all, which I understand from the book club discussion is generally an important part of polyamory.
I may be skewed against this book as I don’t like reading about characters that are in self destruct mode, which the main character definitely is, and as the book is from her perspective I found it even harder to read. Maybe if this interests you you’ll like this book 🤷♀️
Wouldn’t have finished it without the book club.
~
I recommend this book if you like reading about true dysfunction and self destructive tendencies (I guess).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Addiction, Self harm, and Violence
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