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gcanning's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Fire/Fire injury
buud_w0rm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Some parts of the mind of a wild cat felt too human I.e. how did it have a dream about Disney? Did it really learn all of those details from hikers? And how did it understand the inside of a car before ever seeing one? Nitpicks aside, it felt like a deeply insightful poem with plot.The ending made me want to reach into the cover to find out what happened next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Animal death
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Death of parent, Cursing, and Grief
chelseacrystal's review against another edition
4.5
Wow. Unbelievably impactful for such a short book. Sometimes funny and sometimes heart wrenching. I really had no idea what to expect but man, I’m absolutely blown away. It’s such a brilliant critique of the world and capitalism and hatred. Very well executed.
(Definitely not a book for everyone though)
(Definitely not a book for everyone though)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Blood
dugfromthedirt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I loved this so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
woolerys's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 3/5
Characters - 4/5
Setting - 5/5
TOTAL: 4.25
The strength of this book is the poetry. I am kind of biased against stories told in free verse after reading too many in a row as an adolescent, so the fact that I liked that aspect of it is noteworthy. Here’s a tiny excerpt that made me laugh, as an example:
where there are therapists running around
everywhere like deer and I can just find one and
catch it and pin it down
store it somewhere safe and visit it once a week
I thought the first half or so was strongest, and felt less compelled by the subplot with "little Slaughter," but to each their own.
I thought the first half or so was strongest, and felt less compelled by the subplot with "little Slaughter," but to each their own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
mhh831666's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this is PERFECTION. the cougar is so damn endearing and eloquent and believable as a storyteller despite being unable to express himself with words. I highlighted entire chapters at a time (granted the chapters were quite brief but still). also made me hate humans even more than usual but they for sure deserve it (in this book and irl tbh). long live big cats everywhere!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Death of parent, Classism, Blood, Violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Grief, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, Gore, and Sexual content
krisowa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
catriona176's review
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A fast paced and lyrical elegy told from the perspective of an anonymous big cat struggling to stay alive in a drought ridden California
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
readingpicnic's review against another edition
4.0
Very unique and quick read. I knew it would be good with blurbs from Catherine Lacey and Melissa Broder. I am also in love with a mountain Lion, Melissa.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Classism
alligatortoast's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was an interesting read for sure, with a very unique premise and writing style. The book is from the perspective of a mountain lion, with long run on sentences with no punctuation throughout the entire novel. There's no paragraphs, so you'll be flying through the pages; you could easily finish this book in one sitting. I will say though, the description of this book is wildly misleading. The blurb describes the main character as a "queer" mountain lion and leads you to believe this will be a main theme of the book, but it simply isn't. The only things queer about it are a scene where the lion witnesses two men having sex in a cave, or as he calls it, "connecting." He then reflects on a male mountain lion from his past that he would have liked to "connect" with in this way. Also later in the book he is taken in by a girl who names him "Heckit" and refers to him as "her" and "goddess", even after discovering he's male. The lion just goes with it, but I never read it as him exploring his gender identity. So labeling this as a queer or lgbtqia+ story seems like a stretch and then some.
Besides that, I really enjoyed the story for what it was. It was an ambitious undertaking, and I think in some ways it succeeded, but it also left much to be desired. It has some good commentary on homelessness, human nature, and other topics, but it never gets too deep or preachy. It's funny, it's unique, and it's sad. If you're looking for a happy book, this is not it. Without spoiling anything, you find out at the end of the book what the title means. And once you do it seems obvious.
Overall, it was a fast, fun read. One that I would pick up again for sure. I got this from the library but am considering buying it for myself when the price goes down. If you're curious about it, I say pick it up!
Besides that, I really enjoyed the story for what it was. It was an ambitious undertaking, and I think in some ways it succeeded, but it also left much to be desired. It has some good commentary on homelessness, human nature, and other topics, but it never gets too deep or preachy. It's funny, it's unique, and it's sad. If you're looking for a happy book, this is not it. Without spoiling anything,
Overall, it was a fast, fun read. One that I would pick up again for sure. I got this from the library but am considering buying it for myself when the price goes down. If you're curious about it, I say pick it up!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Excrement, Blood, Animal death, and Fire/Fire injury