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mahitdzmare's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sean was not deranged enough
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gore, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
krispy_reading's review
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
slow-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
5.0
So much to think about after finishing this book. A lot is covered in 112 pages, it’s wild.
Thoughts of intimacy, relationships, work relations, ethics, funding, ownership, societal gender structure, climate crisis, etc. How far is too far? Does that something owe you something in return? When and where do you choose to take a step back in life and just observe?
I look forward to reading more of Lee’s books. I just finished watching an interview Books Are Magic did with Lee and I just want to know more of what they are reading, researching, and writing.
Thoughts of intimacy, relationships, work relations, ethics, funding, ownership, societal gender structure, climate crisis, etc. How far is too far? Does that something owe you something in return? When and where do you choose to take a step back in life and just observe?
I look forward to reading more of Lee’s books. I just finished watching an interview Books Are Magic did with Lee and I just want to know more of what they are reading, researching, and writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Cursing and Vomit
breadwitchery's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Animal death and Infidelity
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Vomit
booksthatburn's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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
5.0
FEED THEM SILENCE is the story of Sean, an academic researcher trying to gain a sense of intimacy in her own life through a technologically assisted neurological interface connecting her to a wolf, rather than nurturing intimacy and connection with the humans in her life (such as her wife). She feels deeply connected to the wolf she’s studying. Part of this is through anthropomorphizing the wolf with the assistance of the technology that maps the words, thoughts, emotions, and perceptions onto her own, human brain. She specifically thinks of this as not anthropomorphizing, and I’m not quite sure how literally to believe that in the story, especially when it’s about how her obsession with treating this as the most important relationship in her life leads her down a path where the being she feels most connected to is one that is likely unaware of her presence. To whatever extent the wolf ("Kate") knows of her, it is as a blurry memory of kidnapping and pain when the other terminal of the neural interface was implanted.
At home, Sean's wife is feeling disregarded and unloved, like Sean just wants her there to cook and clean. They’re both academics with their own careers, but one of Riya's complaints is the way that Sean is behaving like a white man who just wants a housewife. Riya has put her own desires aside for a long time because of the demands of Sean's research and academic schedule, but as their relationship deteriorates, Riya tries to get Sean to initiate connection, or at least reciprocate it. But she feels like an ancillary note to Sean's research, research that she feels has massive ethical concerns. Sean’s thoughts are consumed by her work, it seems as though she’s been obsessed with this idea for a very long time. Then the reality of it, and whatever is going on with the neural link, has turned it from a dream into an obsession that is distorting her ability to put care into other parts of her life for any significant stretch of time.
There’s an ongoing question about whether what is happening is cruel, as there is no way for the wolf to meaningfully consent to the experiment. Having tied her own brain to Kate, Sean ends up more and more torn in her thoughts, because the only way that she’s obtaining this intimacy is through what began as and continues to be a massive violation of the wolf's autonomy. Her fellow researchers see Kate and her pack as part of an experiment, having accepted that the process of observing them during a harsh winter is likely to mean watching them die. But, as she feels more connected, Sean is unable to accept this. Because her change in her stance is driven by an increasing (and one-sided) emotional bond with Kate, Sean is also unable to meaningfully articulate her changing feelings without letting on to her colleagues how much this process is affecting her.
Set in the 2030's, climate change and the associated ongoing loss of many animal species forms a backdrop to this drama, as part of the reason for this particular research is that this is the last wild wolf pack. I’m not sure if it’s the last one in the region or the last one on Earth, but the main point is that the trajectory for the species is one of decline and impending extinction. This makes the various questions around how to study the wolf pack even more important, but whatever precise way they matter to the characters, these considerations don’t overly end up affecting the story. There wouldn’t be a book if they weren’t going to go ahead and do the research. That choice at the beginning sets many things in motion so that the environmental and ethical concerns become matters of conscience after the fact, more issues of how to gain some sense of stability, and potentially assuage any moral compunctions or lingering guilt over what happened.
I specifically enjoy this audiobook narrator’s performances, I’ve been reading a lot of them recently. I like the ending because it feels realistic for the characters without feeling inevitable. It doesn’t feel like this was the only way that things could’ve gone on every front, but there is a kind of slowly unfolding horror; realizing the way things are likely to go and seeing the characters seemingly unable to avoid it. In terms of character development, I like how the various members of Sean‘s team have different reactions to what’s going on. They’ve accepted animal death as part of their research, but seem to not be taking seriously the level of cruelty that’s involved in this particular experiment until it's already in motion and they figure out how to make some kind of peace with it.
At home, Sean's wife is feeling disregarded and unloved, like Sean just wants her there to cook and clean. They’re both academics with their own careers, but one of Riya's complaints is the way that Sean is behaving like a white man who just wants a housewife. Riya has put her own desires aside for a long time because of the demands of Sean's research and academic schedule, but as their relationship deteriorates, Riya tries to get Sean to initiate connection, or at least reciprocate it. But she feels like an ancillary note to Sean's research, research that she feels has massive ethical concerns. Sean’s thoughts are consumed by her work, it seems as though she’s been obsessed with this idea for a very long time. Then the reality of it, and whatever is going on with the neural link, has turned it from a dream into an obsession that is distorting her ability to put care into other parts of her life for any significant stretch of time.
There’s an ongoing question about whether what is happening is cruel, as there is no way for the wolf to meaningfully consent to the experiment. Having tied her own brain to Kate, Sean ends up more and more torn in her thoughts, because the only way that she’s obtaining this intimacy is through what began as and continues to be a massive violation of the wolf's autonomy. Her fellow researchers see Kate and her pack as part of an experiment, having accepted that the process of observing them during a harsh winter is likely to mean watching them die. But, as she feels more connected, Sean is unable to accept this. Because her change in her stance is driven by an increasing (and one-sided) emotional bond with Kate, Sean is also unable to meaningfully articulate her changing feelings without letting on to her colleagues how much this process is affecting her.
Set in the 2030's, climate change and the associated ongoing loss of many animal species forms a backdrop to this drama, as part of the reason for this particular research is that this is the last wild wolf pack. I’m not sure if it’s the last one in the region or the last one on Earth, but the main point is that the trajectory for the species is one of decline and impending extinction. This makes the various questions around how to study the wolf pack even more important, but whatever precise way they matter to the characters, these considerations don’t overly end up affecting the story. There wouldn’t be a book if they weren’t going to go ahead and do the research. That choice at the beginning sets many things in motion so that the environmental and ethical concerns become matters of conscience after the fact, more issues of how to gain some sense of stability, and potentially assuage any moral compunctions or lingering guilt over what happened.
I specifically enjoy this audiobook narrator’s performances, I’ve been reading a lot of them recently. I like the ending because it feels realistic for the characters without feeling inevitable. It doesn’t feel like this was the only way that things could’ve gone on every front, but there is a kind of slowly unfolding horror; realizing the way things are likely to go and seeing the characters seemingly unable to avoid it. In terms of character development, I like how the various members of Sean‘s team have different reactions to what’s going on. They’ve accepted animal death as part of their research, but seem to not be taking seriously the level of cruelty that’s involved in this particular experiment until it's already in motion and they figure out how to make some kind of peace with it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Racism, Vomit, and Alcohol
alexalily's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, and Medical trauma
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
bikelpie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A great commentary on the affects of both intentional and unintentional exploitative human nature. An analysis of the different ways a person can be selfish even in the name of selflessness, and how even the best intentions are never truly good if there is an anticipated reward. I enjoyed the almost demand for introspection after finishing the book. Very well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Vomit, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
taratearex's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Near futuristic sci-fi novella where a researcher connects her mind to a world, while her marriage is also falling apart party due to her wife ethically disagreeing with her research. Cool concept and fast paced, the audiobook is expertly read by Natalie Naudus. I wanted it to get weirder/more horror. End was a bit anticlimactic. But overall a great sci-fi novella.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Medical content
Moderate: Gore, Infidelity, and Blood
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Vomit
starrysteph's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
3.0
A bleak & distressing journey into the near-future that felt a bit like a Black Mirror episode (though not quite as tech-y).
We follow Dr. Sean Kell-Luddon, a work-obsessed researcher who is intent on bridging the gap between humans and animals. Her newest project uses advanced neuroscience to translate the live perception of a wolf through her own eyes (she’s always been fascinated by wolves & is hoping to protect one of the last remaining wild packs). But between her greedy VC funders and her strained relationship with her wife, her world is teetering on the edge of ruin.
It’s a sad tale from start to finish. Mandelo’s characters waver ethically, hurt each other, and challenge their humanity & their empathy for the world around them.
Sean is not particularly likable - she’s not a good partner and doesn’t feel motivated to change that, she’s so blinded by her curiosity that she doesn’t critically consider who is funding her project, her desire to be close with wolves overrides any consideration of animal ethics, and so on. But her fascination and attachment to the wolves was incredibly compelling. And the foil of the one-sided relationship between Sean and her wolf and Sean and her wife was very well-done!
Feed Them Silence both challenges academia and eerily captures human greed for knowledge without care of who it may hurt or destroy. It’s a look at intimacy and selfishness and greed and obsession.
I think the limits could have been pushed further; I was ready to be repulsed by more weirdness. I also had very mixed feelings about the ending. But I was definitely immersed in this uneasy little story.
CW: animal cruelty & animal death, animal medical experimentation, medical content, grief, blood, gore, vomit, injury, violence, infidelity, racism, sexism
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(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
booksandteatime's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, and Vomit
moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Set in 2031, this book focuses on a neuroscientist who is working on a research project that will connect her brain to the psyche of one of the few remaining wild wolves. Along with this, you see her deteriorating relationship with her wife, as well as the state of the world around them. This story is a very believable near future both in terms of the year and in the state of the world: a hypercorperate place dealing even more with the effects of climate change.
Every layer of the story shows us a toxic relationship, what it's like to be so close to connection while merely being empty consumers instead. It's haunting and devastating, an all too realistic horror that was brilliantly done. It was the perfect length for what it was trying to do and it is definitely going to stick with me.
Every layer of the story shows us a toxic relationship, what it's like to be so close to connection while merely being empty consumers instead. It's haunting and devastating, an all too realistic horror that was brilliantly done. It was the perfect length for what it was trying to do and it is definitely going to stick with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Medical content
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Racism