A review by tfredenburg
Bunny by Mona Awad

challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book was never boring, but frequently frustrating. I enjoyed Awad's prose for the most part and appreciated the risks she takes with this story. Grateful that I found myself unable to relate since I've never been in such a toxic workshopping environment.

I do think the main thing I struggled with was pinpointing the satire. The Bunnies are clearly satire, but Sam herself (+ Ava) is such a capital O Outsider (an argument which the book so kindly preempts) that she also comes off as a cliche. Despite the fact I should relate to her in this way, it's hard to sink into her at first. The outsiderness is strongest when it focuses on real signifiers of privilege/lack thereof. Not so much when focused on superficial aspects of the super-feminine that are harmless.

Liked the queer subtext-to-text with Sam and Ava. Thought the Bunnies all wanting to screw Max at the end was fascinatingly psychosexual.


P.S. Found Sam's narration oddly ableist for a protagonist we're supposed to find sympathetic.
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