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platypussy69 's review for:

Talking Animals by Joni Murphy
2.75
reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Off to a great start - some parallel's to Bojack Horseman, if the protagonist were an academic. This book is heavily conceptual, with the magical realism only carrying it halfway. The first half was a breeze. The writing clever, and artistic. But then, almost like the overly-intellectualizing protagonist, Alfonso, the book gets lost in ideas and loses the plot. I found myself frustrated with a story that to me, didn't seem to go anywhere. By then I couldn't wait for it to be over. Finishing it felt like a chore. Perhaps it wouldn't have felt as such if the first 100 pages hadn't felt so clever and promising. Alas !