A review by brotestantethic
The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller

reflective sad 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? No

2.5

Given how this book begins, it was severely disappointing. “The Memory of Animals” tries very hard to get a point across; unfortunately, it takes on too many large tasks and achieves few. Memory is central to the story, as characters grapple with an unfamiliar world plagued by virus. However, it is not played out outside of the use of a “Revisitor,” which main character Neffy uses to relive memories. What frustrated me about this is that there was little to no tie in to what is happening in the main plot. The book feels disjointed with distinct and repetitive sections. It gets boring.

The writing is sporadic. There are beautiful environmental descriptions that serve as a love letter to life before the virus. The characters are very interesting to start, and I was excited as a reader for a good ensemble read. Sadly, when these characters fall into repetitive patterns, they lose their dynamic nature. The main character Neffy is most confusing. Her letters to H and memories clearly allude to poor mental wellbeing, yet she is the voice of reason among the pack. She also wants to f*ck an octopus, but that is I guess besides the point. 
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