A review by swalk
Dead Animals by Phoebe Stuckes

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

An intimate and immersive view into a small window of a young woman’s life, as she strives to carry on after a traumatic event, struggling with the meaningless rigmarole of daily life. Her armour, a facade of make-up and clothes, using her memory of how it is to be normal as a template for surviving this experience. She forges a relationship with a similarly injured woman which culminates in a situation she could never have imagined.

I thought this was a wonderfully considered account of personal trauma, followed by the emptiness of depression. It really resonated with me and I’m sure it will, with many women. I found it quite hard to listen to in places, but that’s how trauma is. I loved the dark twist at the end and the metaphor of the phantom. I was never quite sure where it was going to go, which kept it exciting. Overall a fantastic read. 

Dead Animals is insightful, violent, beautiful and lonely. 
The narrator was truly excellent, she made this audiobook giving you a connection with the protagonist and a visceral link to their emotion.
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