Lisa Taddeo's first novel, 'Animal', delves into the disturbing story of Joan, a complex character whose sardonic and cryptic first-person account reveals a lost soul trapped in the prison of her own life. Joan's traumatic past and unwise choices force her to navigate two simultaneous lives - one superficial, necessary for survival in New York's tumultuous social scene, and the other filled with rage, insecurities, and mistrust. The book takes readers on a grimy and visceral journey through Joan's emotional and mental state, mirroring the chaos of her experiences.
The plot unfolds as Joan flees her past in New York to seek answers in the counter-culture world of Los Angeles, particularly in Topanga Canyon, where she embarks on a quest to uncover the mysterious Alice's secrets. Through a raw depiction of human experiences, the book explores themes of trauma, grief, anger, and love, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable emotions and societal constructs. Taddeo's writing style, characterized by genius descriptions and truncated, impactful sentences, immerses readers in a narrative that is both horrifying and beautiful, ultimately leading to a complex exploration of femininity, victimhood, and societal expectations.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes numerous triggers and content warnings for themes such as suicide, various forms of abuse (child abuse, sexual assault), miscarriage, and discussions of mental illness.
From The Publisher:
From Lisa Taddeo, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and global phenomenon Three Women, comes an "intoxicating" (Entertainment Weekly), "fearless" (Los Angeles Times), and "explosive" (People) novel about "what happens when women are pushed beyond the brink, and what comes after the reckoning" (Esquire).
Joan has spent a lifetime enduring the cruelties of men. But when one of them commits a shocking act of violence in front of her, she flees New York City in search of Alice, the only person alive who can help her make sense of her past. In the sweltering hills above Los Angeles, Joan unravels the horrific event she witnessed as a child-that has haunted her every waking moment-while forging the power to finally strike back.
Animal is a depiction of female rage at its rawest, and a visceral exploration of the fallout from a male-dominated society.
Ratings (30)
Incredible (8) | |
Loved It (5) | |
Liked It (7) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (91):
Read It (28) | |
Want To Read (46) | |
Did Not Finish (5) | |
Not Interested (12) |
2 comment(s)
I wasn't sure what the book was about when I picked it up at the library but I've heard about it and it looked intriguing enough. I have mixed feelings if I like Lisa Taddeo's writing and it was just the story and the characters I didn't like or I don't gel with her writing in entirely. Guess I need to read something else by her to figure out that. I'm not sure I even enjoyed the concept however it had me intrigued to continue on with reading but at the same time I didn't quite enjoy my reading experience with it but I also didn't hate it. Might need to sit with the story in some time.
SYNOPSIS:
On the first page, we are told a man killed himself in front of Joan. This sends Joan to flee across the country to LA. She is in search of a yoga instructor named Alice, but we have no idea why. We do know that her parents are no longer alive, and nothing seems to be keeping her in New York City.
She moves into a compound, where several other people live. Her landlord is a strange older man.
Joan vaguely refers to some trauma that happened when she was a child.
There are lots of questions. Who is Alice? What happened to her parents? What trauma did Joan experience? Who is Joan narrating the story to? What is up with the landlord? Why did the man kill himself in front of her?
MY THOUGHTS
This book is very dark & uses vulgar language in different parts. If you have any triggers, it is worth it to check out content warnings.
The execution of this novel is impressive. It’s like a train wreck that you can’t look away from. Taddeo gives vivid, unsparing descriptions, and I can see this being divisive among readers. This will be either a book you love or a book you hate. I don’t see it falling in the middle.
Although some parts are hard to read, I found myself unable to put down.
Joan tells us the story, and despite being unlikable, she’s actually a fascinating character. Taddeo deftly makes it so you understand the character, even when you don’t like her. I found myself rooting for her, which I can’t say I have ever done for a main character that I didn’t like. Joan is complex & layered. She’s both a victim and a villain.
We get a lot of flashbacks & insight into Joan’s past. Taddeo skillfully plots the book & intertwines stories from the past. There are deep wounds in her childhood. The family dynamics are extremely interesting. With the flashbacks, I felt for Joan, and I saw at her core that she was a little girl that only even wanted love (particularly her mother’s). The book looks at how our childhoods shape us & intergenerational trauma as well.
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️not for everyone, but for those who connect with it, it’s an impressively executed novel. be sure to look into trigger warnings.
What can you read after
Animal?
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