'Filthy Animals: Stories' by Brandon Taylor delves into the lives of characters who are struggling with loneliness, suffering, and past traumas. The narratives explore themes of damaged relationships, queer realities, and the impact of isolation on individuals. The interconnected short stories feature characters like Lionel, Charles, and Sophie, who are on a journey to find their place in the world while battling with their inner demons. The writing style is described as artful, compelling, and thought-provoking, with a focus on exploring mental health struggles, queer relationships, and the complexities of human emotions.

Characters:

The characters are complex and interconnected, often grappling with loneliness and personal struggles.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is introspective and voyeuristic, showcasing strong craftsmanship and emotional resonance.

Plot/Storyline:

The collection features interconnected stories highlighting themes of loneliness and alienation through character interactions and experiences.

Setting:

The setting reflects contemporary themes of isolation and the struggles of modern relationships.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with some stories being engaging while others feel slow and incomplete.

Noise of an undifferentiated party variety drifted out into the deep blue cold, meeting Lionel under the sunroom window where he had stopped to peer inside. He felt powerfully anonymous out there in t...

Notes:

Brandon Taylor's "Filthy Animals" is a collection of linked short stories.

The stories explore themes of loneliness, alienation, and despair.

One character, Lionel, deals with the aftermath of a suicide attempt.

The collection has a blend of LGBTQ characters and their complex relationships.

Critics highlight Taylor's skilled writing but note that some stories feel shallow.

The book won the Story Prize, showcasing Taylor's recognition in literature.

Many characters appear throughout the stories, creating a tapestry of interconnections.

The writing style is described as voyeuristic and intimate.

Readers find the book not to be uplifting, often reflecting on negative aspects of life.

The author explores what is lost and found when coming out to one's true identity.

Some readers appreciate the artistry of the writing while others find it tedious.

The stories bring attention to the damaging effects of isolation and loneliness.

Lionel's relationships with Charles and Sophie complicate his search for belonging.

Critics often mention the collection's strong thematic resonance with mental health issues.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

This collection contains high content warnings for themes such as suicidal ideation, mental health struggles, and complex inter-personal relationships characterized by manipulation and betrayal.

Has Romance?

The book features a medium level of romance, primarily exploring complex relationships among LGBTQ characters.

From The Publisher:

BRANDON TAYLOR IS:

"A powerhouse." -Newsweek

"An extraordinary cartographer." -Esquire

"A striking new voice with a vital perspective." -Harper's Bazaar

"A brilliant writer." -Garth Greenwell

A group portrait of young adults enmeshed in desire and violence, a hotly charged, deeply satisfying new work of fiction from the author of Booker Prize finalist REAL LIFE

In the series of linked stories at the heart of Filthy Animals, set among young creatives in the American Midwest, a young man treads delicate emotional waters as he navigates a series of sexually fraught encounters with two dancers in an open relationship, forcing him to weigh his vulnerabilities against his loneliness. In other stories, a young woman battles with the cancers draining her body and her family; menacing undercurrents among a group of teenagers explode in violence on a winter night; a little girl tears through a house like a tornado, driving her babysitter to the brink; and couples feel out the jagged edges of connection, comfort, and cruelty.

One of the breakout literary stars of 2020, Brandon Taylor has been hailed by Roxane Gay as "a writer who wields his craft in absolutely unforgettable ways." With Filthy Animals he renews and expands on the promise made in Real Life, training his precise and unsentimental gaze on the tensions among friends and family, lovers and others. Psychologically taut and quietly devastating, Filthy Animals is a tender portrait of the fierce longing for intimacy, the lingering presence of pain, and the desire for love in a world that seems, more often than not, to withhold it.

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About the Author:

Brandon Taylor is the author of the acclaimed novel Real Life, which has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize, longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, and named a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. He holds graduate…

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Filthy Animals: Stories

Brandon Taylor