‘A Real Animal by Emeline Atwood 5/5
I just knew this was going to be a five star read. Strange, traumatic, and violent, I could not put it down! If you’re not one for heavier books though, definitely read the trigger warnings around this because there are a lot of difficult moments.
The story opens with Lucy at college, in the midst of a mental breakdown, naked, up a tree and fully convinced she is a leopard. YES, you read that right, and that’s just the first few pages, (absolutely not a spoiler). Atwood not only gives us the background as to how Lucy found herself in this situation (and the trauma that led her there), but we follow her through the next few years, seeing her life take turns in different directions. And just when I thought, no, this is enough for her now, something else happened that knocked me sideways.
I found it really interesting how Lucy can come across as unreliable sometimes (in my opinion anyway), the way she brushes off the experiences in her life makes you question if what is happening is real. Superb writing in the way that it just hits you out of nowhere, I genuinely felt emotional at one point and had to take a minute.
An unforgettable debut novel. Thank you so much to Scribe for this copy, contender for favourite book of the year!’
‘A Real Animal by Emeline Atwood is a slow, immersive and evocative read that I didn’t know what to do with at first. It’s raw but also thoughtful, and kept me waiting for the other shoe to drop the whole time.
We follow main character Lucy throughout her twenties after a traumatic experience causes her animalistic instinct to abruptly take hold and shape her relationships, choices, and even sense of self throughout the years of her life.
At its core I think ARA succeeds in exploring the primal nature inside us that can be triggered in fight or flight situations, especially when holding on to unhealed wounds that we let rot.
I think Booksta thrives in the ‘weird girl lit fic’ genre, and I don’t just think this is another one to add to the pile, this one has claws 🙂↕️.’
‘I’m floored ... This novel follows Lucy as she navigates her twenties while grappling with the aftermath of an assault. Her journey is raw and unflinching, capturing the complexity of trauma and its effects on every aspect of her life, but particularly her relationships. The relationships she forms throughout the story are at times unpredictable, vulnerable, volatile, and deeply heartbreaking.
Even when her choices are difficult to read, one can’t help but stand beside her, rooting for her in spite of it all. Caught between conflicting expectations — to be both demure and domineering — Lucy feels like someone who’s been dealt an impossibly difficult hand. Her story is unsettling, powerful, and unlike anything I’ve read before.’
