Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Book review - The Art of Taxidermy

Title: The Art of Taxidermy
Author: Sharon Kernot
Genre: historical fiction/verse novel
Similar books: Voices by David Elliot
                      Ebb and Flow by Heather Smith
Rating:
artistic, but not for everyone

Summary (provided by publisher): A heartbreaking verse novel about love and death, grief and beauty, and the very individual ways we make sense of it all.
Lottie, the daughter of German migrants, develops a fascination for death after losing her mother at a young age. When Lottie begins collecting dead animals, her aunt tries to redirect her energies into more 'feminine' activities. But her father encourages her interest, recognizing a scientist's curiosity.


My Opinion: I'm a big fan of verse novels, especially when the bulk of the plot focus on a character's inner journey or self exploration. When the author is good at imagery, making us feel along with the character it transcends story to become art. And that's certainly the case here. Even when I wasn't clear on the context of a moment, when I was confused about he actual plot, I was sharing Lottie's experience. A little more context for the setting and events in the world at large would have been nice. But this is a book to read more for how it's being told than what is being told. That style won't work for everyone but I enjoyed it.

More Information: The Art of Taxidermy releases August 23.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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