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With The God of Animals, young American writer Aryn Kyle has written a stunning debut novel. Set on a horse ranch in Desert Valley, Colorado, it is a beautifully written coming-of-age story about love, longing and loneliness. Twelve-year-old Alice has become obsessed with a girl who drowned in a canal near her home. As the story unfolds, it’s no surprise Alice might find comfort in someone else’s life: since her sister eloped with a rodeo cowboy, she’s been left alone on the ranch to cope with her reclusive, depressed mother, and an overworked, gruff father who hands out back-breaking chores far more often than affection or approval. With money tight, Alice’s father is forced to rely on providing riding lessons and stable space to rich women from town, each with their own needs to fulfil. Alice is unwillingly dragged into their world, learning more than she cares to about the power of secrets and lies. Left to her own devices, she finds solace in a new friendship that momentarily eases her loneliness, but sets the scene for heartbreak. Tension builds steadily as these relationships pull Alice in different directions, and when her runaway sister returns home with her new husband, it’s only a matter of time before the situation explodes. The God of Animals is one of the most meticulously crafted and atmospheric novels I’ve read in a long time. The characters are complex and richly written, and the messages it contains about relationships and responsibility are powerful. The author writes with honesty and without melodrama or sentimentality, making the emotional journey all the more rewarding for readers. While it takes an unflinching look at how selfish adults can be, this is ultimately a story about self discovery, and one that offers hope. Kyle also perfectly captures the sense of place, with Desert Valley so real on the page you can almost taste the dust and smell the sweat on the horses. Highly recommended!
Author: Aryn Kyle
Reviewed by: Paula |
September 1st, 2008 at 5:33 am
hay ur book was fanitastic i loved it later
September 1st, 2008 at 5:34 am
hae wat yooh doin aye so i read ur book it was awsome i loved it.