Animal People by Charlotte Wood
A sharply observed, 24-hour urban love story that follows Stephen Connolly – a character from the bestselling novel The Children – through one of the worst days of his life. The day he has decided to dump his girlfriend.
On a stiflingly hot December day, Stephen has decided it’s time to break up with his girlfriend Fiona. He’s 39, aimless and unfulfilled, he’s without a clue working out how to make his life better. All he has are his instincts – and unfortunately they might just be his downfall . . .
As he makes his way through the pitiless city and the hours of a single day, Stephen must fend off his demanding family, endure another shift of his dead-end job at the zoo (including an excruciating teambuilding event), face up to Fiona’s aggressive ex-husband and the hysteria of a children’s birthday party that goes terribly wrong. As an ordinary day develops into an existential crisis, Stephen begins to understand – perhaps too late – that love is not a trap, and only he can free himself.
Hilarious, tender and heartbreaking, Animal People is a portrait of urban life, a meditation on the conflicted nature of human-animal relationships, and a masterpiece of storytelling.
Animal People invites readers to question the way we think about animals – what makes an ‘animal person’? What value do we, as a society, place on the lives of creatures? Do we brutalise our pets even as we love them? What’s wrong with anthropomorphism anyway? Filled with challenging ideas and shocks of recognition and revelation, Animal People shows a writer of great depth and compassion at work.
About the Author
Charlotte Wood’s third novel The Children (2007) sold over 10,000 copies in trade paperback. This and her previous novels, The Submerged Cathedral (2004) and Pieces of a Girl (1999) were acclaimed by reviewers and award judges, with shortlistings for the Miles Franklin Award, the regional Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, the Australian Book Industry Awards and other prizes. Wood also edited the highly praised anthology Brothers & Sisters (2009). She lives in Sydney with her husband.
Format: Paperback | 272 pages
Dimensions (cm): 20.8 x 15.2 x 2 | 322g
Publication Date: 01 Oct 2011
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication City/Country: Crows Nest, SYD, Australia
Language: English
Edition Number: 1
ISBN10: 1742376851
ISBN13: 9781742376851
Condition: Very Good
A book that does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the cover. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. Very minimal wear and tear.