Animals by Jerrod Edson
Reviewed by Ian Colford
True originality is rare. In Animals, a taut and occasionally gruesome novella-length narrative, Jerrod Edson has written an allegory that explores territory in the fictional landscape that (in this reader’s experience) remains largely uncharted. The problem with reviewing a book of such stunning uniqueness is that a significant portion of the pleasure of reading it derives from the gradually dawning realization of exactly what it is you’re reading. Thus, a brief description will have to suffice.
“This is a book for the adventurous and inquisitive adult reader of literary fiction.”
Edson divides the narrative into three streams, in each of which the human characters face quickly developing life-threatening situations. The story’s shocking impact comes from its persuasive depiction of a type of casual brutality that, undisputedly and perhaps inevitably, over hundreds of years and in various forms, helped build and sustain human civilization. This brutality occurs universally across our world every single day, and it’s probably fair to say that many people, if they think about it at all, would likely dismiss it as a cost (just one of many) of maintaining society in its present form. But in Animals, Jerrod Edson forces the reader to consider and experience this brutality from a different perspective and maybe even to question beliefs and opinions long ingrained in the human psyche. This is a book for the adventurous and inquisitive adult reader of literary fiction, and one that students of contemporary fiction must read. Its power is undeniable and its message unforgettable.
About the Author
Jerrod Edson was born in Saint John, NB, in 1974. He lives in Mississauga, ON, with his wife Leigh and daughters Hadley and Harper.
About the Reviewer
Ian Colford was born, raised, and educated in Halifax. His reviews and stories have appeared in many print and online publications. He is the author of two collections of short fiction and two novels, and is the recipient of the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award for Evidence.
Book Details
Publisher : Galleon Books
Publication date : Aug. 15 2025
Language : English
Print length : 112 pages
ISBN-10 : 1998122212
ISBN-13 : 978-1998122219