Barbara Kingsolver - Animal Dreams

Animal Dreams

Barbara Kingsolver

Codi is from Grace, but has spent years running from her past. With the departure of her sister for war-torn lands, Codi can return to Grace and make a new life for herself - but only after she has salvaged her childhood.

This is another American Literature book I read, and the essay question with it was with Ceremony. I can understand why these two books were paired together - they are both filled with symbolism and strange narrative forms. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this novel.

Although some of this novel is memories, particularly the sections by Homero, the rest shows a drive towards Codi reclaiming her memories in the present. This process takes place over two years, between three All Souls' Days. For me, this process was fascinating, and I really didn't know what I expected Codi to do until near the end of the novel - making it a strangely compelling page-turner.

I think if I go on to do further studies in literature of some kind, I would choose American Literature to work on. My only regret of this degree is that English literature (as in, Britain) is not represented in the major. I also really enjoyed Irish literature. Give me something with a decent history and anything but Australian literature.

Although I couldn't recommend this for fantasy readers, if you naturally enjoy general fiction I would definitely recommend it. I'm not even sure precisely why I would, but I just would! I enjoyed it. The neuroses of Codi, her memories, and the unforgettable Loyd - it's just so powerful, losing a mother, a daughter and a sister.

I would even venture to say that if I was required to read some more general fiction for some reason, I'd choose a Kingsolver novel to do it. Yay, Kingsolver! Seriously, go ad borrow it from your local library - you'll find yourself enjoying it despite any preconceived notions you might have.

You can purchase Animal Dreams  from Amazon (affiliate link) or from The Book Depository (also an affiliate link)