Only the Animals

Only the Animals presents ten interconnected stories narrated by the souls of animals who died in human conflicts throughout the 20th century. Each story features a different animal whose life intersected with both historical events and notable literary figures. The collection spans multiple continents and time periods, from a cat in World War I Paris to a dolphin during the Vietnam War. The narrating animals engage with writers such as Virginia Woolf, Henry Lawson, and Ted Hughes, creating connections between literature and historical moments of violence. The stories take different forms, including letters, diary entries, and dramatic monologues. Each narrative incorporates factual details about both the featured animals' species and the historical contexts in which they exist. These tales explore the relationship between humans and animals while examining broader themes of mortality, consciousness, and the nature of storytelling itself. The collection raises questions about who has the right to tell stories of war and suffering, and how different perspectives can illuminate human experience.

Readers appreciate Dovey's unique approach of telling stories through animal perspectives during wartime and conflict. Many note the emotional depth and philosophical questioning, particularly in the stories about the tortoise and dolphin. The writing style draws regular comparisons to George Saunders and Karen Russell. Common praise focuses on: - Creative literary references and homages - Complex moral themes - Beautiful prose without being overdone - Dark humor throughout Main criticisms: - Some stories feel stronger than others - Literary references can be too dense/academic - Animal perspectives sometimes feel forced - Pacing issues in longer stories Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (80+ ratings) "The mussel story lost me, but the dolphin tale was extraordinary" - Goodreads reviewer "Too clever by half - the literary name-dropping gets tiresome" - Amazon reviewer "Soul-crushing in the best possible way" - LibraryThing reviewer

Life of Pi by Yann Martel A shipwrecked tiger narrates its complex relationship with a human companion, blending animal consciousness with philosophical questions about survival and truth-telling.

Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis Dogs granted human consciousness by Greek gods navigate mortality and meaning in Toronto, examining the intersection of animal and human consciousness through multiple canine perspectives.

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders The story follows a crow's connection to two humans during world-changing events, combining animal viewpoints with social commentary on technology and nature.

The White Bone by Barbara Gowdy Elephants tell their own story of survival during an African drought, incorporating detailed animal behavior with themes of memory and community.

The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht Animals interweave with human narratives in a war-torn Balkan landscape, connecting creature perspectives to historical events and folklore.

🐾 The book's title was inspired by Boria Sax's essay "What Does it Mean to be a Human Being?" which examines how animals have been used as metaphors throughout history 🦍 The first story features a chimpanzee who corresponds with Russian primatologist Nikolaas Tintbergen, exploring themes of evolution and scientific ethics 📚 Each animal narrator in the book is connected to a famous writer, including Virginia Woolf, Jack Kerouac, and Ted Hughes 🏆 The book won the 2014 Readings New Australian Writing Award and was shortlisted for the 2015 ALS Gold Medal 🌏 Ceridwen Dovey was born in South Africa and raised between South Africa and Australia, which influences her perspective on colonialism and human conflict throughout the book