My request is a bit difficult to explain, but I'll try my best. I typically don't like books which focus on "human" kind of problems. I'm talking romance, parent-child issues, politics, yada yada. I prefer animal protagonists that are still largely animalistic or, if sentient, have "animal" problems (think Black Beauty or White Fang). I don't mind the book having a human narrator or side characters, even main characters as long as the book doesn't fall into the category of common real world problems (something like The Lion by Joseph Kessel would be just fine). Please forgive me if I sound a bit incoherent, I'm not big on reading.
Genre-vise, I'd honestly only ever read adventure, so please, throw whatever vaguely fits into my request at me. I'm open to diversifying my palate so to speak.
Also the British/American author and above 150 pages are important bits as I'm reading for a uni assignment and these are the requirements.
My one last request: I'm pretty sensitive to animal deaths and animal cruelty, especially when it comes to cats (as I'm a new cat parent) so I would greatly appreciate if you either didn't suggest books containing that or let me know beforehand so I can read them on my own discretion. I'm not afraid of spoilers.
by EelVald
15 Comments
The Wind in the Willows might work for your needs.
Raven End by Ben Gadd. He’s Canadian tho 😉
Watership Down by Richard Adams should fit your requirements.
And also Tailchaser’s Song by Tad Williams.
Strongly recommend Pax by Sara Pennypacker.
It’s about a fox that was raised by a boy and then force abandoned due to world circumstances, and the boy tries to find him to bring him back. It is largely told from the POV of the fox.
*Flush* by Virginia Woolf. It’s about Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s dog.
If you like mysteries, the Chet & Bernie series by Spencer Quinn could be one to look into. It’s written from Chet the dog’s POV. The first book is Dog On It
Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson (novel about an otter trying to survive in the wild. Very much focused on animal problems, like trying to get through the winter or escape hunters)
Pagoo by Holling C. Holling (novel from the perspective of a hermit crab, written very scientifically)
I loved Pod by Laline Paull
I’m not sure how long it is because I read it on my phone, but in North Woods, by Daniel Mason, the woods themselves are the protagonist and every human and critter is a side character! I really enjoyed it and you might as well.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Raptor Red by Dr. Jim Bakker. A Velociraptor traverses the Cretaceous wilderness in search of mates and small furry snacks. Dr. Bakker was the lead consultant for the first Jurassic Park movie.
The Hollow Kingdom by Kira Buxton is from the POV of a very clever and foul mouthed crow during a zombie apocalypse that only affected humans. There are interstitial chapters from other animal’s POVS that are hauntingly gorgeous, and the book had me laughing and crying in the same page. I didn’t like the sequel as much, but this one was one of my favorite reads of last year.
“Open Throat” by Henry Hoke.
Ishmael
It may be a little young for you but the Warriors series lives rent free in my head. I have loved it for years. Deep story telling from the POV of feral cats.