A review by madanxiety
Bunny by Mona Awad
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I knew what rating I was giving this book like 4hrs in. It just absolutely dragged on, but I don't like DNRing, so I stuck with it. I did really like the concept; what intrigued me at the beginning was the ridiculousness of it. Like a troop of horny rich girls in grad school who all wear tacky printed dresses and shit on anyone not in their clique? Silly! Whimsical! But not enough to really sustain my attention.
Very soon into the novel, I thought it would make a great film, and after finishing it, I think I would prefer it in film form. Again, this is because the novel felt too slow/long and hard to get through. As I read, I envisioned a whole cinematic style for it, kind of like Beetlejuice meets Sorry To Bother You meets Scott Pilgrim. I hope the movie adaptation leans into weirdness and surrealism. I also hope the movie isn't 100% White like Midsommar or Girls (which I bring up because I noticed Lena Dunham's stamp of approval on the cover halfway thru reading).
What I think was successful about the book for me was how I, too, felt like my brain had been goopified a bit lol. While listening to this audiobook, I had to rewind constantly to understand what was going on (which makes me think it might've also been a better read on paper vs. audiobook). Anyway, what I'm getting at is by the end of the book I was left thinking "what was all that??" and I think that's actually exactly what the protagonist is thinking too.
Very soon into the novel, I thought it would make a great film, and after finishing it, I think I would prefer it in film form. Again, this is because the novel felt too slow/long and hard to get through. As I read, I envisioned a whole cinematic style for it, kind of like Beetlejuice meets Sorry To Bother You meets Scott Pilgrim. I hope the movie adaptation leans into weirdness and surrealism. I also hope the movie isn't 100% White like Midsommar or Girls (which I bring up because I noticed Lena Dunham's stamp of approval on the cover halfway thru reading).
What I think was successful about the book for me was how I, too, felt like my brain had been goopified a bit lol. While listening to this audiobook, I had to rewind constantly to understand what was going on (which makes me think it might've also been a better read on paper vs. audiobook). Anyway, what I'm getting at is by the end of the book I was left thinking "what was all that??" and I think that's actually exactly what the protagonist is thinking too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship