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A review by madamelacy
Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This is a quiet, atmospheric book. The story centres on Dyja who is an experienced midwife in Iceland. She’s living in an apartment previously owned by her great aunt, who was also a midwife. The story takes place in the days leading up to Christmas, as the country braces itself for a terrible storm.
Dyja tries to make sense of manuscripts left by her great aunt, but they are disjointed and lack clear narratives, as they explore life and death, similarities and differences between humans and other animals, and the meaning of light. Similarly, this story feels quite disjointed.
Woven into the story are the experiences of midwives, or mothers of light, as they bring babies from the darkness.
An interesting read albeit very existential.
Dyja tries to make sense of manuscripts left by her great aunt, but they are disjointed and lack clear narratives, as they explore life and death, similarities and differences between humans and other animals, and the meaning of light. Similarly, this story feels quite disjointed.
Woven into the story are the experiences of midwives, or mothers of light, as they bring babies from the darkness.
An interesting read albeit very existential.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, and Pregnancy