Book Review & Giveaway - 'Animal People' by Charlotte Wood

This review is courtesy of Product Talk by Nuffnang.

I was fortunate enough to be selected as part of the review team for the new Charlotte Wood novel 'Animal People'. Being an avid reader at every opportunity I can get this was one review team that I was very excited to be on.

'The hilarious, tender and heartbreaking story of a watershed day in the life of Stephen - aimless, unhappy and unfulfilled, this stiflingly hot December day is the day he has decided to dump his girlfriend. A sharply observed, 24-hour urban love story.' (Taken from the Allen & Unwin website)

This story is not one to read if you are after a happy, lighthearted book to pass the time. It is more a book you would read to really make you really think about everyday life and there are many elements that can easily be related to by most of society. I'm sure there have been times in everyone's life where they have been unhappy with their job, unhappy in a relationship without really knowing why, bitter with family and friends who clearly have a better and/or easier life.

There were times in this book where I felt very sorry for Stephen due to his obvious fear of relating to people and of course his obvious dislike for animals. Some parts of this story made me feel a little depressed with how life actually is for some people who have no direction, and are just plain old unhappy with every aspect of their daily life.

Also, being an animal person myself, I didn't particularly like some of the references to animals that were highlighted in the story but seeing some of the feelings that Stephen had for others who were animal people made me realise how the other half of society must think of us who treat our pets like they are part of our family.

I mainly read this book at night before bed and found it a very quick and easy read. The wonderful descriptive language used by Charlotte Wood makes you feel as if you can almost smell, taste and feel what is going on in the story. This added an extra element to the book which made you feel as if you were a participant following Stephen on his journey that day. The way the story is a complete day in the life of Stephen was very well written and in the end it really makes you think about how the smallest and most normal daily events end up shaping us as human beings.

I was fortunate enough to be given an extra copy of 'Animal People' to giveaway to one lucky reader. This will be my first ever giveaway so I am very excited!

To be in the running you just have to be a follower or subscriber of this blog, leave a comment below letting me know how you subscribe as well as answering the question "Are you an Animal Person or not and why?" Also, make sure you leave your email address so I can contact you. It's that simple!   

This giveaway will be open until Saturday 7th January 2012 and is open to anyone! I will draw the winner using random.org and contact the winner via email.

Good Luck!