Otter Books gives us a review of one of a book from their shelves: Fauna by Alissa York
Beautifully written, Fauna tells the stories of six characters who, for on reason or another, reside near the edges of society. Set unobtrusively in Toronto and its Don Valley, York creates a backdrop that perfectly suits the tone of the novel.
A modern day folk tale, where animals have their stories woven in amongst the humans, this novel reminds us how thin the veil really is between our urban landscape and the wilderness just beyond. This collection of misfits, troubled in one aspect or another, strive to find a place for themselves, to find connection and purpose.
A wrecking yard at the edge of the Don Valley, owned by Guy, serves as an unlikely safe place for the characters to gather. Their stories are once terrible and tender – not unlike the sections of The Jungle Book that are threaded throughout. It’s a novel about survival, and so much more than that. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to read more than once.