How to Be Human A Novel Paula Cocozza 9781250129253 Books
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From Guardian writer Paula Cocozza, a debut novel of the breakdown of a marriage, suburbian claustrophobia, and a woman's unseemly passion for a fox
One summer’s night, Mary comes home from a midnight ramble to find a baby lying on her back door step. Has Mary stolen the baby from next door? Has the baby’s mother, Mary's neighbor, left her there in her acute state of post-natal depression? Or was the baby brought to Mary as a gift by the fox who is increasingly coming to dominate her life?
So opens How to Be Human, a novel set in a London suburb beset by urban foxes. On leave from work, unsettled by the proximity of her ex, and struggling with her hostile neighbors, Mary has become increasingly captivated by a magnificent fox who is always in her garden. First she sees him wink at her, then he brings her presents, and finally she invites him into her house. As the boundaries between the domestic and the wild blur, and the neighbors set out to exterminate the fox, it is unclear if Mary will save the fox, or the fox save Mary.
In this masterful debut, Paula Cocozza weaves together a penetrating portrait of marital breakdown, a social novel of wit and nuance, and an obsessive love story that crosses new boundaries.
How to Be Human A Novel Paula Cocozza 9781250129253 Books
Enjoy how It was put together...but thought she was too wacko to be believable ... would have enjoyed more of the Fox in the first person ..Product details
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How to Be Human A Novel Paula Cocozza 9781250129253 Books Reviews
“That’s the beauty of a wild animal…They keep their secrets. Because the paths of their world lie right at our feet.”
The interconnection between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom is s subject often explored by writers such as Helen Oyeyemi , Abby Geni, David James Poissant and other contemporary writers I respect. The fox, in particular, carries great symbolism, seen in myth as a wise and noble messenger and, conversely, as a trickster playing pranks. It’s also seen as a spirit animal, a teacher offering guidance.
The fox in this debut novel may be all three—wise, tricky and ultimately, a spirit guide. “If he never appeared, she would probably have had to invent him,” reflects Mary, a vulnerable and troubled woman who recently parted with her domineering fiancée of four years and is still forced into encounters with him. Next door are neighbors with two children, including a new baby who have a far less charitable view of the fox.
This is a strange novel and it raises many questions is Mary slowly losing her mind or is she getting in touch with her wild side in a desperate attempt at salvation? Does her escalating relationship with the fox – from wariness to romanticism – mirror her own desire for intimate connection? And do we need those connections with the animal world to define what is human within us?
Sometimes a little too self-observant, How To Be Human is, nevertheless, an audacious debut and portends good things for this writer.
Full disclosure I ❤️ foxes. So I was drawn to this book and was happy to get an ARC! I'm not sure why it took me so long to finish this novel. It certainly isn't a happy read. Mary is clearly depressed-job, her ex, her neighbors-its all becoming too much for her. She notices a fox lurking about and becomes fascinated and obsessed with him. She has some conflict with all the people important in her life her mother, her ex-husband, and even her next door neighbors, who have two children (one a newborn infant) and are experiencing their own little come-apart. My favorite portions of the book are the ones where the fox is observing and thinking his fox thoughts--magical, really. This is really a book about connecting with someone and how important that truly is. It's about our inner life and how we reconcile that life with the one most of us are forced to lead every day, filled with neighbors, parents, significant others co-workers and societal expectations. We usually have pets, and families, but what if you have neither of those things--can you have a meaningful connection with a wild animal--like a fox?
Most of us who has ever had a pet know how very human they can be….in fact, in some instances they are a better version of ourselves. Even on those days when we ignore them they remain loyal, loving, non-demanding and most importantly non-judgmental. Accepting us for whom and what we are, they can bring joy and fulfillment into tedious monotony of every day, as they unselfishly provide us with a special place in their world.
In HOW TO BE HUMAN author Paula Cocozza takes us into the life of Mary who has recently split from her boyfriend/fiancé of four years and finds herself going through a mild depression. She hates her job, feels a bit “put upon” by her neighbors and their wailing children, has lost interest in keeping a tidy house and is being stalked by her domineering and somewhat intimidating ex who still has the keys to her house and appears to not know the meaning of the word NO.
In her precarious frame of mind Mary spies a fox in her garden and after observing it becomes convinced that the fox understands her and that they have a special bond. Told from Mary’s perspective (as well as that of the sly old fox), the narrative takes us into Mary’s thoughts and her obsession with the fox who appears to be her perfect partner in life – bringing her gifts, understanding her every mood and providing solace in her time of need. Has Mary lost it by granting human feelings to this creature from the wild? Is there truly an understanding developing between them or is foxy just what his name implies?
This is an unusual story and probably not for every reader but for this reader it was an insightful look into the moral intricacies of life and what it really means to be human. 3 1/2 stars
This book steered into fantasy, and I am not a fan of fantasy.
Unusual narrative and very readable.
This is one of my favorite books, but then I have a thing for foxes.
Enjoy how It was put together...but thought she was too wacko to be believable ... would have enjoyed more of the Fox in the first person ..
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