From Powells.com
Our favorite books of 2020-2021.
Staff Pick
After a human-caused a cataclysmic event, a group of animals representing their species meet to decide whether or not to kill and eat the small remainder of humanity. This book has something for everyone: postapocalyptic doom; a charming fable with talking animals (though it's definitely not for children); dark humor; and adventure. For me, the book really shines in the small details about the animals we meet. Each character has a unique voice to go with its (often hilarious) animal traits. I loved the rich world of history and lore. Among other things, we learn what cats and dogs really think of each other; why the word "pooch" is derogatory; which animals write the most profound poetry; and which animals you should turn to for a black ops mission. This book was utterly delightful! It was the perfect balm for the pandemic blues. Recommended By Amy W., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From national bestselling author Nick McDonell, The Council of Animals is a captivating fable for humans of all ages — dreamers and cynics alike — who believe (if nothing else) in the power of timeless storytelling.
"'Now, ' continued the cat, 'there is nothing more difficult than changing an animal's mind. But I will say, in case I can change yours: humans are more useful to us outside our bellies than in.'"
Perhaps.
After The Calamity, the animals thought the humans had managed to do themselves in. But, it turns out, a few are cowering in makeshift villages. So the animals — among them a cat, a dog, a crow, a baboon, a horse, and a bear — have convened to debate whether to help the last human stragglers... or to eat them.
Rest assured, there is a happy ending. Sort of.
Featuring illustrations by Steven Tabbutt
Review
"As an anthropomorphic folktale, The Council of Animals is concise, clever, and wonderfully conceived. As an allegory of the human condition, it's even better." Jason Heller, NPR
Review
"The Council of Animals is a delightful fable full of wit and wisdom. Nick McDonell has dreamed up an ingenious mythology for his animals and he portrays them with the charm of Milne or Carroll. McDonell has the rare ability to combine irony with empathy and deliver satire with grace. The result is a timelessly entertaining tale that readers will find inspiring and irresistible.” Simon Rich, author of New Teeth and Ant Farm
Review
“Both wildly imaginative and surprisingly funny, with (mostly) endearing characters, this thinly veiled metaphor offers what feels like an appropriate outcome….Highly recommended." Library Journal
Review
"Thought-provoking, captivating, funny, instructive: this is a book for readers who have ever yearned for a little extrahuman wisdom and cheer." Shelf Awareness
Review
“This tale's ratio of wit to wildness is positively golden. Its subtle logic and frank and tender mischief have somehow left me with the feeling of having witnessed a wake and christening combined — and I'm so very glad I attended.” Helen Oyeyemi, author of What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours
Review
“Dashes of humor and taut pacing elevate this appealing tale. Readers will be delighted.” Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Nick McDonell, born in 1984, is a writer of novels, journalism, and political theory. He studied literature at Harvard and international relations at St. Anthony's College, Oxford. His fiction has been published in twenty-two languages and appeared on bestseller lists around the world. A film adaptation of his first novel, Twelve, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010. His academic work on nomadism — The Civilization of Perpetual Movement — was published in 2016. As a reporter for the London Review of Books, Time, TheNewYorker.com, and Harper's, Nick has embedded with the United States Army and Marines, the Afghan Special Forces, the African Union Mission to Darfur, and the Iraqi Special Forces. Nick's last book, The Bodies in Person: An Account of Civilian Casualties in American Wars, was published in 2018. Nick is a cofounder of the Zomia Center for the Study of Non-State Spaces, which supports scholarly and humanitarian projects around the world.