This was my second reading of On Animals –  and it was better than I expected –  HUH? –  Well,  yeah –  I wasn’t terribly impressed the first time ‘round but toward the end on the second I got involved and laughed out loud more than once.  Good stuff.  

On Animals 
by Susan Orlean
2021/ 256 pages
Read by author 10h
Rating:  9  / “autobiography”?  
(both read and listened)

I suppose my favorite chapter was Farmville – the last chapter in the book.  I’m listening and reading and I finally came to appreciate the author’s voice. It gives it a personal touch. I think.  

I often read books a second time (not always!). It seems like I’m more relaxed and enjoy them more, get more meaning from them, – ??? – something.  

There are 15 essays total and I think a couple may have been published as excerpts. She odes write very, very well.  It’s not poetic, it’s more natural than that and she uses unusual metaphors and phrases which are spot on in describing something or someone. 

I think I’ve now become a real fan of Susan Orlean not just an occasional reader.  She’s 68 years old written 9 books.and adapted some into movies (Little Wing)  I’ve read  only 3. I’m more than willing to read her next one but I have a feeling she’ll be retiring soon.  Maybe not, many authors are or have been been centenarians.   

I kept expecting something about general animal rights or vegetarianism or gun control, but no – there’s no stirring around in controversial pots here although the articles do touch on the subjects.  It’s a fun book and great for relaxed reading. But I did learn something in each chapter.  Orlean doesn’t confine herself to the US – she goes to Morocco, Siberia, Iceland, a couple places in Africa, and maybe even elsewhere.  

I think maybe a theme in the book is the relationship between humans and those creatures we call animals without differentiating between wild and tame because there’s a whole range between dogs and tigers and there may not be a “line.”