Laura and Tyler are two young women who have been tearing up the city streets for ten years, leaving a trail of angry drug dealers and spent men in their wake. Now Laura is engaged to be married and her teetotal classical pianist fiancé, Jim, is away overseas. Tyler wants to keep the party going but Laura is torn between the constant temptations provided by her best friend and a calmer life with Jim on the horizon. As the wedding draws closer, the duo’s limits are tested, along with their friendship.
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Animals by Emma Jane Unsworth
Published May 20th 2014 by Harper Collins
256 Pages
Published May 20th 2014 by Harper Collins
256 Pages
Laura is trapped between two worlds. She's engaged to classcal musician Jim, planning a wedding and trying to act like a grown-up. On the other hand, Best Friend Tyler is a trainwreck. Together they tiptoe the line of alcohol dependency and generally cause hilarious mayhem.
Laura is struggling with how an adult should act, and wanting to escape the seriousness with Tyler. Admittedly, Tyler is a shitbrick. She steals from a drug dealer, has little empathy for Laura's problems and shows no respect for her relationship with Jim. That being said, I have to admit, as a young woman I have found myself in similar situations - although far less extreme.
The North of England is a far different place than the south, adn Unsworthr epresentes it perfectly. The drinking culture is more aggressive, and sloppier - far sloppier. Laura's reluncatance to take on an adult life but also her desire for a "normal" life completely resonates with me, and I imagine, a huge amount of other young women.
Laura and Tyler play with what is expected of women and what the reality is. They are vulgar, gross, dark, comical and sexual. I adore every moment of their relationship...eventhe inevitable downfall. Life desires movement, and when Tyler refuses to grow up and take responsability for her actions - Laura must let her go or risk being dragged into drug abuse and acoholism with her.
Jim, portrays himself as the perfect man. He's talented and handsome as far as we are concerned. He is an upstanding member of the community who takes care of Laura even when she comes in drunk. I mean, what a hero right? He lays the guilt on thick, and is critical and shitty to Laura. All the way through I keep asking: 'What the fuck is this guy's problem?' Well, he tried to fuck one of his work colleagues.
Prick.
The beautiful climax of the story is when Laura finds out, and Jim reports that he could not infact cheat on her, because he was too drunk to get hard. Nothing is romanticised, everything is down and dirty and I love it. Nothing is off limits, Unsworth doesn't seem to care about your delicate sensibilites and to be honest, neither to do many writer.
The ending, is quiet. It's the only way I can describe it. Laura finds some kind of resolve, a decision about moving into the future without both Jim and Tyler and it feels triumphant. She does not need them, she never did. It may be quiet, but it is hella powerful.
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