Bunny by Mona Awad
5 stars
“We call them Bunnies because that is what they call each other," is the first sentence we encounter in Mona Awad’s newest release. The story is set in the backdrop of Providence (Lovecraft and weird fiction territory and this book loves to pay homage to just that) while being immersed in the life of a college grad student completing her thesis novel in creative writing. The women in her Workshop (known as the Cave because it’s a place to give birth to their creative ideas) are all Bunnies. The Bunnies are women who love glitter and squeezing each other in hugs so tight that their masses become one. It’s horrifying. The Bunnies and their basic concept is horrifying in and of itself. The weirdness doesn’t end there and neither does the horror. Samantha hates the Bunnies and wants nothing to do with them. After the Bunnies wave at her at a party and then promptly invite her to join them at one of their Smut Salons (where they read erotic fiction and poetry) she is swept into the strange and horrifying world where women don’t just call themselves Bunny, but where bunnies (yes, the cute furry ones) are turned into men. Their heads explode and the Bunnies are covered in rabbit guts and welcome their newest creation when he knocks on the door. It’s weird. It’s gory and the story just got weirder and weirder as time went on. Honestly, I was sold when I heard BooksandLaLa say this book was about a cult of women turning bunnies into men. Say no more, that’s my kind of weird. That description doesn’t even begin to cover the range of weird that we encounter, but I won’t spoil where Awad’s level of weird and horrible brilliance goes. Read it for yourself.
Continue reading if you want deeper thoughts:
The writing is quite stylistically not for everyone. It’s choppy and flowery, but it has writing allusions that paint a picture of how immersive the writing can be to a writer. It’s great symbolism for the obsession with creation that writers experience. The writing is quick and the choppy style lends to the reader always wanting to continue reading. I know, I did. This book was one of the quickest reads I’ve had in awhile. The writing draws and sucks you in. I could not put this book down. This novel is engrossing and enigmatic writing style is what makes this book so good.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 5
The main female character is Samantha. I don’t know if I like Samantha or not, but I definitely am fascinated by her world and her life. I’m fascinated by her choices and the world that she has been drawn into. I wouldn’t call her a strong heroine, but she is strong. That girl can fight when she has enough.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 5
The Villain- I love how twisted and morally corrupt this story is. The villains are obvious, hello, it’s the title, but they are so wild to follow. The horrifying thing is that they are all one. They have no personality outside of being one massive entity and we only know what Samantha knows, so there are so many secrets when it comes to the Bunnies.
“That’s when ___’s head explodes. Literally explodes. Blood and brains all over me, the walls. Blood all over the Bunnies and their whimpering boys. Bits of skull falling on the hardwood floor like hail. His headless, suited body remains standing before me. Then it collapses on the floor.”
Villain Scale: 5
“The Work does not come without Cost.”
The characters are so intricate and I feel like even mentioning one character outside of the Bunnies leads to spoilers, so just know they are fascinating. I was always shocked and kept on my toes.
Character Scale: 5
This novel is a wild ride and I want everyone to read it. It was an amazing and wild ride. One of my favorite books that I’ve read in awhile. If you like weird and Lovecraftian nonsense that isn’t explained, but will grip you and freak you out then check this out.
Plotastic Scale: 5
Cover Thoughts: I am obsessed with the colors on this cover. It is so striking and simple.
5 stars
“We call them Bunnies because that is what they call each other," is the first sentence we encounter in Mona Awad’s newest release. The story is set in the backdrop of Providence (Lovecraft and weird fiction territory and this book loves to pay homage to just that) while being immersed in the life of a college grad student completing her thesis novel in creative writing. The women in her Workshop (known as the Cave because it’s a place to give birth to their creative ideas) are all Bunnies. The Bunnies are women who love glitter and squeezing each other in hugs so tight that their masses become one. It’s horrifying. The Bunnies and their basic concept is horrifying in and of itself. The weirdness doesn’t end there and neither does the horror. Samantha hates the Bunnies and wants nothing to do with them. After the Bunnies wave at her at a party and then promptly invite her to join them at one of their Smut Salons (where they read erotic fiction and poetry) she is swept into the strange and horrifying world where women don’t just call themselves Bunny, but where bunnies (yes, the cute furry ones) are turned into men. Their heads explode and the Bunnies are covered in rabbit guts and welcome their newest creation when he knocks on the door. It’s weird. It’s gory and the story just got weirder and weirder as time went on. Honestly, I was sold when I heard BooksandLaLa say this book was about a cult of women turning bunnies into men. Say no more, that’s my kind of weird. That description doesn’t even begin to cover the range of weird that we encounter, but I won’t spoil where Awad’s level of weird and horrible brilliance goes. Read it for yourself.
Continue reading if you want deeper thoughts:
The writing is quite stylistically not for everyone. It’s choppy and flowery, but it has writing allusions that paint a picture of how immersive the writing can be to a writer. It’s great symbolism for the obsession with creation that writers experience. The writing is quick and the choppy style lends to the reader always wanting to continue reading. I know, I did. This book was one of the quickest reads I’ve had in awhile. The writing draws and sucks you in. I could not put this book down. This novel is engrossing and enigmatic writing style is what makes this book so good.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 5
The main female character is Samantha. I don’t know if I like Samantha or not, but I definitely am fascinated by her world and her life. I’m fascinated by her choices and the world that she has been drawn into. I wouldn’t call her a strong heroine, but she is strong. That girl can fight when she has enough.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 5
The Villain- I love how twisted and morally corrupt this story is. The villains are obvious, hello, it’s the title, but they are so wild to follow. The horrifying thing is that they are all one. They have no personality outside of being one massive entity and we only know what Samantha knows, so there are so many secrets when it comes to the Bunnies.
“That’s when ___’s head explodes. Literally explodes. Blood and brains all over me, the walls. Blood all over the Bunnies and their whimpering boys. Bits of skull falling on the hardwood floor like hail. His headless, suited body remains standing before me. Then it collapses on the floor.”
Villain Scale: 5
“The Work does not come without Cost.”
The characters are so intricate and I feel like even mentioning one character outside of the Bunnies leads to spoilers, so just know they are fascinating. I was always shocked and kept on my toes.
Character Scale: 5
This novel is a wild ride and I want everyone to read it. It was an amazing and wild ride. One of my favorite books that I’ve read in awhile. If you like weird and Lovecraftian nonsense that isn’t explained, but will grip you and freak you out then check this out.
Plotastic Scale: 5
Cover Thoughts: I am obsessed with the colors on this cover. It is so striking and simple.
Have you read Bunny? Do you plan to? Let me know down below in the comments!
