A 2019 STAFF REC OF THE MONTH PICK
MOSTLY DEAD THINGS by Kristen Arnett is a painfully accurate depiction of grief – and I can’t decide if it is made more or less moving, more or less profound, by how incredibly grisly it is. It is incredibly grisly, full of literal blood and guts, but despite being someone who leaves the room when the CSIs uncover the body on TV, this novel completely fascinated me.
It’s a story of misguided love, repressed artistic vision, grief of various kinds and all things taxidermy. Jessa-Lynn Morton is trying to keep her father’s taxidermy shop operating after his suicide, while contending with her mother’s alternate vision for the animals as art. Business matters are complicated by Jessa’s romantic misadventures, foremost of which is that she and her brother, Milo, share a love interest – his wife – who loved and left them both.
MOSTLY DEAD THINGS sometimes jumps fully into the absurd, but it is grounded by Arnett’s talent for concrete detail.
Late in the book the characters have a conversation about art:
“It’s a good thing when you can’t stop thinking about a piece,” she said. That’s when you know it’s done the work. When you can’t get it out of your head afterward.”
I can’t get this book out of my head – and I’m looking forward to hearing what you all make of peacocks, a bear rug and bondage gear.
CLICK HERE TO READ A Q&A WITH ARNETT IN OUR AUGUST 2024 NEWSLETTER