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THE LAST ANIMAL by Ramona Ausubel

Submitted by mcutler on
Posted on April 21, 2023 in
THE LAST ANIMAL by Ramona Ausubel
THE LAST ANIMAL by Ramona Ausubel published this week to a whirlwind of media attention. The book received a lovely review from Book Page, where reviewer Lauren Bufferd writes: "THE LAST ANIMAL whizzes around the planet—from the steppes of Siberia to the shores of Iceland to a remote alpine village—with a dizzying, almost madcap speed, but at the novel’s heart are the deep ties between mother and daughters, sister and sister, human and animal...Ausubel crafts this moving story with wit and depth, allowing readers to witness a family drawn together by both loss and a sense of wonder at an ever-changing planet.” A review from Jason Heller for NPR praises: “[THE LAST ANIMAL] soars where so many other books about family dynamics simply coast…Ausubel brings deep emotional truth to her work of dramatic fiction…THE LAST ANIMAL instantly injects Ausubel's telltale zing…Splicing wit and wisdom, THE LAST ANIMAL is a bright-eyed meditation on what animates us, biologically as well as emotionally — but most of all, familially.” A fantastic review from Meredith Maran for the LA Times raves: “Love it I did. Devour it I did. Recommend it to everyone, I do…Ausubel is a supernaturally gifted writer whose heart, soul, wit and intellect are evident in every wacky setting, character and plot line she weaves. Few authors can do what she does, seemingly effortlessly: spin saucy yet kind-spirited social satire while exploring a multitude of topical and archetypal subjects — all within a single work, all in sentences that sing…Classic Ausubel, THE LAST ANIMAL is many things. A mother-daughter love story. A global-warming warning. A fabulist fantasy. A sci-fi eco-scheme. A coming-of-age duet. A feminist critique of workplace misogyny. A study of grief…Forget everything you think you know about your reading tastes, sink into her weird world and prepare to fall in love with a 4,000-year-old baby mammoth.” The book was featured on The New York Times Book Review Shortlist, alongside glowing praise: "Sustained sorrow…underpins Ramona Ausubel’s new novel, THE LAST ANIMAL…The book also manages to be a mirthful romp of chicanery and derring-do.” Ausubel was interviewed by Jane Ciabattari for Lit Hub, who writes: “Ramona Ausubel is a master at creating distinctive young female characters…[A]n intense portrait of family dynamics that undergirds a speculative narrative that is just on the verge of real, and also filled with hope.” Meanwhile, a review by Heller McAlpin for The Christian Science Monitor praises: "A wild and woolly global escapade about unbounded scientific experimentation…[and] a hairy but cuddly beast of a novel that sheds life lessons, some heartwarming, many sticky with sentiment…Ausubel’s conclusion is clear: Nurture the earth and your dreams, but don’t forget to nurture your family.” BuzzFeed Books published an exclusive excerpt of the novel ahead of its publication, and USA Today featured the book as a "Must-Read Book of the Week." The book was also included in roundups from BookRiot, Electric Lit, and Lit Hub. Riverhead published the book on April 18, 2023.