4/5 stars
What's it about? A mountain lion contemplates identity, desire, and connection as they struggle to survive in the Hollywood Hills. Scarcity (interpreted by the lion as “scare city” from snippets of conversation between hikers) and curiosity drive the lion into human interactions with strange and violent consequences. A smart and mighty novel.
How’d I find it? A bookseller at Solid State Books uttered the words “queer mountain lion,” and I was sold.
Who will enjoy this book? Lovers of writing about Los Angeles (“ellay” in the novel), queer themes, and short experimental reads (think Fernanda Melchor or Olga Ravn’s The Employees) should appreciate, though the uniqueness of this book makes exact read-alikes difficult to pinpoint.
What stood out? This is anthropomorphism done right. Hoke doesn’t attempt to explain the lion’s psyche; even their name is “not made of noises a person can make”. The text is appropriately bereft of punctuation and capitalization, and people’s conversations are rendered in the lion’s own understanding, offering chuckles and fresh perspective. You’ll read this slim novel in one sitting, as it’s impossible to put down once you tuck in.
Which line made me feel something? Some of the best lines appear in the lion’s experience of fire: “my lungs are full of ugly” and “fire is the only future”. Look out for other beautiful snippets in the lion’s telling of their life before Hollywood.