Title: Yok
Author: Tim Davys
Translator: Paul Noren (from Swedish)
Genre: Short Story; Fiction
Pages: 368
Year: 2012
Publisher: Harper
Source: Library
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary:
The fourth book in the Mollisan Town Quartet, Yok contains four stories of stuffed animals trying to make it in a harsh world. Antonio Ortega Fox has fallen in love with a gangsters beautiful daughter; Erik Gecko, a servent to his two abusive brothers, dares to dream of a life of his own; Mike Chimpanzee has found success as a rock star but still feels unfulfilled; and Vincent Hare is on a never-ending quest for the meaning of life.
My Thoughts:
Yes, I said stuffed animals. All of the characters in these stories are stuffed animals. This might make the stories a little quirkier but it doesn’t take away from the humanity packed in them. If anything, it adds to it by making you think a little differently.
Yok was entertaining and thought-provoking. As you would expect in a noir, the endings are where these stories shine. They are haunting and beautiful and tragic. I can’t stop thinking about them.
I didn’t realize this was the fourth book in a series. I haven’t read the first three. But I don’t think I was missing much – if anything – by reading Yok first. And I will certainly be going back to read the others.
Well-written and well-told, Yok is a unique book that doesn’t shy away from the life’s big questions. Even if the characters are stuffed animals.
Sounds quirky enough to be great – I must put this on my list and read it soon, before I forget the stuffed animals hook.
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This one sounds interesting. I’ve never heard of it but now I want to check it out. Great review.
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