I just couldn’t get into this book. It felt more like a memoir than a work of fiction. There was no real plot of a book. In my opinion at least.

Dómhildur comes from a line of midwives on her mother’s side of the family and undertakers on her dad’s side. Dómhildur has followed in her maternal family’s path, having recently delivered her 1922nd baby. She lives in an apartment she inherited from her great-aunt. As a storm approaches Reykjavík, Dómhildur discovers decades of letters and manuscripts amid her aunt’s clutter. Fielding calls from her sister and visits from neighbors, Dómhildur reflects on birth, death, and human nature while reading her aunt’s writings.

This book is more about ruminating than plot; little actually happens in the book. After finishing it, I didn’t quite know how to feel about the story. Ann Richardson did a nice job with the narration. I would recommend to those who like introspective novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

This book was just so interesting. I couldn’t put it down. It is a reflection on midwifery, the mothers of light. Midwives are amazing strong people. I loved all the topics that were talked about. It was real. I would love to read more. The narrator was wonderful. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was weird and not what I expected, but in a really great way. The story is atmospheric and slow, but held my attention. I can see this not being for everyone, but I enjoyed it.

This reads like a series of memoirs. In a way it’s charming, and I could see myself listening to it if I was looking for something peaceful, but it definitely didn’t grab my attention. Very atmospheric.

This book wasn’t what I expected it to be. I assumed there would be more about delivering babies. It was enjoyable just the same. The story tells about the author’s great aunt and her observations of her job, animals and her life.

I have read from this author before, but this book ended up not being quite what I expected. It was more philosophical than Miss Iceland, more of a wandering rumination than any kind of real story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my copy of Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir Narrated by Ann Richardson in exchange for an honest review. It published December 6, 2022.
Wow, this was such a beautiful book. Such a treat and treasure for the imagination and senses. I have not read any other books by and Icelandic author, so I don't have anything to compare this to, but it felt so foreign, yet so relatable at the same time. Barriers of culture and language melt away when we examine pregnancy, birth, and all that goes on with it all.
I loved this book, and highly recommend it!

Rounding up, probably from 4.2 stars. Definitely a unique book that mixes memoir, midwifery and Icelandic life.

I learned some unique things, like a certain type of whale has a cuddle fin. But mostly the book was a memoir. Probably one of the most uniquely enjoyable books that I've read (definitely recently). That said, its probably not for everyone and if you aren't into memoirs, you probably won't enjoy it as much as I did.

The author was writing the book at Christmas as a severe winter storm was approaching Iceland; which was really odd reading for me ... as a severe winter storm was approaching (as I was reading) also at Christmas time. I loved how I just happened to be listening at the right time.

About 10 years ago we were able to visit Iceland. Just a fabulous couple of days and so glad to have been able to stay in bed and breakfasts along the way. Just a great and beautiful experience (not at Christmas time).

Wonderfully narrated by Ann Richardson.

Thank you to NetGalley. I always love being introduced to a new-to-me author. Thank you to author by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir and Dreamscape Media the publisher. The advance listen copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir and narrated by Ann Richardson is a poetic story about midwifes, life and death. This book sadly did not struck a cord with me and it was difficult for me to get into due to it not having an obvious plot. However, I feel like if I read it at some other time, I might have enjoyed it more. Both the author and the narrator are talented. It just was not for me this time.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook for my unbiased review.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*

ANIMAL LIFE is centered around a midwife, Dómhildur, and follows the twists and turns of her great-aunt's uncovered manuscripts. At it's core, this book is about inheritance of professions and stewardship. Dómhildur followed her maternal lineage's tradition of becoming a midwife, and while this book touches on the darkness and light that can be found in deliveries-- it also dives in and out of so many subjects of life. The book often feels disjointed, but is tied together with Dómhildur's own experiences and day-to-day life.

This book feels more philosophical and contemplative than anything else. Many readers will (and do) struggle with its lack of plot or direction-- but I thoroughly enjoyed ANIMAL's transcendent structure and am grateful I had the opportunity to listen to this beautifully narrated version.

A meditative little book set in Iceland and told from the perspective of a midwife. It’s about life and death and nature and humans and animals. There is little or no plot, but rather little vignettes or musings that I enjoyed listening too well enough, but that, I fear, will ultimately prove to be quite forgettable. Reminded me a bit of Jackie Polzin or Jenny Offill.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netgalley for an honest review.

I deeply enjoyed this book. It was unexpected, deep and caring. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook because I never would have gotten all the Swedish(?) words correct in my head with just reading. I will listen to this author again.

3⭐️

How can one discuss birth without also discussing death? Dómhildur is a midwife, like all the other women in her family. As Christmas approaches Dómhildur finds letters left by her grandaunt (whose apartment she lives in) and reads through her thoughts of midwifery, life, death and surprisingly animal rights.

I found that this book did not prioritize character development but rather focused on the themes and thoughts in the grandaunts letters. While these topics are discussed well, it wasn’t entirely what I was expecting when I picked this up. Some of the topics were heavy and aren’t my favourite to focus on during the Christmas season. It’s very philosophical. In the synopsis we learn that there is a large storm approaching just in time for Christmas, so of course you would think that the big climax happens when Dómhildur delivers a baby during the storm, but you would be wrong. This is not that type of book, it is not plot driven. It focuses a lot on Dómhildur’s grandaunts letters as well as Dómhildur being able to move on from her grandaunts death. Her grandaunt passed 4 years before and Dómhildur did nothing to erase her grandaunts presence in the apartment, as the story progresses Dómhildur is able to become her own shelf.

I received an audio copy of this book and really enjoyed the narration. Listening to the Icelandic names was brilliant, though I had a hard time keeping all the names straight. The chapters are also very long on audio, as someone who likes putting down a book at the end of a chapter it was hard to stop reading in the middle and having to rewind to get back into the story. I personally would have enjoyed this book more if it wasn’t teased as a “Christmas” read, but that’s just me! If you liked “Beautiful World, Where are You” by Sally Rooney, you will enjoy this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audio copy for an honest review.

If you need something quiet to read while cuddled up in front of the fire, this is the perfect pick. It is just the right blend of nostalgia, philosophy, hopefulness, natural science, and not at all exciting.

Thank you Net Galley for an audio ARC of Animal Life by Auour Ava Olafsdottir. I understand the concept of this book but I es not entertained by it. Complex ideas told in story format.

This was so incredibly beautiful I can hardly find the words for it. The narration was perfect, the language was poetic, and it left me thinking about life and death.
This was one of the most beautiful audiobooks I listened to this year,

This was a weird little book, so this is going to be a weird little review.

There was no real plot, and the most extensive character development was for the late great-aunt through her letters. It read like a mix of stream of thought, some philosophical exploration, and a treatise on nature. The mundane and the profound were given the same treatment. At times, it got very meta, especially toward the end as the manuscripts were discussed.

I received an audio copy, and the narrator's voice was soothing and I found myself engrossed. The fact that it was audio made it a bit challenging to keep the different Icelandic names straight at first, though.

This book is definitely not for everyone, but I think you may enjoy it if you enjoy subtlety, midwifery, nature, and philosophical non sequiturs.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing an advance listeners copy for me to review!

Animal Life is a poetically written story about a woman who comes from a long line of midwives who moves into her grandaunt's apartment where she finds decades worth of letters. It reads very intimately and I enjoyed that. While it is relatively short, it's a slower read than I tend to go for. I did find the story itself engaging though!

“In the days leading up to Christmas, Dómhildur delivers her 1,922nd baby. Beginnings and endings are her family trade; she comes from a long line of midwives on her mother’s side and a long line of undertakers on her father’s. She even lives in the apartment that she inherited from her grandaunt, a midwife with a unique reputation for her unconventional methods.”

If you’re looking for a face-paced, edge-of-your-seat story with larger than life characters and a stunning climax…this book is not for you.

If you’re able to enjoy a quiet story, served largely via the disjointed manuscripts of a departed midwife, where nothing much happens, where plot is mere hinted, and the past is doled out Nicky-Nicky-Nine-Doors style, then climb aboard.

I know that probably sounds like I didn’t like this book, but, weirdly, that’s untrue. While I was disappointed there weren’t more accounts of midwifery (I would have bet – and lost – money that the climax would involve a birth during the storm) I found comfort in the lyrical way this story progressed.

It was very nearly poetic – not surprising, since the Great Aunt was such a fan of verse.

I enjoyed seeing the main character’s growth in the form of making her home her own, and I enjoyed the spare details that told you just enough about a character, without drowning you in minutia.

I loved the setting, similar to my own Norther Canada, but different enough to be interesting.

I’m not sure how many of the author’s works have been translated into English, but I’d definitely be interested in reading more.

7/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this weighted blanket of an ARC.