Human, Animal by Seth Insua follows two different timelines at the same family farm. We follow the current day family- primarily father and youngest son, and then we follow a 1940’s timeline from a german prisoner of war’s point of view. I was so enthralled with the historical timeline, and simultaneously touched by the contemporary one.

This novel is a love letter to the human condition. There are no villains, but everyone in this book is flawed and therefore feels so real. The family dynamics are complex and beautiful, and I found myself unexpectedly moved by the themes of acceptance and forgiveness in this novel. it is not often i have read a novel like this one, where an older father set in his ways is one of the main protagonists, and being inside of his head was an experience I am not likely to forget. This book is the definition of stepping into other people’s shoes, and because of this the lines between opposing sides are blurred. Human, Animal sees every perspective while also advocating for compassion, and for that I dearly loved it

3.75⭐️
"Human, Animal" focuses primarily on two stories: a struggling farmer father, looking to get by, and his young adult child, coming-to-terms with their own identity. When extremist animal activists bring scandal to their farm, it sets off a chain of events that upends everyone's world, and makes them question all their believed truths.

This is an extremely ambitious debut, and one that deserves a great amount of respect. This topic is off the beaten path for me, but not only did this story pack a punch, but the content educated me and had thought-provoking topics. This novel has layers upon layers of critical questions of family, identity, morality and ethics, engaging the reader with a subtle suggestion: "What would you do in this situation?"

I can't deny, there were some rough points for me - sometimes the writing didn't really feel that engaging and the plot seemed stagnant. However, there were some major revelations that made me perk up and had me aghast at the drama. Seth Insua philosophizes on the human condition and makes you wonder what it truly means to take space in this crazy world of ours.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel!