Customer Reviews

Zoology

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

wow, what a fantastic book. ben dolnick has created a winsome, earnest, throughly endearing everyman. henry reminds me so much of myself at times that it's unsettling. and at times, laugh out loud funny. this is the kind of book i'd end up writing if i could, and i suspect there are many people out there who will feel the same way once they read it. especially any thoughtful college-age and post-grad dudes.

First of all, I'm neither a relative or friend or acquaintance of Dolnick's (and the assumption that he's got relatives etc. writing positive reviews here is a cheap shot). I enjoyed "Zoology" very much. In some ways it reminded me of Jonathan Tropper's The Book of Joe Yet what's unusual about "Zoology" is that Henry is such a well-drawn character that we feel his hope and love, his sadness and his despair, while at the same time we see the world through his limited understanding. I don't think there are loose ends, or plot lines that are brought in and then dropped-- we don't understand so much about Henry's parents' marriage, because what (grown) child does? We don't know the details of his brother's relationship troubles, because Henry doesn't. He's wrapped up in his own life, and he's young and not fully intuitive about others: that's all internally consistent in the book. A real bonus for me was the tenderness with which Dolnick writes about animals-- Newman, especially, but others too. (That an animal named "Newman" is lost by Henry at that point in the narrative is pretty telling.) The idea here is that other animals can comfort us in ways humans often cannot: how true! I've noticed that the Amazon reviews of my own book Evolving God: A Provocative View on the Origins of Religion amount to a really fascinating mix of positive and not so positive. This has made me take notice when critiques seem to wish for a different book than the one the author has chosen to write! Why not at least consider WHY Dolnick chose to leave us with not-fully-resolved issues in Henry's world? Varied opinions, obviously, are the stuff of book reviewing; I just hope the negative reviews here don't turn people off, as "Zoology" has a lot to offer.

Talented writing skills by a young author. His lines are sparse and precise. There are some great observations about inner feelings and his depiction of New York City is accurate. Pretty impressive for someone just out of college. Looking forward to his next offering.

I don't read much fiction so when I picked up this book I had no idea what to expect. What I found was a story that speaks to me more than anything I have read, seen, or heard in a long time. Zoology is like a "Catcher in the Rye" for my generation. Like the great book I compare it to, Zoology is more than a coming of age story, it is a being of age story. Elinsky doesn't grow up so much as learn how to accept that he is already living in the flawed, complicated, but rich world of grownups.

I love the story in Zoology and its writing takes the book even higher. There's a thousand little descriptve gems in the book where Dolnick's language glows. "Furry dust," "sour, bready smell of saltines," "a little fizzing pill of hate," "like a house burned down to the pipes and bricks and black," to name a few.

I give Zoology the highest rating I can. I loved this book.

Henry Elinsky, a college drop-out, moves to New York where he resides with his brother David and David's girlfriend Lucy. Lacking skills for a more prestigious job, Henry finds employment in Central Park Zoo. Henry's lackluster life takes a turn for the better, or so he thinks, when he finds a friend in Margaret, a young woman temporarily staying in his apartment building.

I admit that I chose to read this book because the author grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. I honestly don't know if I liked this book or not. What seemed to be lacking was my feeling connected to a person (or even an animal) in the story. I kept seeing glances of many characters but felt I never did truly know their stories. Later I was thinking that perhaps this *was* the purpose of the story. Simply put, at a very precarious time in the life of Henry Elinsky, he was not attached to anyone. He felt alienated from school, from friends, and even from family.

This book may actually be good reading for a young person who is in a state of "drift". Haven't we all had such a state as a young adult?

POSSIBLE SPOILERS: There were puzzling things in the story - all of which made me crazy. Why was Margaret such a tease? Why had no positive things happened to Henry? How did he make the decision to go back to school? Why did Henry get such a weird last letter from Margaret? Why were Henry's parents' problems and Lucy's annoyance only alluded to and not explored more deeply?

Wow. I'm stunned that this is a first novel. The writing is confident, sophisticated and unpretentious. I love Henry, the main character, who is sweet and observant and funny. With so many gimicky novels around, it was a deep pleasure to read this entertaining book about a young guy starting out in the world. The plot hooked me with its vivid details of life at home when you're supposed to be in college, how it feels to move in with your brother and his girlfriend in New York City and what it's like to work at the Central Park Zoo. Reading Zoology, I remembered how satisfying it is to get involved with a good book. A real treat. I'd recommend it to anyone.

I loved Zoology. It's the story of a young man whose best friend happens to be a goat, and it's honest, funny, sharp and sad -- it's the best novel I've read in a long, long time. You'll remember the joys and pains of the first time you fell in love, and most importantly you'll remember what it's like to feel alive. This book is filled with clear, confident prose, and you often forget that you're even reading. Ben Dolnick has an amazing eye for detail and the rare ability to create a real world filled with real people. As soon as I finished it, I started again on page 1 and reread it. It will be a long time before I forget Henry, Margaret and Newman. Read Zoology and you'll remember why you love books.

Mr. Dolnick is a great writer. Every paragraph he describes something in such a way that you think, "Of course, why didn't I think of that? That's exactly right." Thoroughly enjoyable to read someone with such talent.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Zoology" from start to finish -- the richness of the story, the sensitivity of the writing, the wholeness of the characters. A truly fun and sometimes painful coming-of-age tale. It's hard to believe this was Dolnick's first novel -- I eagerly await his next one.

Destiny, do we have control or is it just by accident? High school graduation is supposed to open the road to new beginnings. That's what Henry Elinsky thought, but his first year at college was a disaster. Now, back at his old high school and helping dad with music class, it's definitely the pits. Life just doesn't appear fair and understanding from others seems impossible! Family dynamics and hidden problems leave Henry wondering which way is up. Breaking into the adult world seems to present some real challenges, but this is just the beginning.

New York, New York, Glimmer and glitz, a place where starting over can take unexpected turns. Henry is invited to spend the summer with his brother David in the Big Apple and can't wait for the adventure to begin. Dad thinks it is great, mom is afraid he's avoiding college. Uncle Walter is just his emotional self. Once Henry's settled in, next stop Central Park Zoo, and a job interview.

Nervous but determined, Henry nabs a job at the children's zoo. There is nothing cool about shoveling animal dung and washing out cages but his responsibilities become enjoyable in a mindless sort of way. Sometimes Henry finds more comfort in talking to a hairy "friend", than with unpredictable, closed minded, emotionally stressed humans! The Zoo becomes a refuge from the disappointments and trials that plague Henry's struggle to reach his dreams.

Is love in the air? When Henry meets Margaret, matters of the heart take unpredictable turns and alter his thoughts for the future. Close encounters or just accidental meetings? It's a summer romance, or is it?

Each day, Henry faces situations testing his ability to adjust, grow and learn from his choices. Accidents, family emergencies, and poor decisions may leave Henry up the creek with out a paddle.

Zoology is a small glimpse into the day to day events, thoughts, and dreams of a young man struggling to find meaning and purpose, in his upside down life.