Creepy girls! Verse novels! Dead people! Germany! All my favourite things wrapped up into one book. I loved this a lot, it's so hard to make a verse novel work without losing sight of the poetry, but Kernot definitely creates something beautiful. I loved Lottie, and although she is pushed towards science, sometimes you just want to read about a strange girl touching dead things.

I'm not even going to lie here; I picked up this book only because I loved the cover.

I had no idea what it was about. Or what genre it was.

So, what a surprise it was for me when I opened the book and verses were staring back at me, which was a bit shocking because I tried to stay away from modern poetry.
However, after finishing, I would say that it was more of prose written in verse. But that's beside the point.

It was almost fascinating, at first having no idea what's going on and then slowly, the story started to unravel in front of my eyes.

The taxidermy line, Lottie's mother, who is Annie, the life of German immigrants in Australia and more.

I have a hard time deciding what to really say about this one. I would not say that I really enjoyed this book to the point I would go back to it, but at the same time it was very fascinating, and I'm still a bit marvelling at what I read.
And as some of you may know, I'm not a fan of modern poetry, but with this book, I even considered liking the poetry part of it!

Yeah, and the cover is really pretty if I forgot to mention that.

The Art of Taxidermy, an Australian award-winning novel-in-verse, explores a German-Australian's girl's grieving process, as she mourns the death of her mother and sister, as well as her family's internment during WWII. After Lottie's older sister drowns and her mother dies during stillbirth, Lottie becomes obsessed with taxidermy, which she views as an attempt at resurrection. She begins collecting bodies of dead creatures and gutting them, which horrifies her Aunt Hilda, who is helping her dad raise Lottie. Her only friend is an Indigenous boy who bonds with her over their shared loneliness. He helps her with her collection and moving toward her dream of becoming a museum taxidermist.

This YA contemporary had a bit of a slower feeling to it than I expected, but the dreamlike quality of the writing fit the pacing perfectly. I loved the sort of magical realism elements to the story and can't wait for more from this author!

There aren't any other YA titles about taxidermy, so this book definitely wins a prize for its eye-opening look into the art. I was not as won over by the verse format, however; too often I felt as if it left gaps in the story. Regardless, an interesting debut.

The Art of Taxidermy is completely not what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised. It felt very raw and deep to read this text but I had to read it in parts as it wasn't something I could read all at once as there were so many feelings attached to each word.

I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital arc of The Art of Taxidermy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so intrigued about this when I read the synopsis on netgalley so I was so happy when I was approved for it.

I found the writing style of this quite interesting, the plot itself was quite slow and there didn’t seem to be too much happening, aside from Lottie finding animals and bringing them home to try and “resurrect” via taxidermy and her Aunt Hilda constantly trying to make her more of a typical girl and ultimately destroying all of her creations.

A lot of this novel is about the loss of Lotties mother, but I felt the loss of Annie a lot more, as she just couldn’t give her up, in fact it took me a little while to realise that Annie wasn’t actually real and Lottie was just imagining her.

Throughout the novel there are some stunning illustrations that help break up the pacing.

You could see that Lottie’s father wanted to support her, he cleared out his shed to give her somewhere to work, but I do believe he struggled against her Aunt Hilda- as she was the only female in her life.

I will say though, if you have issues with the concept of death or graphic mentions of death and taxidermy then maybe this isn’t for you, I did have to stop reading every now and then as I found it a little too much for me at times.

Aside from that I do have to say that this was beautifully written and it really packs a punch.

The Art of Taxidermy is a novel written in verse and the first of its kind I read. I have to say it took a little bit to get used to the format but at about 30% I was fully immersed and couldn't put it down.

“I can feel it, Annie whispered.
The air is heavy with ghosts.
The birds sing only sad songs.
The ground swallowed many tears.”

The writing is truly beautiful and some poems (chapters?) really touched me. I have marked quite a few, actually.
I also had a tear in my eye one time. It is such a wonderful story about a girl and her grief. Her unique way to see the world and experience the beauty in things other people don't usually.

It might be a bit repetitive at times but in my opinion that actually added to the simple charm of the story. We follow Lottie trying to cope with the death of her mother. She starts to collect dead animals, a hobby her aunt is shocked by. I loved the way the relationship with her aunt is portrayed because it shows that sometimes people may want the best for us but hurt us in the process. That doesn't mean they love us any less though.

I really appreciated how her father encouraged her to find her own way, to grief, to live.

The book also touched on the subjects of isolation and discrimination. It takes place in Australia and Lottie's family are German immigrants who didn't always have it easy there (Her parents lived through the second world war and the time of the internment camps in Australia).

Sharon Kernot uses a lot of imagery in her novel. If you can let yourself be wrapped in this story, you can feel the wind and the sun.
Although a fair warning: If you can't stand the description of dead animals, maybe this is not for you.

While the way this story is told took some getting used to (especially when you're like me and rarely read verse novels or poetry collections) it was the perfect way for this book. I couldn't imagine it being written any other way. It perfectly captures the feeling of being unanchored after such a loss, the innocence of children and the strange beauty we can find anywhere in the world if we dare to search for it in unusual places.

The Art of Taxidermy is the story of 11 year old Lottie as she copes with grief after the death of her mother. It’s written in the form of a poem with beautiful descriptions of animals and landscapes.

Lottie’s aunt sees her fascination with dead animals as strange and sabotages her collection but this does not stop her with her ambition to become a taxidermist at a museum and she endeavours to improve her skills in the art with the support of her father. At many levels this is about following your dreams and being true to yourself.

It’s not a hugely plot driven novel though there are revelations along the way. It’s about people and emotions and the importance of remembering and talking about the person who has gone and allowing individuals to grieve in their own time and way.

I found it very moving, especially the ending and will certainly read any further novels by this author.

This was a quick read that I liked! It was really beautiful, and I enjoyed the verse format. However, it went a little too quickly for me. I didn't really feel like I had a chance to grow to care about any of the characters. However, it really was lovely, and I don't regret reading it at all.

I'm a big fan of verse novels, especially when the bulk of the plot focus on a character's inner journey or self exploration. When the author is good at imagery, making us feel along with the character it transcends story to become art. And that's certainly the case here. Even when I wasn't clear on the context of a moment, when I was confused about he actual plot, I was sharing Lottie's experience. A little more context for the setting and events in the world at large would have been nice. But this is a book to read more for how it's being told than what is being told. That style won't work for everyone but I enjoyed it.

I was first drawn in by the title, The Art of Taxidermy. The first thing I could think of was those horrible taxidermy horrors that fail to capture the animal's natural expression and thereby somehow elevate the sadness of their death. So yes, I understood there's an art to it, but I was fascinate to see how Sharon Kernot's verse novel would tackle such a difficult topic. Thanks to Text Publishing and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of Taxidermy is a novel about grief and growing up with the shadow of it. Lottie has lot her mother and has now begun collecting and "fixing" dead things. Her aunt is horrified, since taxidermy or an interest in dead things is nowhere near appropriate for a young girl in the 1960s. Her father, however, might see that there is more to her interest than just grief. Kernot shows us Lottie's growing interest while also slowly developing the world around her. Lottie makes a Aboriginal friend through whose presence both Lottie and the reader are confronted with a very different but equally traumatic loss of identity. Kernot also adds another layer of loss and grief by delving slightly into Lottie's family history as Germans, especially into her father and grandfather's stay in a detention camp during the second World War. Kernot shows us that loss and grief are all around us and it makes for a very raw reading experience at times.

The structure of The Art of Taxidermy is a very interesting one. Although the story is told in a linear fashion, it is fragmented, with only the most important moments brought to the forefront. The moment she discovered a dead mouse, the moment her collection is discovered, moments of love, moments of sadness. They all come together to form an incomplete yet recognizable picture of a young girl growing up in a world that is no longer kind. It felt very reminiscent to me of how memory works. Although it being a verse novel was one of my major draws to Kernot's The Art of Taxidermy, I had completely forgotten that by the time I started reading it. I was surprised initially, then remembered, and finally found myself engrossed by Kernot's style. By restraining herself, Kernot is able to put a lot of power into a few words. Bringing these two things together, Keronot is able to introduce something akin to plot twists and surprises, while maintaining the poetry of her writing and the calmness of tone.

Sharon Kernot's writing is beautiful. The Art of Taxidermy is full of vivid descriptions, of the vastness of the Australian landscape as well as the minute beauty of a mouse skeleton. At times the descriptions may be quite morbid, but by not hiding the blood, guts and gore, Kernot packs a much more powerful punch. Although The Art of Taxidermy could seem sensationalist, involving taxidermy and young grieving girls, it is actually a very meditative novel, which is aided by the fact that it is a verse novel. Kernot takes her time with Lottie but spares words. Acts are repeated, stubbornly, with everyone involved expecting a different outcome each time. For some readers this may be off-putting, but the way the story circled back to Lottie's grief or coping mechanism made sense to me. In the end The Art of Taxidermy was a quick read for me but an interesting one. I found myself thinking of how we look at grief, at loss, how crippled families can be by it, and how we can, maybe, move on from it.

I greatly enjoyed the poetic calm of The Art of Taxidermy. Kernot doesn't shy away from the horror of death (or taxidermy), but delivers a heartfelt story about a young girl doing the best she can. I'd recommend this verse novel to lovers of poetry and those interested in grief and loss.

2.5 OUT OF 5 STARS

The Art of Taxidermy is a story written in verse. It took me a bit to get into the story because of that, as I don’t tend to read novels in verse very often. The writing style was gorgeous in this, it was beautifully crafted. The writing style was my favourite aspect of The Art of Taxidermy. Due to the fact that it was written in verse I managed to fly through this book a lot faster than I thought I would. (Just thought I would mention that as well.)

As you can already guess, by the title of this book, the story has a big focus on taxidermy. There are quite a few gruesome scenes and descriptions in this book. If descriptions of dead animals bother you I would definitely stay clear of this book! Personally, it wasn’t something that bothered me. But then again I grew up reading Stephen King, so I can stomach quite a lot.

Speaking of the story, I was bored while reading this book. It seemed like nothing was happening and there were some repetitive moments. The characters also weren’t that memorable to me. All of them just felt flat. I couldn’t connect to Lottie at all, as she seemed unfazed by everything that was happening around her. The only thing that seemed to interest her was taxidermy and nothing else. I do understand in some ways why it was like that, but because of it I couldn’t emotionally connect to the story. One of the side characters is an Aboriginal boy, so there was some talk about indigenous people. I can’t comment on how that representation was handled.

Overall, The Art of Taxidermy was beautifully written but it lacked in story and characters. I’m not sure if this was a case of just me not connecting to the book, or if the story and characters weren’t well crafted. I think I’m unsure because of the format that this book was written in, as it’s not something that I’m used to.

This was my first verse novel, so I wasn't sure it I would take to it. I finished it in one sitting and it was glorious. It's the story of a young girl in Australia who, surrounded by death, tries in her own way to make death beautiful. I loved it. It's one of the most beautiful things I've read this year. Her love of nature, especially animals, really spoke to me and reminded me capturing and mounting butterflies. I especially appreciated that her father could see who she really was and not just a girl who should do girly things. The novel also briefly touches on Australian internment camps during WWII and what it was like to be a German who had fled Nazi Germany only to end up in an internment camp in a foreign country. Highly recommend. It didn't feel YA to me.

I love books in prose, so I loved the layout of this book!

This book deals with Charlotte's grief, and man does she have a lot. She expresses her grief in taxidermy, which her aunt absolutely hates. She tries to get her to stop throughout the whole book.

I felt that not a lot happened. I found my mind wandering while reading. It wasn't the worst book I've read, but definitely wasn't the best either,

The Art of Taxidermy by Sharon Kernot is a gorgeously written tale of grief, death, life, and most importantly, the deep, aching beauty found in all of it. It’s about exploration, confusion, acceptance, loneliness, and family, all told through majestic verse that flows and ripples through the story like water over a rocky riverbed. The descriptions are visceral and real, each scene laid bare and raw before you, to read and understand, to learn.

As Lottie grows up, and tries to understand the grief forever hanging above her family, she learns to find beauty in death, and to honor the once living through various methods. While the entire book focuses on death and decay, it somehow never becomes macabre or gruesome. The story is told with the utmost love and respect in every syllable.

I received a free e-copy of The Art of Taxidermy from NetGalley and Text Publishing in exchange for my review.

Thanks to Text Publishing and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is written in verse which is really cool and something a bit different.. I was a little apprehensive at first as this is not a writing style I engage with very often. I needn't have worried however, as it it's a sublime reading experience and makes perfect sense in the context of the book.

Lottie, a young girl, the child of German immigrants living in Australia becomes fascinated with death after her mother dies. As a result of this interest, she begins collecting dead animals in an attempt to preserve them. Her aunt is horrified but her father encourages her interest, seeing it as a sign of burgeoning scientific curiosity.

I have a distinctly morbid slant when it comes to matters of life and death so I found this book really interesting. It's a meditation on grief through the eyes of a young girl looking to make sense of what she's been through and how she chooses to process the death of her mother.

The book also has a real sense of place and the Australian landscape, flora and fauna plays a key role in the lyrical descriptions of Lottie's life and experiences.

The novel also touches on prejudice against the Aboriginal population and contains a seemingly controversial use of the n-word. It is used in the context of 'they called him _______' as in referencing the racism faced by the character's best friend. This word was clearly used against the Aboriginal population in the historical context of post WW2 Australia so I didn't have an issue with it, but some readers have found it objectionable so make your own judgement.

Another slightly bizarre criticism I've seen is people complaining that the book has descriptions of dead animals. Bruhhhhhh...

Anyhoo, I really enjoyed this, it was a short, immersive read that utilised an interesting writing style to tell its story.

This is the perfect fall book. A novel in verse, it doesn't ask much of the reader, just that they follow along with it in this journey of dark days and dealing with grief. It has a wonderfully spooky vibe throughout that it's title clues you in on from the get go. It is honest and open in a way that lets you fall deep into the book and lose sense of yourself. There is a lot to say for any book that makes you forget where you are whenever you have to pull yourself out of it. Kernot has struck a very vulnerable cord with this one, and I'll be turning to this book time and again when I need to feel sad for no reason. It's cathartic in the way it explores the themes of grief and death, whether that's particularly what you're sad about or not.

I think this is the first book of poetry I have ever reviewed on this blog. Yay for firsts! To be honest, when I first requested it, I didn’t realize it was poetry, which was a surprise when I started reading it. I haven’t really read poetry since college, and I must say, it was a truly beautiful experience.

The poems all connect to tell the story of Lotte, a young girl who has lost her mother. One of the ways she copes with it is by finding dead animals — birds, mice, mostly small things — and collecting them. She is fascinated by them. Her Aunt Hilde is worried about her doing this, finding it morbid and weird, and actually destroys Lotte’s collections on several occasions. I have to say, I really disliked Hilde, even though I know she was doing what she thought was right. Lotte had to find her own way to deal with her grief and this way was working. It was not a morbid fascination with death, but a reverence for the gift of life.

I did forgive Hilde when she gave Lotte a kitten. Kittens will help me forgive almost anyone.

Lotte also uses her love for animals and her amateur taxidermy skills to feel closer to her sister, Annie. We find out towards the end of the story that Annie has also died, though Lotte still feels her presence, especially when searching for her specimens. Lotte’s father is dealing with his own grief, but also eventually supports Lotte’s scientific mind and interest in animals.

This book was absolutely lovely. Heartbreaking in places, but ultimately hopeful. It’s a story about a family’s love for one another, shown in different ways, but very strong and real.

The Art of Taxidermy by Sharon Kernot is a novel in verse that explores death and grief as well as how we deal with it all. Novels in verse aren't normally my go-to style, but this is absolutely worthy reading. Due to the style, it can go very quickly if you don't slow down to savor it. Kernot's writing is wonderfully lyrical and rhythmical, yet somewhat spare. It can be a bit repetitive at times though. I wouldn't say the book is exactly exciting, but overall the author handles the topic at hand very well and she writes beautifully. I may need to explore more of Sharon Kernot's writing in the future.