Description
Brandon Taylor’s debut novel Real Life, which tells the story of a Black Ph.D. student in a predominantly White biochemistry program, was critically acclaimed and shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize. In Filthy Animals, Taylor’s debut short story collection, Taylor demonstrates that his talent is not limited to just the novel form. In these stories, Taylor applies his keen observation of the human condition to a cast of characters navigating a slew of challenges: a recent mental health crisis, a career-threatening injury, a fraught relationship dynamic, a complicated job situation.
Many of the stories are set in Wisconsin, and many stories are linked, with characters from earlier stories resurfacing in later ones. The effect is a collection that depicts a community of people and their relationship to their Midwestern setting with detail and depth. Taylor’s authentic dialogue, resonant imagery, and thoughtful observation combine to form a volume that readers will savor for its rich explorations of the everyday. Filthy Animals further solidifies that Taylor’s future writings are ones to look out for, in whatever form they come.
