A book from a nonhuman perspective

[Simina]

Hello everyone! I just finished Three Bags Full by Leonie Swan Three Bags Full and it's really enjoyable! It also made me think about how sheep think, so I must say the non-human perspective is thought provoking... :)

[Katie]

Would squirrel seems chipmunk by Sedaris work?

[Roachie]

Hmm, I was planning to re-read Dogsbody for this one, but maybe I'll use it for "A book you loved as a child" instead, and use this category to finally read Watership Down.

[Ramona]

Last year I read "Holy Cow" by David Duchovny for a different challenge. It's lovely and I highly recommend it! It's narrated by a cow who is questioning her lot in life. It explores different religions which are represented by other animals on the farm. It's a short quick read!

[Megan]

Nadine wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I just started reading The Art of Racing in the Rain. The concept is interesting, but I'm not a fan of all the racecar driving stuff. I get the metaphor they're trying..."

I thought it meant the *dog* running (racing) in the rain too.

[Jennifer]

This week I finished The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka for this prompt and I have to say I just didn't get it. Not unenjoyable to read as such but I just couldn't really see the point. I read through some of the GR reviews and they certainly seemed to get a lot more from it than me. I particularly found interesting one review which suggested it depicted a sufferer of schizophrenia. With that view in mind it may well be worth a re-read but would push it out from this prompt!

[Carla]

Jennifer wrote: "This week I finished The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka for this prompt and I have to say I just didn't get it. Not unenjoyable to read as such but I just couldn't really ..."

I honestly don't think that The Metamorphosis counts as a non-human perspective book. The protagonist was a human inside a cockroach's body. It is not a cockroach's perspective, it is a human's perspective. If you agree with the schizophrenia idea then it would be more a book for an "unreliable narrator", I don't agree with the schizophrenia diagnosis but I do think that the book could be open for many interpretations, if you agree with that one, then the unreliable narrator prompt would work better.
For a non-human perspective I would recommend "The Humans" by Matt Haig, it's about an alien who comes to planet Earth for a mission but he experiences life as a human and starts to like things that we take for granted (because we already have them), it's like a satire but I think that the message in the end is quite beautiful. :)

[Sukriti]

I am currently reading The Cat Who Came for Christmas .. I was actually reading it for the prompt with a cat on the cover.. but I think I am going to reclassify.. its not entirely from a non human perspective but it constantly refers to the cats perspective !

[Anna]

For this I read Black Beauty. I had read it when I was younger and didn't really enjoy it. I liked it better this time but it was still a little slow.

[Meredith]

Therese wrote: "Erin wrote: "The book thief is a good one.. it's from the perspective of 'death'"

That is such a unique and original POV, not to mention The Book Thief was excellent."

Agreed! To riff on the Death as major character, there's also Terry Pratchett's Death series within the Discworld. The one most fully meeting the criteria for being Reaper Man. And this is humor, if folks are looking for something lighter in the non-human perspective.

[Emanuel]

maibe I'll read Teu Para Sempre.I think that is in a dog perspective.

[Christy]

Kim wrote: "I am going with John Gardner's Grendel. It is told from the monster's point of view in the fight against Beowulf. It can also be used as the book with the character name as the title."
Ooh, color me intrigued! Does it talk about the fact that Beowulf is SUCH an insufferable bro? Because I would be all over that.

[Jill]

I am reading A Dog's Purpose for this one. I love dog's and love stories told from their perspective!

[AF]

Jill wrote: "I am reading A Dog's Purpose for this one. I love dog's and love stories told from their perspective!"

I loved this book. I hope you enjoy it, too. I still haven't seen the movie, but I plan to.

[Minna]

If anyone would be interested in a non-human perspective that is also non-animal, try the Imperial Radch series by Ann Leckie (book one is Ancillary Justice: .)

The main character, Breq, is an AI. It's a bit of a slow starter but once it gets good it gets REAL GOOD. ;)

[Dawn]

What about Gods Behaving Badly?

[Sarah]

Are you (we) interpreting "perspective" to mean "point of view"? I was thinking of counting Charlotte's Web here. Even though it is 3rd person narrative, it *is* from Wilbur's perspective?

[Ashley]

Lincoln in the Bardo just came out, and is Ann instant New York Times bestseller. Shifting perspectives of ghosts. I just started, and it's a very different read than I'm use to! I'll also post this on the mythical creature prompt :)

[nx74defiant]

Sarah wrote: "Are you (we) interpreting "perspective" to mean "point of view"? I was thinking of counting Charlotte's Web here. Even though it is 3rd person narrative, it *is* from Wilbur's perspect..."

I'd say perspective would mean point of view.

[Monica]

Ancillary Justice

AI

[Tania]

Sarah wrote: "Are you (we) interpreting "perspective" to mean "point of view"? I was thinking of counting Charlotte's Web here. Even though it is 3rd person narrative, it *is* from Wilbur's perspect..."

Charlotte's Web was my choice for this prompt as well - most of the book is told from the animals', particularly Wilbur's, point of view. I recently got my hands on a nice hard cover edition of this book and was excited to reread it for the first time in many years.

[Lorry]

How about "Book: an Autobiography by John Agard and "Etre the Cow" by Sean Kennif?

[Kirsten]

Ashley wrote: "Lincoln in the Bardo just came out, and is Ann instant New York Times bestseller. Shifting perspectives of ghosts. I just started, and it's a very different read than I'm use to! I'..."

Did you know the audiobook has more than 100 different narrators? They actually broke a record! I'm waiting for the audiobook to become available at my library's Overdrive site.

[Brooke]

Ashley wrote: "Lincoln in the Bardo just came out, and is Ann instant New York Times bestseller. Shifting perspectives of ghosts. I just started, and it's a very different read than I'm use to! I'..."

I just got Lincoln in the Bardo over the weekend. After thumbing through it I can see it is very different! I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Nancy]

I'm reading Watershed Down. I'm sure I read it many years ago, but I remember very little about it and will enjoy it as if it were new to me.

[Anshita]

I reached a decision to read Black Beauty. It comes highly recommended by a friend, and I read an abridged version of it in middle school too. This time, there are more chapters and less pictures.

[Carla]

So many interesting choices! I will probably do Fifteen Dogs for this one.

[Maureen]

The Magic Strings of Frankie Pesto

[Marta]

poshpenny wrote: "
Mr. and Mrs. Bunny—Detectives Extraordinaire! is listed as written by Mrs. Bunny and "Translated from the Rabbit ..."

I know this is an old post but I love the bunnies in fedoras! Gotta check this out!

[nx74defiant]

Mercedes wrote: "I'm wondering about Beatrix Potter's books. I've just downloaded through hoopla a six hundred page volume of her animal stories...would that do?"

The stories are from the point of view of animals - so nonhuman, works for me!

[Lily]

Not a whole book from a non-human perspective, but if you want some fascinating, outrageous examples of such writing, try chapters narrated by the color red or the gold coin (and I think there is at least one more) from Orhan Pamuk's My Name is Red. (Warning: some of the anecdotes can be considered offensive. I was struck by the imagination required to create these chapters, especially the gold coin. The entire book is quite an investment in time and effort to read, but I believe those chapters might be enjoyable, albeit provocative, on their own.)

[Felicia]

Old Wolf

[Erika]

For this one I chose I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi which is told from the viewpoint of a ghost.

[Kirsten]

I just picked up a free book on Kindle that is told from a police dog's perspective: Dog Duty by Bobby D. Lux

[Lindsey]

Tanelle wrote: "How about The Bees by Laline Paull. The narrator is a bee"

That's what I'm reading!

[Shannon]

Would Rikki Tikki Tavi work for this one? I remember loving the story when I was younger. I can't remember who's perspective it is told from.

[Kirsten]

Lindsey wrote: "Tanelle wrote: "How about The Bees by Laline Paull. The narrator is a bee"

That's what I'm reading!"

I loved that book!! One of my favorite books!!

[Tania]

I feel like once I've finished a prompt it is much easier to find other books that would have fit. I just finished reading Every Dog's Survival Guide to Living with a Neurotic Owner by Steve Duno which is written as a guide to dog ownership from a dog's perspective. The author acts as a dog advice columnist, and dogs everywhere write in letters looking for advice. It would also work for the prompt "a book of letters." My review is here.

[Janet]

Anna wrote: "Watership Down readers: Want to be accountability partners? We can pick a time to read it together!"

Would love to read together. This has been on my To Be Read pile since teenage years, but never got around to it.

[Rachel]

Lily wrote: "Not a whole book from a non-human perspective, but if you want some fascinating, outrageous examples of such writing, try chapters narrated by the color red or the gold coin (and I think there is a..."

Ah, I came to this thread to ask whether anyone thinks that My Name is Red can be used for this prompt, since there are only selected chapters written from a nonhuman perspective. I originally read The Book Thief for this prompt, but I'm thinking of moving it to a novel set during wartime and reading Pamuk's book for this prompt.

[Anshita]

Guys, after finishing Black Beauty for this prompt, I was exploring for a book for the prompt of A book set around a holiday other than Christmas, and I found this awesome book, A Night in the Lonesome October and after reading the first page, I discovered that it was written from a dog's POV. The book has high ratings and is short too!

[Nadine in NY]

Anshita wrote: "Guys, after finishing Black Beauty for this prompt, I was exploring for a book for the prompt of A book set around a holiday other than Christmas, and I found this awesome book, A Night in the Lonesome October and after reading the first page, I discovered that it was written from a dog's POV. The book has high ratings and is short too!
..."

LOL I did not know that! I love Zelazny, but I've never read this one, and I've got it penciled in to read in October, just for fun.

[Anshita]

Nadine wrote: "Anshita wrote: "Guys, after finishing Black Beauty for this prompt, I was exploring for a book for the prompt of A book set around a holiday other than Christmas, and I found this aweso..."

I recently discovered this book because I wanted to read a book set around Halloween and then after reading the first chapter, I feel the need to read other Zelazny books too!
Hope you enjoy this amazing read in October.

[Elyse]

I'm currently reading/listening to A Dog's Purpose for this one. But I might also read/listen to Bunnicula because it looks hilarious.

[Marta]

I need to check this book out, sounds great!

[Elyse]

Kelly wrote: "I think I'll read "The Incredible Journey". It was made into a movie called Homeward Bound when I was a kid. I loved the movie so much growing up and have always wanted to read the book."

Love the Homeward Bound movies!!

[Elyse]

Allie wrote: "Great! I'm also wondering if Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend would work, also. He's imaginary, but an imaginary human. Thoughts?..."

I absolutely loved this book. And Budo does not qualify as a human, so I would count it. It was so wonderful!!

[Elyse]

Georgia wrote: "I wonder if "The Girl with all the Gifts" would work.... TECHNICALLY not a "human" narrative"

I think you could stretch this and call zombies, vampires, etc non-human POVs.

[Elyse]

Suggestion of The Host is you're looking for YA. Alien POV.

[Stephanie]

I would highly recommend "The Magic Strings if Frankie Presto." it's told from the POV of music. Possibly my favourite book so far this year. The original one I had planned for this prompt was "Death With Interruptions" but I haven't read it yet.