Animal Life

Charming, funny and deeply wise, Animal Life brought me nose to nose with life and death, and the earthy, transcendent business of pregnancy and birth. In prose spare yet rich, reminiscent for me of Tove Jansson, the quirky wisdom of this ancestral trio of midwives is both heart-warming and thought-provoking. I loved it -- Jo Browning Wroe, author of the Sunday Times bestseller A Terrible Kindness
A strange, soothing contemplation of life and death through the eyes of one compellingly unique family. One of those small stories that manages to feel very big indeed -- Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg
I found Animal Life a quirky, elusive and unique book, and rather heartwarming -- Nick Bradley, author of The Cat and The City
Ólafsdóttir is at her best when sharing the histories of midwives . . . Nothing much happens, but only in the way that one could say nothing much happens on any given day, the rhythms of which the author captures perfectly. The result is a rich slice of life * Publishers Weekly *
[L]yrical . . . Animal Life is a uniquely crafted novel that concerns itself with light and darkness, purpose and coincidence, fear and hope. * Booklist *
A beautiful, luminous novel that goes straight to the heart of life. I loved it -- Rebecca Wait, author of I'm Sorry You Feel That Way
A love letter to the planet, its people, and the hopeful longevity of both... a beautiful and profound book. * New European *
Every novel by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir is a multifaceted gem, with a sparkle concealing dark hues and sharp edges... a tranquil yet compelling meditation on life and death, darkness and light, from a reliably thought-provoking novelist * The Economist *
Set during a stormy Icelandic winter, this evocative story of self-discovery is leavened by glimpses of humour amid the darkness -- Mia Levitin * Financial Times *