Open Throat, by Henry Hoke - Sian
The premise of this book is one I never expected to be describing. Nevertheless: we follow the story of a mountain lion who has found home in the Hollywood hills. There isn’t enough food or stimulation for this poor creature, and in a desperate attempt for meaning in life, they start to listen to hikers passing by on the hill. There’s a push and pull inside of them, unable to decide on worshipping or eating them.
The human world through the ears of a creature made victim to climate change is a strange world indeed. They’re chatting about “ellay” and “diznee” and “vegan”. There are moments of wit and humour, quickly stifled by the reality of our vanity and selfishness robbing not just creatures, but ourselves of safe refuge. This mountain lion grows to bond with humanity in more and in unexpected ways as our story unfolds. They grow to have morals and philosophies, inside jokes and dreams. There is a humanity in the narration that is so beautifully in contrast with the carnal and instinctive mind of a wild animal. Their inner monologue is fascinating to the point of believable!
I didn’t expect this book to be so moving or revealing, but it really is an intimate insight into some of the deepest themes of life: identity, inequality, trauma. Whilst I expected something a little sillier and surface-level, I’ve now learned my lesson to expect something far more cerebral and impressive from Henry Hoke. I’m not sure what to expect from the rest of his works, but if Open Throat is anything to go by, I’m in for a backlog of innovative and enchanting books! This it bound to be a modern classic in no time.
Sian
