This collection has a lot going for it: crisp style, inventive situations, quirky characters, and a flair for the magical and absurd. As you all know by now, each story is connected in some way with animals and most are disturbing in one way or another. "Slim's Last Ride," "How to Revitalize the Snake in Your Life," "Gallus Gallus," and "Bloodworks" all depict the manifestation of inarticulate misery as sadistic behavior toward domestic animals (including a couple of portraits of the sociopath-in-training). In "Talk Turkey," turkeys embody a state of mind, while in "Preservation" a stuffed bear comes to life as a projection of the main character's fear. "Animal Crackers" and "Miss Walden's Red Colobus" explore some truly unusual behaviors prompted by close contact with different animals. This is no collection for Lassie fans.

I found the writing and the narrative to be quite controlled and distancing, perhaps even too much so, as I am left wondering what is the point of some of the stories beyond the depiction of cruelty and/or weirdness. However, there is more to the collection than this familiar theme. "Reasonable Terms" brings three giraffes absurdly to sentient life for a work action which goes somewhat awry in a tragicomic tale of powerlessness. I particularly enjoyed "Home Sweet Home" where Tinti uses a wonderfully inventive narrative strategy and goes much deeper into the mystery of love and hate with her complex and cool tale of suburban infidelity and explosive passion. "Restoration" also reaches deeper with its exploration of a father-daughter relationship nearing its end. "Talk Turkey" is affecting in how it conjures the emotional wake of the events culminating in a prolonged adolescent (un)joy-ride. The final story, "Miss Walden's Red Colobus," is at heart an adventure narrative and is so filled with inventive action in exotic settings, I am looking forward to reading her forthcoming novel, The Good Thief, which promises to be an adventure story as well. ( )

I only read one story, How to Revitalize the Snake in Your Life, but holy cow does this short story creep up on you! I so want to spill the beans and spoil the ending, but I can't! I must not! Suffice it to say this story will punch you in the gut and you will like it. Our protagonist is a former medical student who starts a wayward relationship with an edgy artist. You know from the first two sentences of the story that her relationship is doomed but what you don't realize (until it's way too late) is that this same woman has serious issues. There is a reason why she is a former medical student. When aforementioned edgy artist abruptly vanishes from her life he leaves behind a red tailed boa constrictor in her apartment...and for awhile things are good. Until they aren't. Like medical school, there is a reason why edgy artist Fred says "don't let the snake out of the cage." I'll leave it at that, except to say that when Fred returns for his snake three months later, things are decidedly different at the former medical student's apartment. ( )

A gripping short story collection. An animal plays a role in each story, though it isn't always the focus of the story. Each story scratches the edge of the strangeness of the human condition, maybe connecting our psychological and emotional needs to our animal nature. ( )

A good collection of intriguing and disturbing stories. Out of the stories there were two I thought were dull and unintersting but having enjoyed nine out of the eleven I was pleased to have read them. Animals were a tenuous link for one of the stories but other than this it was an enjoyable few hours of reading. I read a story a night, spreading out the entertainment. I'd happily seek out other work by this author and would be interested to see if she could maintain the quality of writing over a novel as opposed to short stories. ( )

I picked this book up a few years ago and read it quickly thereafter. Animal Crackers was Tinti's first book. It is not a book of sunshine and happiness - it's a darker work. That being said, it was a wonderful and entertaining read nonetheless. It was a joy to see that she has her first novel out (The Good Thief) and she's getting a lot of recognition for it. ( )