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Monkey Wars
“Strikingly original” is how Anthony Horowitz, author of the Alex Rider series, describes Monkey Wars .
“Kurti draws from history to deliver a powerful allegory . . . [and] keeps this effective, memorable tale rooted in reality.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Sustain the weak. Destroy the strong. A dark fable in the vein of Animal Farm, Watership Down, and The Wave, this action-packed page-turner is told entirely from the monkeys’ points of view and shines a light on the politics of power, the rise of tyrants, and the personal dilemmas that must be faced when your life is on the line.
When rhesus monkeys are brutally massacred on the dusty streets of Kolkata by a troop of power-hungry langur monkeys, Mico, a privileged langur, becomes entangled in the secrets at the heart of his troop’s leadership and is shocked at what he discovers. He feels compelled to help the few surviving rhesus, especially Papina, a young female he befriends, even though doing so goes against everything he’s been taught. As more blood is spilled, Mico realizes that choosing between right and wrong won’t be easy. Includes a note from the author, as well as interesting monkey species facts.
Additional praise for MONKEY WARS
“The allure of power—even for the most conscientious—is portrayed with frightening effectiveness. Powerful.”— Kirkus Reviews
“An imaginative fable about the nature of power and the responsibility of the individual. With plenty of action . . . a fascinating epilogue . . . [and] striking cover art.” — Booklist
“Following in the tradition of George Orwell’s Animal Farm and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, war and politics shape the lives of several monkey troops. An interesting premise that will provide readers with an introduction to fascism and political corruption.” — School Library Journal
From the Hardcover edition.
“Kurti draws from history to deliver a powerful allegory . . . [and] keeps this effective, memorable tale rooted in reality.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Sustain the weak. Destroy the strong. A dark fable in the vein of Animal Farm, Watership Down, and The Wave, this action-packed page-turner is told entirely from the monkeys’ points of view and shines a light on the politics of power, the rise of tyrants, and the personal dilemmas that must be faced when your life is on the line.
When rhesus monkeys are brutally massacred on the dusty streets of Kolkata by a troop of power-hungry langur monkeys, Mico, a privileged langur, becomes entangled in the secrets at the heart of his troop’s leadership and is shocked at what he discovers. He feels compelled to help the few surviving rhesus, especially Papina, a young female he befriends, even though doing so goes against everything he’s been taught. As more blood is spilled, Mico realizes that choosing between right and wrong won’t be easy. Includes a note from the author, as well as interesting monkey species facts.
Additional praise for MONKEY WARS
“The allure of power—even for the most conscientious—is portrayed with frightening effectiveness. Powerful.”— Kirkus Reviews
“An imaginative fable about the nature of power and the responsibility of the individual. With plenty of action . . . a fascinating epilogue . . . [and] striking cover art.” — Booklist
“Following in the tradition of George Orwell’s Animal Farm and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, war and politics shape the lives of several monkey troops. An interesting premise that will provide readers with an introduction to fascism and political corruption.” — School Library Journal
From the Hardcover edition.
416 pages, Library Binding
First published April 18, 2013
35 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Richard Kurti
25 books36 followersIn another life, I’d love to have been a clockmaker.
It’s not enough that a clock is a beautiful object, it also has to work – it needs to keep accurate time, month after month.
This is what attracted me to screenwriting, which is where I started as a professional writer. Screenplays have to tell moving, exciting, engaging stories, but they are also incredibly complex and very technical machines that are blueprints for the entire production.
When I ventured into the world of novel writing, I tried to bring some of the lessons I’d learnt in screenwriting with me…
High Concept
I always try to find a big idea to put at the heart of a novel.
It needs to be complex enough to resonate with different characters and situations, but it also needs to be clear enough to immediately take hold of your imagination.
Plot-Character-Plot-Character
To me, they’re very similar things.
Plots only happen because characters are striving for something; at the same time, characters are defined by what they actually do in different circumstances.
Mechanics
This is all about using different techniques to create the most dramatic and gripping story. Often it’s about knowing where to end a scene, or when to reveal information, or the ordering of different events. It’s a bit like playing a massive game of hide and seek with the reader!
Did I succeed?
Let me know what you think through Goodreads, or with a Tweet to @Richard_Kurti
Instagram: RichardKurtiWriter
It’s not enough that a clock is a beautiful object, it also has to work – it needs to keep accurate time, month after month.
This is what attracted me to screenwriting, which is where I started as a professional writer. Screenplays have to tell moving, exciting, engaging stories, but they are also incredibly complex and very technical machines that are blueprints for the entire production.
When I ventured into the world of novel writing, I tried to bring some of the lessons I’d learnt in screenwriting with me…
High Concept
I always try to find a big idea to put at the heart of a novel.
It needs to be complex enough to resonate with different characters and situations, but it also needs to be clear enough to immediately take hold of your imagination.
Plot-Character-Plot-Character
To me, they’re very similar things.
Plots only happen because characters are striving for something; at the same time, characters are defined by what they actually do in different circumstances.
Mechanics
This is all about using different techniques to create the most dramatic and gripping story. Often it’s about knowing where to end a scene, or when to reveal information, or the ordering of different events. It’s a bit like playing a massive game of hide and seek with the reader!
Did I succeed?
Let me know what you think through Goodreads, or with a Tweet to @Richard_Kurti
Instagram: RichardKurtiWriter
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 24, 2021
This is an action packed adventure. Watership Down meets Planet of the Apes set in backstreets of India. It tackles corruption, power and extremism within the monkey tribes as you follow two young monkeys on opposite sides of the war. Great fun and you just don’t want to put it down.
May 9, 2015
If, as a member of one species, you are expected to stand by that species in their conquests and missions -- whatever they may be and however they may be undertaken --
you come to the realization that said objectives are misguided at best, evil at worst, and
you come to sympathize with an opposing species, even the very antithesis of your native species,
what, exactly, do you do about it?
Joining the likes of The Jungle Books, Redwall, and Watership Down, Monkey Wars boasts a well-developed cast of anthropomorphic creatures - here, monkeys - who, through their lives, loves, losses, and general shenanigans, create a convincing portrait of human existence and pose an ethical quandary for readers.
Kurti's prose is both revolting and delicate; moments of levity and joy contrast powerfully with the overall weight and import of the monkeys' existences. He has done an excellent job with setting, plot movement, and characterization, creating a technically masterful work; conceptually, of course, he nailed it. There may be nothing new under the sun, but this story is as close as it gets, looking at timeless situations in an inventive, well-executed, and thought-provoking manner.
If Kurti had attempted this story with human characters, the result would have been vastly different, and probably not nearly as good. Transferred to people, the politics and intrigue of the simian hierarchy would be rendered much less accessible to all but political science buffs -- yet the political machinations of humanity are at least as convoluted, terrifying, and often damning as the contortions in which Mico and company find themselves -- but here they are fascinating, necessary, and natural components of the monkeys' tale. Likewise, the graphic depictions of warfare found in the book, rendered instead with human casualties and collateral, could potentially become too disturbing for many readers; as it stands, the featuring of monkeys makes senseless violence a little easier to bear, since we accept the rule of nature to kill or be killed, but would deny human impulse to behave that way (even though terrorism, torture, and brutal annihilation of humans, by other humans, do all have a pervasive, putrid presence in our world).
The story's setting in the animal kingdom may make its content decidedly neutral and objectively considerable, but its characters are deep, and require probing and careful thought; they are no less complex than any of our friends and neighbors, and their struggles with loyalty and identity will resound with readers and prompt introspection long after the novel's conclusion.
Papina's story is one of perpetual loss, of scar tissue, of hope and love and hate and forgiveness. She embodies perseverance, proving the soul's ability to rise again and again, even from under the most debilitating blows to heart, mind, and body.
Mico's quest is for justice and truth. His loyalty is always in question, not least of all to himself; his love for family is in a constant deadlock with his protective affection for Papina and her troop of rhesus monkeys.
These are admirable, lovable, relatable characters who should join the pantheon of literary figures of note, and they are accompanied by a vibrant supporting cast. Add to them creative exploration of military and political tactics, various gorgeous and enjoyable descriptions of monkey life, and the ethical consideration at the heart of the novel, and you have components for an award-winning piece of work.
There is an author's note explaining the conception of the novel, which adds yet another layer of depth to the book, as well as some brief species information for each of the monkey types mentioned. These details are appreciated and serve to enhance the book's worth; it is certainly book club material, and could easily transition to academia as the jumping-off point for research in a variety of fields and levels.
This is a must-have for library shelves. Avid readers of historical fiction, dystopia, and fantasy will devour it, and even reluctant readers will power through, enthralled by the story and its characters.
you come to the realization that said objectives are misguided at best, evil at worst, and
you come to sympathize with an opposing species, even the very antithesis of your native species,
what, exactly, do you do about it?
Joining the likes of The Jungle Books, Redwall, and Watership Down, Monkey Wars boasts a well-developed cast of anthropomorphic creatures - here, monkeys - who, through their lives, loves, losses, and general shenanigans, create a convincing portrait of human existence and pose an ethical quandary for readers.
Kurti's prose is both revolting and delicate; moments of levity and joy contrast powerfully with the overall weight and import of the monkeys' existences. He has done an excellent job with setting, plot movement, and characterization, creating a technically masterful work; conceptually, of course, he nailed it. There may be nothing new under the sun, but this story is as close as it gets, looking at timeless situations in an inventive, well-executed, and thought-provoking manner.
If Kurti had attempted this story with human characters, the result would have been vastly different, and probably not nearly as good. Transferred to people, the politics and intrigue of the simian hierarchy would be rendered much less accessible to all but political science buffs -- yet the political machinations of humanity are at least as convoluted, terrifying, and often damning as the contortions in which Mico and company find themselves -- but here they are fascinating, necessary, and natural components of the monkeys' tale. Likewise, the graphic depictions of warfare found in the book, rendered instead with human casualties and collateral, could potentially become too disturbing for many readers; as it stands, the featuring of monkeys makes senseless violence a little easier to bear, since we accept the rule of nature to kill or be killed, but would deny human impulse to behave that way (even though terrorism, torture, and brutal annihilation of humans, by other humans, do all have a pervasive, putrid presence in our world).
The story's setting in the animal kingdom may make its content decidedly neutral and objectively considerable, but its characters are deep, and require probing and careful thought; they are no less complex than any of our friends and neighbors, and their struggles with loyalty and identity will resound with readers and prompt introspection long after the novel's conclusion.
Papina's story is one of perpetual loss, of scar tissue, of hope and love and hate and forgiveness. She embodies perseverance, proving the soul's ability to rise again and again, even from under the most debilitating blows to heart, mind, and body.
Mico's quest is for justice and truth. His loyalty is always in question, not least of all to himself; his love for family is in a constant deadlock with his protective affection for Papina and her troop of rhesus monkeys.
These are admirable, lovable, relatable characters who should join the pantheon of literary figures of note, and they are accompanied by a vibrant supporting cast. Add to them creative exploration of military and political tactics, various gorgeous and enjoyable descriptions of monkey life, and the ethical consideration at the heart of the novel, and you have components for an award-winning piece of work.
There is an author's note explaining the conception of the novel, which adds yet another layer of depth to the book, as well as some brief species information for each of the monkey types mentioned. These details are appreciated and serve to enhance the book's worth; it is certainly book club material, and could easily transition to academia as the jumping-off point for research in a variety of fields and levels.
This is a must-have for library shelves. Avid readers of historical fiction, dystopia, and fantasy will devour it, and even reluctant readers will power through, enthralled by the story and its characters.
July 7, 2017
This book just wasn't for me. Too many battle scenes and way too much politics. It's a cross between Animal Farm and Watership Down, but with monkey troops in India. Made it to the half-way mark and skimmed the rest before abandoning it.
December 20, 2022
Novels featuring anthropomorphized animals battling for their home, with inspiration from the power plays of our own species, are nothing new. However, that doesn’t mean that MONKEY WARS, about the rivalries of troops of wild langur and rhesus monkeys on the streets of India, isn’t a compelling read.
It’s easy to engage with this fast-moving story of two monkeys from the rival species who form a friendship and question the attitudes of their troops. Despite the animal characters, this is definitely an adult/older YA read—there is no shortage of violence and generally dark themes.
It’s easy to engage with this fast-moving story of two monkeys from the rival species who form a friendship and question the attitudes of their troops. Despite the animal characters, this is definitely an adult/older YA read—there is no shortage of violence and generally dark themes.
July 8, 2021
4.5/5
An epic, ambitious, beautiful chimera of political drama and military fantasy flecked with elements drawn from the gangster pastiche. Also functions on an allegorical level as a study of social psychology via an exploration of conformism, agentic state theory and obedience to authority. Big words aside, this was a relentlessly entertaining read. The first act was the weakest part of the book; too many plot conveniences to set up Mico's lifelong agenda when it ends up being Mico's personality that sends him on an inevitable collision course with Tyrell. Also, it was quite difficult to visualise tiny monkeys doing very human things in my tiny little head. Providing some visual crutches would've gone a long way. Those are my only complaints. Lovely book!
An epic, ambitious, beautiful chimera of political drama and military fantasy flecked with elements drawn from the gangster pastiche. Also functions on an allegorical level as a study of social psychology via an exploration of conformism, agentic state theory and obedience to authority. Big words aside, this was a relentlessly entertaining read. The first act was the weakest part of the book; too many plot conveniences to set up Mico's lifelong agenda when it ends up being Mico's personality that sends him on an inevitable collision course with Tyrell. Also, it was quite difficult to visualise tiny monkeys doing very human things in my tiny little head. Providing some visual crutches would've gone a long way. Those are my only complaints. Lovely book!
April 28, 2022
3.5
This was a very good book, and the political aspect to it was really interesting to read!
This was a very good book, and the political aspect to it was really interesting to read!
April 28, 2015
An Animal Farm like fable about war and survival. The various species of monkeys in Kolkata are at war. The rhesus monkeys have been living peacefully among the humans until they are blamed for a tragedy. The langur monkeys are brought in to chase out the rhesus clan. The result is a bloodbath with very few rhesuses escaping. One such escape is young Papina who later makes a tentative friendship with Mico, a young langur. Mico becomes a spy for the rhesus but finds himself in danger when a new leader takes charge with plans to exterminate the other moneys. There are many areas for discussion, especially comparing the action in the novel to the rise of Hitler and the Nazis
dnf
December 29, 2014I can see this as a really great story. While I appreciated the idea behind it, I didn't finish reading it as it wasn't really my cup of tea at the moment. But I can totally see the references to Animal Farm, and I think it has some great realistic scientific information buried within the story, and at the author's information at the end. It will be one that I recommend to teachers and students for many reasons.
May 21, 2018
This was pretty damn good. Monkeys have very complicated lives.
October 20, 2017
"Monkey Wars" by Richard Kurti is a fantasy fiction/science fiction piece of writing that talks about how two species of monkies fight for their survival. This novel shares with us how these two species shape their lives around politics and war.
It is told through the perspectives of two different species of monkeys, Papina a rhesus monkey and Mico a langur monkey. They tell their point of view as both of their species clashes and do what is best for their tribe. But as the story continues Mico starts to question whether or not he is doing the right thing for his troop.
I admire the amount of work put into the main characters by giving them all unique personalities, standards, and skills. It really shows how the author wanted his story to come alive and stand out to the reader/audience.
My favorite character is Mico because of how he so out of place in his troop yet he is determined to rise to the top by using his intelligence. By using his intelligence, Mico is able to impress a deputy and climb up the ranks faster than the elites. And by using his authority and trust, Mico is able to unearth some nasty secrets that will forever change his view of his very own troop. Also, my favorite part of the book was when Mico met Papina during a hiding drill for Mico and the other cadets. It really shows the start of a new friendship that will help change these two monkeys' lives. At first, the relationship started out to be a bit rocky, but after a while, they begin to be good, helpful friends.
This novel has a great story unlike I've never seen before so it is definitely worth reading if you're ready for the gory aftermaths and fights though!
It is told through the perspectives of two different species of monkeys, Papina a rhesus monkey and Mico a langur monkey. They tell their point of view as both of their species clashes and do what is best for their tribe. But as the story continues Mico starts to question whether or not he is doing the right thing for his troop.
I admire the amount of work put into the main characters by giving them all unique personalities, standards, and skills. It really shows how the author wanted his story to come alive and stand out to the reader/audience.
My favorite character is Mico because of how he so out of place in his troop yet he is determined to rise to the top by using his intelligence. By using his intelligence, Mico is able to impress a deputy and climb up the ranks faster than the elites. And by using his authority and trust, Mico is able to unearth some nasty secrets that will forever change his view of his very own troop. Also, my favorite part of the book was when Mico met Papina during a hiding drill for Mico and the other cadets. It really shows the start of a new friendship that will help change these two monkeys' lives. At first, the relationship started out to be a bit rocky, but after a while, they begin to be good, helpful friends.
This novel has a great story unlike I've never seen before so it is definitely worth reading if you're ready for the gory aftermaths and fights though!
October 11, 2024
Monkey Wars adalah alegori tentang perebutan kekuasaan terjadi di jalanan kota-kota urban. Bisa jadi semacam Animal Farms - George Orwell dalam bentuk dan zaman berbeda. Begitu pula ruang dan waktunya.
Buku setebal sekitar 400 halaman ini menceritakan persaingan abadi dua kelompok monyet di jalanan Kolkata, India, yaitu Rhesus dan Langur. Dua kelompok ini merebutkan sumber daya yang sebenarnya juga diperlukan manusia, termasuk makanan, ruang, keamanan, dan pendidikan. Persaingan itu berlangsung secara diam-diam, penuh ketegangan, juga sesekali terbuka. Berdarah-darah.
Seekor monyet muda, namanya Mico, masuk dalam putaran konflik itu karena kecerdasan dan keberaniannya. Lalu, seperti biasa, dia menemukan romansa (agak klasik, sih karena dia jatuh cinta dengan kelompok musuh), pengkhianatan, dan kerakusan. Juga intrik-intrik dalam kelompoknya sendiri.
Buku ini seru, sih. Bagus untuk hiburan dan peringatan.
Buku setebal sekitar 400 halaman ini menceritakan persaingan abadi dua kelompok monyet di jalanan Kolkata, India, yaitu Rhesus dan Langur. Dua kelompok ini merebutkan sumber daya yang sebenarnya juga diperlukan manusia, termasuk makanan, ruang, keamanan, dan pendidikan. Persaingan itu berlangsung secara diam-diam, penuh ketegangan, juga sesekali terbuka. Berdarah-darah.
Seekor monyet muda, namanya Mico, masuk dalam putaran konflik itu karena kecerdasan dan keberaniannya. Lalu, seperti biasa, dia menemukan romansa (agak klasik, sih karena dia jatuh cinta dengan kelompok musuh), pengkhianatan, dan kerakusan. Juga intrik-intrik dalam kelompoknya sendiri.
Buku ini seru, sih. Bagus untuk hiburan dan peringatan.
July 20, 2021
Anfangs kam ich nicht ganz klar, dass die Affen so vermenschlicht waren. Das fand ich auch im Endeffekt nicht ganz bis zu Ende gedacht. Ich meine, die konnten die menschliche Schrift nicht lesen, aber bilden andere Affen zu Soldaten/Elitetruppen aus. Auch die, sicher bei vielen Affenarten üblichen, patriarchalen Strukturen empfand ich sehr anstrengend. Wenn der Autor den sozialen, intellektuellen Möglichkeiten so viel Raum gibt, warum denn nicht auch das Patriarchat über Bord werfen? Bei den Bonobo oder Zwergschimpansen ist das zB auch so, dass deren Gesellschaft auf matriarchalen Strukturen beruht. Und dann zum Schluss (Achtung Spoiler!) dem Python so viel Mordlust zuzuschreiben, fand ich auch nicht ganz passend. Wenn die gesättigt sind, bringen Python doch nicht weiter andere Lebewesen um oder?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2023
At the start I didn't really understand what they were talking about since it was very confusing because I didn't know a lot about monkeys. Monkey wars is a book about different factions of monkeys living in the same place with humans. Monkeys and humans are both adapting and changing.
This story has a lot of emotion in it. The fact that monkeys follow orders from others and there is a hierarchy is very strange. When we think of monkeys today we think of cute furballs with cuddly intentions but in the book it makes monkeys just like humans because we want territory. Monkey wars is a book about monkeys who just want more territory and lie.
Overall speaking I love this book. It is just as attractive as all the other books I've read. This one has a happy ending but I feel that there is more than that.
This story has a lot of emotion in it. The fact that monkeys follow orders from others and there is a hierarchy is very strange. When we think of monkeys today we think of cute furballs with cuddly intentions but in the book it makes monkeys just like humans because we want territory. Monkey wars is a book about monkeys who just want more territory and lie.
Overall speaking I love this book. It is just as attractive as all the other books I've read. This one has a happy ending but I feel that there is more than that.
January 19, 2023
I'm not sure it was so much about war, but it definitely contained monkeys. Personally I'd have changed the 2nd word in the title to something else (I'm not sure exactly what). The plot was about power-struggles and hierarchy squabbling, but the word 'war' was a bit strong and misleading I thought. But I was actually glad. I was expecting world war III with apes, but it was a lot more subtle than that, and it was actually a really good story. Monkeys sneaking around and plotting, whilst other monkeys just want to live their lives free from all the politics. The power-crazed cohort being the ones who ultimately make life a misery for the rest. Sounds uncannily familiar to a closely related species.
July 31, 2019
I received this book in a subscription box and I completely expected to hate this book when I read the synopsis. I actually really like this. This demonstrates the blind hatred of racism found in events like the holocaust with non-human characters so the reader isn't influenced by their personal prejudices.
June 10, 2021
War in Ordnung, aber kein Kracher. Die Charaktere bleiben recht flach, allerdings muss ich sagen das die brutalen Szenen extrem gut beschrieben wurden und ich doch ergriffen war als eine Figuren ums nackten überleben kämpften. Trotz Charaktere die mich nicht wirklich berührt ist das schon eine Leistung vom Autor.
September 7, 2017
Surprisingly enjoyable and well-plotted exploration of the concept of the oppressed and the oppressors and a chilling look at how easily people can be swayed into believing Totalitarianism lies. Very timely considering the current political climate.
June 26, 2019
i loved the politics and mico and papina's journey. it was interesting read and using animals to compare history was interesting as well to me. the ending left some opening questions but the writing and the characters were really good and well written.
April 8, 2022
This book was really enjoyable and had a really detailed and graphic insight to cities going to war / at war,,, I loved how the author chose to have the main characters act / express themselves,,, lovely read.
October 26, 2022
Really good for people who get bored easily because every chapter had something exciting in it. Only thing I wasn’t a fan of were a few dialogue lines between characters that seemed disrespectful towards religious beliefs and unnecessary to be in the book
October 16, 2018
One of my favirouite books
December 21, 2018
Decent prose but just not for me
August 9, 2019
An interesting concept to write a war story/morality play from the view of a monkey. Held together well.
February 1, 2021
So beautiful and poignant.
Takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, betrayal, love and destiny.
Don't worry it has a good ending
Perfect read.
Takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, betrayal, love and destiny.
Don't worry it has a good ending
Perfect read.
May 15, 2023
A strangely compelling read!
September 18, 2024
lots of words
May 14, 2013
This review was originally published at Fluttering Butterflies
Monkey Wars by Richard Kurti has been the biggest surprise of the year for me. I'll admit, if it weren't for my commitment to promoting British YA authors this year and also if not for the passionate words of a dedicated publicists, I might have passed up the opportunity to read this book. And that would have been an absolute shame, because Monkey Wars is one of my favourite books that I've read all year. It's exciting and interesting and I never wanted to put it down. This story and these characters got under my skin in a way that I haven't experienced in a long time. That first night after reading the first 50 pages of the book I had a dream about this book. Because even in my sleep my brain still wanted to go over the mostly violent things that I'd witnessed while reading this book.
What I love about this book is that we see this war between Rhesus and Langur monkeys from both sides and we really get a feeling for what it's like to be in either camp. Each of the main characters - Papina, Mico, Twitcher, Tyrell - all had such wonderful personalities and voices and different ways of thinking that it was easy to relate to them, and to sympathise with the complicated feelings of loyalty and belonging and pride that go along with the horrible effects of war.
Monkey Wars begins in a really dramatic way, with the near-massacre of the Rhesus monkeys who lived peacefully in a cemetary in Kolkatta until the death of a human causes the Langur to attack the Rhesus as a means of protecting humans. With this initial attack, the Langur monkeys seek to further their own power and dominance by taking further steps against the Rhesus and one monkey in particular seeks to use his own talents in order to gain more and more power for himself within his own community.
While my heart really went out to Papina and the rest of the Rhesus refugees who have to go out into the city and start over with their lives and deal with truly terrifying circumstances, it is Mico who really stole my heart within this book. It was fascinating but also pretty sad to see young Mico transform from the naive, questioning monkey into what he becomes as the trusted advisor of a power-hungry dictator who is set to wrest all control over the Langur and Rhesus monkeys for himself.
This isn't a historical novel at all, but you can see the similarities within these monkey wars to that of Stalin and Hitler. The gradual rise to power, the twisting of knowledge, the decline amongst the Langur for free-thought, the ways in which things are manipulated to one person's favour. I love also Mico's struggles with his morals. Does he sit back and allow Tyrell to get further out of control or he does he speak out and try to change things? While everything may appear clear cut in what a monkey should do in this sort of situation, Kurti shows how often things aren't as black-and-white as they may seem.
Monkey Wars was such an exciting book. There is a lot of action involved, lots of fighting and dramatic happenings. The chapters are relatively short which further ramped up the tension levels for me. I found my heart beating wildly, always wanting to know what would happen next, especially as I got more emotionally invested in the lives of Mico and Papina. Monkeys, politics and war might not sound like your sort of thing, but I promise you, this book is endlessly fascinating and complex. I highly recommend it!
Monkey Wars by Richard Kurti has been the biggest surprise of the year for me. I'll admit, if it weren't for my commitment to promoting British YA authors this year and also if not for the passionate words of a dedicated publicists, I might have passed up the opportunity to read this book. And that would have been an absolute shame, because Monkey Wars is one of my favourite books that I've read all year. It's exciting and interesting and I never wanted to put it down. This story and these characters got under my skin in a way that I haven't experienced in a long time. That first night after reading the first 50 pages of the book I had a dream about this book. Because even in my sleep my brain still wanted to go over the mostly violent things that I'd witnessed while reading this book.
What I love about this book is that we see this war between Rhesus and Langur monkeys from both sides and we really get a feeling for what it's like to be in either camp. Each of the main characters - Papina, Mico, Twitcher, Tyrell - all had such wonderful personalities and voices and different ways of thinking that it was easy to relate to them, and to sympathise with the complicated feelings of loyalty and belonging and pride that go along with the horrible effects of war.
Monkey Wars begins in a really dramatic way, with the near-massacre of the Rhesus monkeys who lived peacefully in a cemetary in Kolkatta until the death of a human causes the Langur to attack the Rhesus as a means of protecting humans. With this initial attack, the Langur monkeys seek to further their own power and dominance by taking further steps against the Rhesus and one monkey in particular seeks to use his own talents in order to gain more and more power for himself within his own community.
While my heart really went out to Papina and the rest of the Rhesus refugees who have to go out into the city and start over with their lives and deal with truly terrifying circumstances, it is Mico who really stole my heart within this book. It was fascinating but also pretty sad to see young Mico transform from the naive, questioning monkey into what he becomes as the trusted advisor of a power-hungry dictator who is set to wrest all control over the Langur and Rhesus monkeys for himself.
This isn't a historical novel at all, but you can see the similarities within these monkey wars to that of Stalin and Hitler. The gradual rise to power, the twisting of knowledge, the decline amongst the Langur for free-thought, the ways in which things are manipulated to one person's favour. I love also Mico's struggles with his morals. Does he sit back and allow Tyrell to get further out of control or he does he speak out and try to change things? While everything may appear clear cut in what a monkey should do in this sort of situation, Kurti shows how often things aren't as black-and-white as they may seem.
Monkey Wars was such an exciting book. There is a lot of action involved, lots of fighting and dramatic happenings. The chapters are relatively short which further ramped up the tension levels for me. I found my heart beating wildly, always wanting to know what would happen next, especially as I got more emotionally invested in the lives of Mico and Papina. Monkeys, politics and war might not sound like your sort of thing, but I promise you, this book is endlessly fascinating and complex. I highly recommend it!
May 30, 2013
Keith for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
The author has a flair for spectacular set-pieces and drama, honed during his time as a screenwriter. This is clearly on display in the opening chapter where a troop of Langur monkeys invade the cemetery where a peaceful group of Rhesus monkeys live, killing most of the residents leaving just a handful of refugees.
The first part of the book alternates between the experiences of Papina, a young Rhesus girl and Mico, a young boy in the militaristic Langur troop. Papina’s story tells of a small group of survivors, trekking the city to find a new home where they will be safe, and to pick up the tatters of their life. Mico is the runt of his family, far smaller than his brother, but with a sharp mind. By chance, he witnesses some of the Langur soldiers brutally kill a lone Rhesus, yet their leaders are claiming that the Rhesus are the aggressors leaving him conflicted and unsure who to trust. Langur boys all do military training, so he joins up and tries to fit in.
Papina sneaks into her old home through a secret entrance and meets Mico on a training exercise. They form an uneasy friendship, her stories of the Langur attacks contradicting the official reports he’s been told, adding to Mico’s doubt. Mico’s clever mind is noticed by Tyrell, one of the Langur leaders and he is promoted to the Intelligence Division.
In the middle section of the book, the Langur go on an all-out war against all the rest of the monkeys in Kolkata, with Mico stuck between following the orders of the increasingly paranoid Tyrell, and protecting Papina and her friends. The rest of the Langur, bred from an early age not to question orders, and fed with misinformation, revel in their bloodlust. There are certainly some shocking events in the book, though the book never gets too gory for the intended audience.
The novel also avoids melodrama, the fast pacing meaning there’s no time for characters to wallow in self-pity and introspection, or at least when they do it is implied and not on the page. The darkest character is probably Fig, a Rhesus mother who has lost everything from her life. Despite only being a minor character, she plays a crucial role in the story. I think an adult book may have fleshed out her depression more fully, though this is not really a criticism.
The world building is well done too, the descriptions of the locations around the city feel like real places, and are teeming with life (both human and animal).
Verdict: I really enjoyed this book, it is fast-paced throughout, constantly inventive, and my usual complaint of poor endings in novels doesn’t apply (a solid ending, with a few deliberate hanging threads). A great introduction for teens to the machinations of politics and complexities of war.
Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
The author has a flair for spectacular set-pieces and drama, honed during his time as a screenwriter. This is clearly on display in the opening chapter where a troop of Langur monkeys invade the cemetery where a peaceful group of Rhesus monkeys live, killing most of the residents leaving just a handful of refugees.
The first part of the book alternates between the experiences of Papina, a young Rhesus girl and Mico, a young boy in the militaristic Langur troop. Papina’s story tells of a small group of survivors, trekking the city to find a new home where they will be safe, and to pick up the tatters of their life. Mico is the runt of his family, far smaller than his brother, but with a sharp mind. By chance, he witnesses some of the Langur soldiers brutally kill a lone Rhesus, yet their leaders are claiming that the Rhesus are the aggressors leaving him conflicted and unsure who to trust. Langur boys all do military training, so he joins up and tries to fit in.
Papina sneaks into her old home through a secret entrance and meets Mico on a training exercise. They form an uneasy friendship, her stories of the Langur attacks contradicting the official reports he’s been told, adding to Mico’s doubt. Mico’s clever mind is noticed by Tyrell, one of the Langur leaders and he is promoted to the Intelligence Division.
In the middle section of the book, the Langur go on an all-out war against all the rest of the monkeys in Kolkata, with Mico stuck between following the orders of the increasingly paranoid Tyrell, and protecting Papina and her friends. The rest of the Langur, bred from an early age not to question orders, and fed with misinformation, revel in their bloodlust. There are certainly some shocking events in the book, though the book never gets too gory for the intended audience.
The novel also avoids melodrama, the fast pacing meaning there’s no time for characters to wallow in self-pity and introspection, or at least when they do it is implied and not on the page. The darkest character is probably Fig, a Rhesus mother who has lost everything from her life. Despite only being a minor character, she plays a crucial role in the story. I think an adult book may have fleshed out her depression more fully, though this is not really a criticism.
The world building is well done too, the descriptions of the locations around the city feel like real places, and are teeming with life (both human and animal).
Verdict: I really enjoyed this book, it is fast-paced throughout, constantly inventive, and my usual complaint of poor endings in novels doesn’t apply (a solid ending, with a few deliberate hanging threads). A great introduction for teens to the machinations of politics and complexities of war.
April 27, 2013
Monkey Wars is told through the perspectives of Papina, a Rhesus monkey and Mico, a Langur monkey. The two monkeys cross paths throughout the book as Mico begins to question the morals of his own troops. I really enjoyed the interactions between Papina and Mico. The strange friendship that builds between them helps to show why the monkeys are at war and the reasons behind certain actions. While Papina puts a lot of blame on to the Langur monkeys, Mico attempts to tell her that not all monkeys are the same and he shouldn’t be treated like the rest of his troop.
The most interesting aspect of this book for me was the politics of monkey troops. Each kind of monkey is completely different to the next, acting in different ways and wanting different things. The Langur and Rhesus monkeys are as different as you could probably get. While the Rhesus monkeys are quite laid back and generally want a happy life, the Langur monkeys are brutal, aggressive and want to dominate. As soon as the Langur monkeys attack and take over the cemetery, it becomes clear that they want to rule everything and be at the top of the food chain. They want everything to go their own way and will not let others stand in their way.
A lot of time is spent following the Langur monkey troop in this book. Mico starts off as a young monkey with no responsibility but as he grows older, he becomes a part of the army like establishment. He begins to learn what it means to be a Langur monkey and what is expected of him and everyone else, even if he doesn’t agree with what he is told. Mico was a wonderful character because although he had his own ideas and thoughts, he was born into a troop that didn’t really allow that sort of thing. Mico has to rely on his intelligence and cunning to get what he wanted and to do what he believed was the right thing, which is something he learns from Deputy Tyrell, a monkey who uses the same things to get his own way.
The plot follows the Langur monkeys and their need to dominate everything around them. Monkey Wars is exactly about what the title would suggest but it is also much more. While the war between the Langur and Rhesus monkeys is right at the forefront of this book, Richard Kurti takes the time to give each monkey a personality, which makes them extremely human-like. He also gives a view of how humans view the monkeys and how the different troops have different places in the lives of humans. The mixture of monkey life and human life (although this part isn’t used too much) was very interesting and it was great to see views from both sides.
Overall, Monkey Wars is a fantastic read that I was not expecting to like quite as much. The plot is quite complex at times, interesting and extremely exciting.
The most interesting aspect of this book for me was the politics of monkey troops. Each kind of monkey is completely different to the next, acting in different ways and wanting different things. The Langur and Rhesus monkeys are as different as you could probably get. While the Rhesus monkeys are quite laid back and generally want a happy life, the Langur monkeys are brutal, aggressive and want to dominate. As soon as the Langur monkeys attack and take over the cemetery, it becomes clear that they want to rule everything and be at the top of the food chain. They want everything to go their own way and will not let others stand in their way.
A lot of time is spent following the Langur monkey troop in this book. Mico starts off as a young monkey with no responsibility but as he grows older, he becomes a part of the army like establishment. He begins to learn what it means to be a Langur monkey and what is expected of him and everyone else, even if he doesn’t agree with what he is told. Mico was a wonderful character because although he had his own ideas and thoughts, he was born into a troop that didn’t really allow that sort of thing. Mico has to rely on his intelligence and cunning to get what he wanted and to do what he believed was the right thing, which is something he learns from Deputy Tyrell, a monkey who uses the same things to get his own way.
The plot follows the Langur monkeys and their need to dominate everything around them. Monkey Wars is exactly about what the title would suggest but it is also much more. While the war between the Langur and Rhesus monkeys is right at the forefront of this book, Richard Kurti takes the time to give each monkey a personality, which makes them extremely human-like. He also gives a view of how humans view the monkeys and how the different troops have different places in the lives of humans. The mixture of monkey life and human life (although this part isn’t used too much) was very interesting and it was great to see views from both sides.
Overall, Monkey Wars is a fantastic read that I was not expecting to like quite as much. The plot is quite complex at times, interesting and extremely exciting.
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