Petting Zoo

by Brett Singer

Petting Zoo

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Brett Singer in 1990-1991. She was one of my most inspirational writing professors at Penn State University Park. Her quirkiness made me a better writer and made me want to write myself. I ran to my apartment and bought her books and read them because I wanted to know what her writing was like. I kept in touch with her past college for awhile then lost touch. But, I never forgot her lessons or her books. She wrote about truth in life as she saw it. She was not only an observer of others but immersed herself in living. This book takes you on a journey and it is a must read.

[A.J. Sefton · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Saturday afternoon I was at a friend's house and he was called out on emergency business. Feeling bored, I looked around for something to read and this was the only book on the shelf (belonged to his mum). I did not like the cover, nor the title. But I had nothing else to do so I read it and finished it in one sitting.

I was pleasantly surprised. It was like a modern-day story of Peter Pan. complete with drugs and the other things young people get up to. Plus the title - The Petting Zoo - was not the seedy concept I thought it was (given that the picture showed a scantily clad young woman). It refers to the part of the zoo that keeps the baby animals and the animals that are OK to pet, such as rabbits. The title was apt and actually quite clever.

The main character has just turned twenty and realises that his irresponsible teenage days are drawing to a close. His fear of adulthood leaves him with only one choice - to take his own life. He has thought about this since he was eight years old.The book goes through his various attempts at suicide and the reaction and despair of his loving girlfriend.

Although it is a moody and tragic story it is also witty and original. I read it all in one Saturday - a sign that it drew me in and kept me reading on. I'm glad that I did.

[Chloe Dehon · Rating 5 out of 5]

i can’t remember the last time i’ve been this enthralled by a book.

[Evan Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew Brett Singer when she was a writing professor at the University of Memphis. She was larger than life. She was unpredictable. Her behavior in and out of class was often quite scandalous. Some might say she was completely bonkers. OK, most might say that. However, she was a blast to be around and I’ve often thought about her since the last time I saw her over 20 yrs ago.

[Pauline]

weird artist by dead author

[Julai · Rating 2 out of 5]

If my boyfriend was constantly threatening to kill himself, I'd wait around for 15, 20 minutes, tops. But yeah, six years is good too, I guess.