Jo’s answer to “Ms. Walton, I admire the ingenuity of Tooth and Claw, namely that it's animal fiction for adults. I…” > Likes and Comments
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I agree that Tooth and Claw is a huge departure from Watership Down and Redwall (although I love them all). However marketed or categorized, it worked out well. Thanks for the thorough reply :)
I wonder where that conception of adults not wanting to read "animal books" comes from? I would think that, if for no other reason than nostalgia, those of us who grew up on Redwall, Watership Down, Guardians of Ga'Hoole and the like would LOVE an "animal book" meant for adults - I certainly still love revisiting the animal books from my childhood/teen years every once in a while (and honestly, I don't think I'd classify Watership Down as a book for kids)
Ellen, I agree with you (as most of my reader-base is comprised of nostalgic adults). I'm a thirty-year-old who LOVES animal fiction and often revisit everything you've listed. However, I don't see a lot of animal fiction these days unless it's middle grade. It's a dead art, near as I can tell, but I'm hoping it will resurface one day.
As with all things, I bet that sub-genre's not dead so much as sleeping/waiting for a resurgence in interest, or for some inventive author's radical take on the concept. I'd love to read a "Redwall for adults" or even something like the Deptford Mice trilogy by Robin Jarvis (inexplicably considered juvenile fiction despite being scarier than a lot of adult horror I've since read).
Nicole, I hope you are right. And yes, Deptford is one of those trilogies that somehow got stuffed into YA when they are far more adult. So strange!!
I have to recommend The Bees by Laline Paull. I've described it to people as Watership Down with bees instead of rabbits and not for kids!
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Kelly
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Jan 18, 2018 12:04PM
I agree that Tooth and Claw is a huge departure from Watership Down and Redwall (although I love them all). However marketed or categorized, it worked out well. Thanks for the thorough reply :)
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I wonder where that conception of adults not wanting to read "animal books" comes from? I would think that, if for no other reason than nostalgia, those of us who grew up on Redwall, Watership Down, Guardians of Ga'Hoole and the like would LOVE an "animal book" meant for adults - I certainly still love revisiting the animal books from my childhood/teen years every once in a while (and honestly, I don't think I'd classify Watership Down as a book for kids)
Ellen, I agree with you (as most of my reader-base is comprised of nostalgic adults). I'm a thirty-year-old who LOVES animal fiction and often revisit everything you've listed. However, I don't see a lot of animal fiction these days unless it's middle grade. It's a dead art, near as I can tell, but I'm hoping it will resurface one day.
As with all things, I bet that sub-genre's not dead so much as sleeping/waiting for a resurgence in interest, or for some inventive author's radical take on the concept. I'd love to read a "Redwall for adults" or even something like the Deptford Mice trilogy by Robin Jarvis (inexplicably considered juvenile fiction despite being scarier than a lot of adult horror I've since read).
Nicole, I hope you are right. And yes, Deptford is one of those trilogies that somehow got stuffed into YA when they are far more adult. So strange!!
I have to recommend The Bees by Laline Paull. I've described it to people as Watership Down with bees instead of rabbits and not for kids!