THE MEMORY OF ANIMALS

Genevieve Gaunt performs this compelling audiobook about a near-future pandemic. Neffy is one of the few people to take the vaccine and survive. Gaunt portrays her in a vulnerable tone and youthful timbre. Gaunt's crisp English accent works well with this London-based story. The postapocalyptic plot follows Neffy and four other 20-somethings who are surviving in a "biopharm" facility as they come to terms with the ghastly reality outside their doors. Neffy's story flashes back to the past as she uses a "revisiting" machine to reconnect with her lover and stepbrother. She also returns to the site of her previous job as a marine biologist, where she so loved an octopus named "H" that she set it free. This is an engaging and immersive listen. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]