When We Were Animals

(Paperback)

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Description

A gothic coming-of-age tale for modern times Nobody knew why, but when the boys and girls reached a certain age the parents locked themselves up in their houses, and the teenagers ran wild... Lumen Fowler knows she is different. While the rest of her peers are falling beneath the sway of her community's darkest rite of passage, she resists. For Lumen has a secret. Her mother never 'breached' and she knows she won't either. But as she investigates her town's strange traditions and unearths stories from her family's past, she soon realises she may not know herself - or her wild side - at all...

Reviews

When We Were Animals is so utterly compelling and absorbing that every time I (reluctantly) broke from it, I not only had to remind myself where I was, but who I was. Superbly written, chilling, original and deeply affecting, it will stay with me for a long time -- Sarah Lotz
An eerie tale ... poetically written, thought-provoking and has a good eye for lifes small but important details * Sun *
When We Were Animals conjures the dreamy satisfaction of revisiting the cult horror movies of your youth - things are familiar but they resound in new and unexpected ways, revealing subtle depths and poignancy. This is a dark, inventive and absorbing story, fittingly theatrical. It disturbs and entertains in equal measure -- Benjamin Wood * author of the Costa-shortlisted The Bellwether Revivals *
In Lumen, Gaylord creates an unforgettable and, well, luminous narrative voice, and his language captures the lush, dangerous possibilities of teenage nights to perfection. . . . this book deserves a breakout success like that of Jeffrey Eugenides's first novel, The Virgin Suicides -- Library Journal
In Lumen, Gaylord creates an unforgettable and, well, luminous narrative voice, and his language captures the lush, dangerous possibilities of teenage nights to perfection. . . . this book deserves a breakout success like that of Jeffrey Eugenides's first novel, The Virgin Suicides -- Library Journal

Author Bio

Joshua Gaylord grew up in Anaheim, California, and currently resides in New York City. Using his own name and the pen name Alden Bell, he has authored three previous novels, including The Reapers Are the Angels. He received his Ph.D. from New York University and has taught high school English as well as literature courses at both NYU and the New School. To find out more visit www.joshuagaylord.com