Book Review: White Fur

White Fur
by: Jardine Libaire




“This is a sickness that doesn’t start or end in the bowels, in measles, in a high temperature or a tin pan of vomit.  It’s all light and darkness, creeping through his cells, staining the molecules of his soul one by one.  It’s the photosynthesis of ideas and memories, impressions, dreams.  The body actually likes to host sickness, courting this rash or feeding that tumor, letting those chemicals glitter and shimmer through the blood.  There’s a way to resolve chaos and that’s to finish what was started, and every organism knows this emergency plan without being told.”

Have you ever people watched and wondered what it would be like to live someone else’s life?   I don’t mean trading places with a friend of yours who you envy, but rather trading places with the homeless man begging on the street in 100-degree weather while everyone pretends they can’t see him.  Maybe it’s just me, but I am constantly wondering what it would be like to live a different life.  Where am I going with this?  White Fur was my opportunity to not only people-watch, but to also delve into the psyche of two unique individuals.

Jamey is the epitome of wealth and class.  Born with a trust fund and given anything he ever wanted, he never actually had to decide on what he wanted.  Elise was born to a teenaged mother in the projects.  She is homeless and wandering when she spies Jamey and knows she must have him.  White Fur is their love story, taking place in New Haven and New York City in the 1980s.



I don’t know exactly what to say about White Fur, except to recommend that you read it for yourself.  It has all the makings of a tragic story of love and loss, except it really isn’t all that tragic. 


White Fur does not shield you from the sex and violence of the time.  Nor is it apologetic in any way.  I found this read different and liberating.  It’s not a book everyone will love (or even like), but it was a unique read for me and I enjoyed it and my opportunity to try out Elise and Jamey’s world. 

I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books and the publisher, HOGARTH, in return for my honest review.

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