'Ape House' by Sara Gruen - Book Review

Ape House by Sara Gruen is the first novel from Gruen since her bestselling Water for Elephants was released in 2006. It is hard for any author to follow up a phenomenal success. There is no way to avoid comparison. Unfortunately, Ape House does not have the depth or charm of Water for Elephants. It is, however, an easy and entertaining read that will make you think about how we treat animals.

I am not sure how to categorize Ape House. The subject matter -- looking at our closest genetic relatives, how we communicate and what makes us human -- has the potential to be poignant and profound. Ape House, however, isn't. I was disappointed while reading because I expected it to be this kind of novel and I hoped for some interesting human-ape interactions. The apes, however, do not get to speak very much in Ape House. Their kidnapping and exploitation, and the subsequent search to rescue them and find out the truth, form the basis of the novel. That does not mean, however, that the apes are main characters.

Ape House feels more like slapstick beach reading. Maybe the style is supposed to be over-the-top in order to convey some truth about our superficial, reality-TV and celebrity obsessed culture. But it did not come across as pure satire. It just felt like too many plot threads that were unnecessary in the end. (What, for instance, did the big fight with the main character's mother in-law contribute to the story? Was it meant to make him seem more real? It didn't ever get resolved or add anything to the overall story).

If you are looking for another Water for Elephants, this is not it. If, however, you want a light, entertaining read that does not require too much thinking but makes you feel like a conscious reader, this is the perfect pick. You can dabble in animal rights and get a whodunit mystery all in one.