The Tusk That Did the Damage
Ratings3
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings3
Average rating4.2
A rice farmer-turned-poacher whose brother has been killed and a documentary filmmaker dedicated to preserving wildlife find their views challenged by the violence of a brutal escaped elephant.
Reviews with the most likes.
Elephant poaching in the forests bordering Tamil Nadu and Karnataka - the story is told from the point of view of the elephant, the poacher, the poacher's family, the forest department, the veterinary doctor, the elephant's caretaker, the film makers.... All packed in a couple of pages. Beautifully written, the words truly transports the reader
Compelling but stressful. Unique set of POVs, but in order to build tension (one of the book's central aims?) the time spent is not divided equally between each perspective. I would much rather have spent more time with the elephant or seen more of the wildlife reserve people (corrupt or not they should have had their own POV) than the filmmakers or the poacher family, but that wasn't the focus the author provided. I'm trying to have a takeaway beyond ‘anyone is capable of poor decisions and/or violence, especially when emotionally distressed/desperate, regardless of their place in the animal kingdom, aka cycle of violence and poverty bad.' Unfortunately, the need to set up a couple of love triangles (apparently more tension was needed) I felt distracted from the messaging that might have been completed with a few less characters. And, more fool I, I always hope to leave books of this nature with some edge of hope, of healing rather than just the impact of the worst possible outcome (well-foreshadowed, admittedly) acting as a teaching moment. Can't recommend.
⚠️animal cruelty, animal death, mention of ED, suicide attempt
