Book Review: The Pets We Have Killed by Barbara Else

By Beach Read Book Club - Karen McMillan | Posted: Tuesday Jan 14, 2025

Beach Read Book Club: The Pets We Have Killed by Barbara Else | The Post

Award-winning NZ author Barbara Else wrote this mesmerising collection of short stories with the thought that if society could rid itself of misogyny, we’d go a good way towards solving other inequalities, such as race, culture, gender and poverty. The stories in this collection range in genre and tone, but while some are experimental, they all have women front and centre of each masterfully constructed story.

The title story is set in a world where plastic is an “ancient, special thing”, and the women of the farm are preparing the pen for where they will keep a man until the “moon won’t come”. In Moonbeams there is a thoughtful, gentle story about a single mother and her teenage boy. In contrast, Thrall is a ferocious tale about a woman married to a misogynist in the 1980s. In Collateral Damage, a schoolgirl is caught in a rivalry between two male teachers. The opening story begins in 1914, and the final story is set in a very different future from now.

Most stories are built around daily moments on an ordinary day, focusing on relationships, whether they are families, friendships, or romantic love. They highlight the female experience, some with humour, some more seriously. All of the stories are a thoughtful examination of what it is to be human.

Thankfully, no pets were harmed in real life while writing this collection, and The Pets We Have Killed is a fabulous holiday read to enjoy in short bursts and to contemplate afterwards. The writing is exquisite, and the stories will enthral.