Review: Bunny by Mona Awad

Samantha has been admitted to a prestigious writing programme but finds herself unable to write. Despite being in an all-female class, she feels isolated from her cohort and finds refuge in her friendship with rebellious artist, Ava. Together, the two revel in a cloud of cynicism directed mainly at Samantha’s fellow students. The four women in her class are preppy, rich, and more than a little obsessed with each other, leading Samantha to dub them the ‘bunnies’. As time passes, Samantha’s writer’s block begins to morph into a desperation which affects her grades and her participation in class.

One day, the Bunnies invite Samantha to join them at a ‘smut salon’ – a writing circle that focuses on the writing of others, and the creation of new stories. Despite her skepticism, Samantha finds herself enjoying the evening, and becomes draw to these strange, confident women. Soon, she, too, becomes a bunny.

The longer Samantha is part of the group, the more her life seems to unravel. Her friendship with Ava suffers, and she finds herself participating in some unusual workshops in which the Bunnies create something far greater and scarier than literature.

There is something delicious and ‘meta’ about a book concerning writing and the creative process; a strangely layered perspective of the work that goes into creating something from nothing. In addition, Mona Awad has presented a narrative that is poetic, emotional and easy to follow, filled with wit, sarcasm and cynicism. The storyline, however, is where the real treasure can be found. This book is the personification of bringing art to life, and the delicate balance between beauty and horror.

Also present in this remarkable story are the themes of oppression, hubris, the human condition, and the plight of the modern woman. It is delightful to have serious topics such as these cleverly worked into a rabbit hole of a narrative – once you enter, you are drawn down to the dark heart of it.

Bunny is a unique, refreshing tale of creating the intangible, and of blurring the border between reality and fiction. Awad’s flair for the unexpected is enviable and highly entertaining – placing her firmly in a league of her own, as queen of the storytellers. I do not think it possible to read this book without being impressed, nor to put it down until you reach the final page.

Bunny by Mona Awad is published by Head of Zeus, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.