REVIEW: Open Throat by Henry Hoke

Genre: Short Story | Queer Fiction | Literary Fiction

Release Date: Expected 27th July 2023

Publisher: Pan Macmillan | Picador

A queer and dangerously hungry mountain lion lives in the drought-devastated land under the Hollywood sign. Lonely and fascinated by humanity’s foibles, the lion spends their days protecting the welfare of a nearby homeless encampment, observing obnoxious hikers complain about their trauma, and, in quiet moments, grappling with the complexities of their gender identity, memories of a vicious father, and the indignities of sentience. “I have so much language in my brain,” our lion says, “and nowhere to put it.”

When a man-made fire engulfs the encampment, the lion is forced from the hills down into the city the hikers call “ellay.” As the lion confronts a carousel of temptations and threats, they take us on a tour that spans the cruel inequalities of Los Angeles and the toll of climate grief, while scrambling to avoid earthquakes, floods, and the noise of their own conflicted psyche. But even when salvation finally seems within reach, they are forced to face down the ultimate question: Do they want to eat a person, or become one?

"They won't understand people don't have to kill things like I have to kill things."

Open Throat is a stunning, sensational exploration into the very nature of what it means to be human, to be aware and have the concept of self.

Voyeuristic and reflective, our reluctantly aware lion both playfully and thoughtfully explores the world - looking at humans in an empathetic, curious and observant lens. They see the dangers of climate change, of captivity, discrimination and poverty and struggles to reconcile how we can hurt each other so easily, when even they can resist hurting us despite their hunger. They holds a mirror to us, showing how people fear and hate the things they don't or won't understand. As a narrator, they had a clear, curious voice; trying to understand the things that have never been explained to them, seeing contemporary life through fresh eyes.

This is a short read - almost plotless, non-linear storytelling but full of substance. It's stylistically and visually beautiful with an engaging and lyrical style that moves fluidly from one moment to the next like a collection of thoughts or a series of dreams. Deeply moving and evocative, this is an impactful story that had me staring at my own cat, wondering what she'd think of the world if she could tell me.

"this is not about need no this is a want it's a terrible choice but I'm making it just like a person."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.

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