Medieval bestiaries were compendiums of animal lore—particularly descriptions of exotic and fantastic beasts—as well as anthologies of moral instruction: the fiery breath of the dragon provoked fear of hell, while the pelican, bringing her dead children back to life with blood from her own breast, was an allegorical Christ. The animals in this collection of 26 vignettes (one for each letter of the alphabet) from Adam (Sleeping with the Buffalo) are generally more commonplace than their antique counterparts, but the revelations they inspire are profoundly affecting and often gorgeous. Gently enveloped in a cloud of bats, a new widower gets a glimpse of universal harmony. A grizzly attack reminds a mother and daughter of their shared past and rekindles for a moment the intimacy they've lost. A woman sheltered by the routines of family and work rediscovers the dangerous thrill of being alive after consulting a psychic cat. Adam's stories are not reducible to the lessons they teach, though, and many of her tales resist the simple structures of fable. People stray into the animal kingdom, animals invade the mundane habitations of humans and these meetings open a way into mystery. In "Asp," wonder surprises a woman out of her fear of snakes: "She had wanted him to come back with her to see the snake, how green and perfect it was and how unexpected, because it was round and of a substance different from the things that belonged inside a house." Each entry in this bestiary is a wise meditation on the human experience. (Nov.)
Forecast:The layout and trim size of this small, modest volume signal "gift book," and if it isn't overlooked, it should do well among literary readers and gift buyers alike.
