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The Language of Kin: A Novel
From the award-winning author of A Matter of Mercy and The Testament of Harold' s Wife, comes a beautifully written exploration of how the language of healing can transcend seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Eve, a chimpanzee orphaned by poachers and used for experiments in a medical lab, can finally lead a new life. When she arrives at the Dayton Zoo, Kate and Marc must overcome professional differences to build a relationship with her. Forced to work together, Kate and Marc find common ground when they discover they both are the sole caregivers for their mothers, one who has been deaf her entire life and the other who recently lost her ability to process words. After a life-threatening crisis occurs, can they find the courage� and the shared language� to reach across these silent divides to heal the ones they love?
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2023
96 people are currently reading
957 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Hugo
19books184followersLynne Hugo is an American author whose roots are in the northeast. A National Endowment For The Arts Fellowship recipient, she has also received repeat individual artists grants from the Ohio Arts Council and the Kentucky Foundation for Women. Her publications include eight novels, one volume of creative non-fiction, two books of poetry and a children’s book. She lives with her husband, a former Vice President for Academic Affairs of a liberal arts college and now a professional photographer, in the Midwest. They have two grown children, three grandchildren, and a yellow Labrador retriever.
Ms. Hugo has taught creative writing to hundreds of schoolchildren through the Ohio Arts Council’s renowned Arts in Education program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, and a Master’s from Miami University.
When an editor asked her to describe herself as a writer, she responded:
“I write in black Wal-Mart capri sweatpants. They don’t start out as capris, but I routinely shrink them in the drier by accident. And I always buy black because it doesn’t show where I’ve wiped the chocolate off my hands. Now that my son and daughter are grown, my previous high grade of ‘below average� in Domestic Achievement has dropped somewhat. But I’m less guilty about it now. I lose myself in crafting language by a window with birdfeeders hanging in the branches of a Chinese elm towering over the house. When I come up for air, I hike by the ponds and along the river in a nearby forest with my beloved Lab. My husband, with whom I planted that elm as a bare root sapling, joins us when he can.�
Ms. Hugo has taught creative writing to hundreds of schoolchildren through the Ohio Arts Council’s renowned Arts in Education program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, and a Master’s from Miami University.
When an editor asked her to describe herself as a writer, she responded:
“I write in black Wal-Mart capri sweatpants. They don’t start out as capris, but I routinely shrink them in the drier by accident. And I always buy black because it doesn’t show where I’ve wiped the chocolate off my hands. Now that my son and daughter are grown, my previous high grade of ‘below average� in Domestic Achievement has dropped somewhat. But I’m less guilty about it now. I lose myself in crafting language by a window with birdfeeders hanging in the branches of a Chinese elm towering over the house. When I come up for air, I hike by the ponds and along the river in a nearby forest with my beloved Lab. My husband, with whom I planted that elm as a bare root sapling, joins us when he can.�
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 22, 2023
This was an intense read with powerful messages about communication in both the human and animal existence. It's also one of the few books that I've read recently that I wish I could give more than 5 stars to. I went into the story completely blind of the plot and was hooked by the first chapter.
Eve was a chimpanzee who was taken by poachers to sell to a research lab for animal experiments. When she's moved to the Dayton Zoo, after years of experiments, she has to be taught how to live with other animals and learn that not all people are cruel and uncaring. At the Zoo, Kate and Mark are her main trainers. Kate has worked in the jungle and worked with animals at the zoo for a long time. She feels that no animal should be kept in captivity and should be left in their own habitat and Mark fees that zoos are the last chance to keep animals from becoming extinct when their world is diminishing from less jungle space available due to modern buildings. Mark is given the lead role in getting Eve ready to join the other animals but then he goes off track and tries to teach Eve how to truly communicate with humans by using sign language. Even though Kate and Mark, see things differently, they have a lot in common. Kate's mother is in a nursing home but has pretty much given up on life. She has aphasia and is unable to communicate. The nursing home wants to move her to assisted living but Kate is sure that her mother still has thoughts but is unable to express them. Mark's mother is deaf and has sequestered herself in her apartment and she has made Mark her main person to communicate with. Even though they greatly differ in their views of animals in zoos, they find common ground when they discover that they are the main caregivers for their mothers and that both mothers have issues with communication with the outside world. Will this common ground lead to a relationship between Kate and Mark or will their divergent views on animals at the zoo, keep them from exploring a relationship with each other?
I really enjoy reading a book that is so well researched that I learn new things. Lynne Hugo has done considerable research on chimpanzees and shared much of it her novel. I had no idea how close the DNA is between humans and chimpanzees - 98% plus the same dna. After I finished the book, I spent time goggling information about chimpanzees and how they'd been used in medical experiments - often in a very cruel manner.
This book basically had everything that I look for in a five star plus read - a fantastic plot with likeable main characters who are very well written plus the opportunity to learn something new. Trust me, this is not a book that you want to miss!!
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Eve was a chimpanzee who was taken by poachers to sell to a research lab for animal experiments. When she's moved to the Dayton Zoo, after years of experiments, she has to be taught how to live with other animals and learn that not all people are cruel and uncaring. At the Zoo, Kate and Mark are her main trainers. Kate has worked in the jungle and worked with animals at the zoo for a long time. She feels that no animal should be kept in captivity and should be left in their own habitat and Mark fees that zoos are the last chance to keep animals from becoming extinct when their world is diminishing from less jungle space available due to modern buildings. Mark is given the lead role in getting Eve ready to join the other animals but then he goes off track and tries to teach Eve how to truly communicate with humans by using sign language. Even though Kate and Mark, see things differently, they have a lot in common. Kate's mother is in a nursing home but has pretty much given up on life. She has aphasia and is unable to communicate. The nursing home wants to move her to assisted living but Kate is sure that her mother still has thoughts but is unable to express them. Mark's mother is deaf and has sequestered herself in her apartment and she has made Mark her main person to communicate with. Even though they greatly differ in their views of animals in zoos, they find common ground when they discover that they are the main caregivers for their mothers and that both mothers have issues with communication with the outside world. Will this common ground lead to a relationship between Kate and Mark or will their divergent views on animals at the zoo, keep them from exploring a relationship with each other?
I really enjoy reading a book that is so well researched that I learn new things. Lynne Hugo has done considerable research on chimpanzees and shared much of it her novel. I had no idea how close the DNA is between humans and chimpanzees - 98% plus the same dna. After I finished the book, I spent time goggling information about chimpanzees and how they'd been used in medical experiments - often in a very cruel manner.
This book basically had everything that I look for in a five star plus read - a fantastic plot with likeable main characters who are very well written plus the opportunity to learn something new. Trust me, this is not a book that you want to miss!!
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
June 22, 2023
Thank you to @letstalkbookspromo @berittalksbooks for the #gifted copy.
Genre: Animal Fiction
Publisher: Amphorae Publishing Group, LLC
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
Pages: 372
Powerful, raw, emotional� This one kept me up all night.
I have been fascinated with apes for as long as I can remember so I didn't hesitate when I received the opportunity to read this book!
Eve has had a traumatic life. Her mother was shot and she was taken from the rainforests and put in a lab. For years, she underwent testing and was at the mercy of humans in white lab coats who made her hurt. After 11 years, the lab is ready to get rid of her and turn her over to a zoo. Shortly, after Eve arrives they uncover a twist that makes caring for Eve a little more difficult. Coworkers at the zoo, Kate and Marc, have very differing opinions on how Eve should be integrated into the group, but also how to communicate with her. Eve has to learn to trust humans. Kate and Marc later bond over having to care for their mothers. Relationships though are complicated. They ebb and flow. Having the ability to communicate is a powerful one. Don't miss out on this fast paced, heartfelt read!
Genre: Animal Fiction
Publisher: Amphorae Publishing Group, LLC
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
Pages: 372
Powerful, raw, emotional� This one kept me up all night.
I have been fascinated with apes for as long as I can remember so I didn't hesitate when I received the opportunity to read this book!
Eve has had a traumatic life. Her mother was shot and she was taken from the rainforests and put in a lab. For years, she underwent testing and was at the mercy of humans in white lab coats who made her hurt. After 11 years, the lab is ready to get rid of her and turn her over to a zoo. Shortly, after Eve arrives they uncover a twist that makes caring for Eve a little more difficult. Coworkers at the zoo, Kate and Marc, have very differing opinions on how Eve should be integrated into the group, but also how to communicate with her. Eve has to learn to trust humans. Kate and Marc later bond over having to care for their mothers. Relationships though are complicated. They ebb and flow. Having the ability to communicate is a powerful one. Don't miss out on this fast paced, heartfelt read!
March 4, 2023
This book was sad as it exposed the cruelty of people towards apes and their use in various experiments. The close match of their DNA to humans makes it seem sensible to use apes in medical experiments but the book tells of horrific things that are done to the apes while in cages, without sunlight or companions all in the name of science. The author also gets the reader thinking about zoos in a new light. Kate and Marc are two of the zoo employees that are charged with taking care of the primates but have different views of what that entails. Never very close, they become attracted to each other when a new chimp, from a science mill, is placed with the zoo. Their relationship becomes strained due to family and their differing viewpoints. This book is deep, not for the feint of heart. Well written. Highly recommended. This is a five star read� I find myself still thinking about the book and wondering about the ending.
October 8, 2023
TITLE: LANGUAGE OF KIN
AUTHOR: Lynne Hugo
PUB DATE: 07.11.2023 Now Available
I enjoyed reading Jane Goodall’s The Book of Hope and her life story in Untamed.
Stories about animals intrigue me, as well as, the people whose life’s work revolves in caring and saving these animals - they are heroes to me. Chimpanzee’s have always had a special place in my heart as I watch nature shows - and I can already hear David Attenborough’s voice in the background.
Language of Kin was such an engaging read that grabbed my heart for Eve - an orphaned chimpanzee who was taken by poachers and abused in a lab - but now at the Dayton Zoo - where we are introduced to two characters, Kate and Marc. Their story arc weaves themes of language and the way we communicate and listen in more ways than one. This powerful and emotional novel was a treat to read, and I enjoyed it slowly and with purpose, stopping many times to jot down my thoughts. I find that this book would work well in a book club as it naturally compels readers to discuss and dig deep within to see how this story affects them in many positive ways.
A compelling read that is impeccably written with a huge heart and love in its core. Pick this one up now and I hope you love it as much as I have.
AUTHOR: Lynne Hugo
PUB DATE: 07.11.2023 Now Available
I enjoyed reading Jane Goodall’s The Book of Hope and her life story in Untamed.
Stories about animals intrigue me, as well as, the people whose life’s work revolves in caring and saving these animals - they are heroes to me. Chimpanzee’s have always had a special place in my heart as I watch nature shows - and I can already hear David Attenborough’s voice in the background.
Language of Kin was such an engaging read that grabbed my heart for Eve - an orphaned chimpanzee who was taken by poachers and abused in a lab - but now at the Dayton Zoo - where we are introduced to two characters, Kate and Marc. Their story arc weaves themes of language and the way we communicate and listen in more ways than one. This powerful and emotional novel was a treat to read, and I enjoyed it slowly and with purpose, stopping many times to jot down my thoughts. I find that this book would work well in a book club as it naturally compels readers to discuss and dig deep within to see how this story affects them in many positive ways.
A compelling read that is impeccably written with a huge heart and love in its core. Pick this one up now and I hope you love it as much as I have.
September 9, 2023
I am an animal lover at heart, so I jumped at the chance to read THE LANGUAGE OF KIN. This was a very entertaining story that I could immediately relate to. The main characters were very likable and well developed. Lynne Hugo did an excellent job on this novel and she obviously put in the work to properly research the topics regarding chimpanzees. The writing made it feel real and I was fully engaged in the story line. I also learned a few things during this read that I did not know before, highly recommended.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
February 26, 2023
Powerful one !
This was an intense read, with a very powerful opening scene. And I loved the secondary stories and the representation in the book.
This was an intense read, with a very powerful opening scene. And I loved the secondary stories and the representation in the book.
May 25, 2023
Review
The Language of Kin
By Lynne Hugo
Advance Reading Copy
I’ve come to expect unique, well-developed storylines and endearing, unforgettable characters in Lynne Hugo’s award winning novels. She definitely does not disappoint with The Language of Kin.
I sailed through this one glued to every page. I was taken down an avenue into modern day science, the inevitable conflicts of interest, the sad story behind lab experiments conducted on chimps, and the awful prices being paid.
A timely, well-researched and beautifully written novel about the struggles between science and the relentless progress of humans. The discrepancies, disagreements and belief systems lost in translation, without a clear path or language to heal and move forward.
The story begins in the rugged interior of a jungle where a baby chimp is torn from her mother by poachers to sell to researchers. The frightening intensity pulls the reader in fast, unable to turn back, committed to finding out what happens to baby Eve.
Written from different points of view, a traumatized Eve is placed in the Dayton zoo, after having endured countless and painful medical experiments in an American lab. The main characters, both highly educated scientists and zoo employees, struggle to help Eve, especially when met with opposition from higher-ups, and their own conflicting ideologies regarding her care.
They fall for each other despite obstacles and later separate, but not before helping each other through language barriers with their own mothers and finding common ground on how to help Eve. The ending left me breathless. A modern love story not to be missed and one which shows the healing powers of the universal language of love.
The Language of Kin
By Lynne Hugo
Advance Reading Copy
I’ve come to expect unique, well-developed storylines and endearing, unforgettable characters in Lynne Hugo’s award winning novels. She definitely does not disappoint with The Language of Kin.
I sailed through this one glued to every page. I was taken down an avenue into modern day science, the inevitable conflicts of interest, the sad story behind lab experiments conducted on chimps, and the awful prices being paid.
A timely, well-researched and beautifully written novel about the struggles between science and the relentless progress of humans. The discrepancies, disagreements and belief systems lost in translation, without a clear path or language to heal and move forward.
The story begins in the rugged interior of a jungle where a baby chimp is torn from her mother by poachers to sell to researchers. The frightening intensity pulls the reader in fast, unable to turn back, committed to finding out what happens to baby Eve.
Written from different points of view, a traumatized Eve is placed in the Dayton zoo, after having endured countless and painful medical experiments in an American lab. The main characters, both highly educated scientists and zoo employees, struggle to help Eve, especially when met with opposition from higher-ups, and their own conflicting ideologies regarding her care.
They fall for each other despite obstacles and later separate, but not before helping each other through language barriers with their own mothers and finding common ground on how to help Eve. The ending left me breathless. A modern love story not to be missed and one which shows the healing powers of the universal language of love.
Read
June 18, 2023LOVE LOVE LOVE the start! Wow. Poachers going after baby chimpanzees while their terrified mothers try to protect them. I have an advanced audio version and the narration is fantastic. Had me in tears.
June 28, 2023
Eve is a chimpanzee that was captured by poachers at a young age. She was then used for experiments in a medical lab. When she comes to the Dayton Zoo, she is scared and leery of humans. Kate and Marc are both working to integrate Eve into the general chimpanzee population, but they have different ways to go about doing this. They must work together despite some personal issues they are dealing with. Will they be able to set aside their differences in order to help Eve?
This was such a beautiful and moving story. I really enjoyed it and thought enjoyed how it was written. I loved how it dug into the communication between humans and animals. This book is very emotional and made me tear up at times, I just felt so much for Eve. I enjoyed how the conflicts in communication style between Kate and Marc was handled. They acted like adults and took ownership of their actions. This book explored how horrible humans can be to animals, and that was so moving and made me think. I just can’t believe how cruel some things are in this world. Ultimately the ending of this one was perfect. It wasn’t exactly where I thought things were going to go, but it was wonderful and wrapped up nicely.
More links will be added once posted.
This was such a beautiful and moving story. I really enjoyed it and thought enjoyed how it was written. I loved how it dug into the communication between humans and animals. This book is very emotional and made me tear up at times, I just felt so much for Eve. I enjoyed how the conflicts in communication style between Kate and Marc was handled. They acted like adults and took ownership of their actions. This book explored how horrible humans can be to animals, and that was so moving and made me think. I just can’t believe how cruel some things are in this world. Ultimately the ending of this one was perfect. It wasn’t exactly where I thought things were going to go, but it was wonderful and wrapped up nicely.
More links will be added once posted.
July 5, 2023
I received a kindle copy of this book free as a winner of a ŷ giveaway. I entered the giveaway because the cover caught my eye. I love primates, especially chimpanzees. Central to the story is Eve, a chimpanzee that was sent to a zoo after being used for medical experimentation and the zoo personnel who take off her. The story itself is heartbreaking and I found I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to find out what happens to Eve. I give this book 4.5 stars. I wish there was more from Eve’s perspective and it would be a solid 5.
April 26, 2023
This story is so powerful! I settled into it and next thing I knew, it was 5AM. I just could not put it down until I finished it.
This is a beautifully written story of the healing power of language across species. The first three pages are hard to read, and some may want to skip those pages. It describes the scene of Eve, the chimpanzee at the center of the story, being ripped from her mother by poachers and later sold to a medical research lab. Eve eventually is sent to the Dayton Zoo in Ohio. Primate keepers Kate and Marc, despite their difference of opinion of what the job should entail, are assigned to integrate Eve into the zoo’s chimp community.
Kate and Marc do find common ground. They each are caregivers for their mothers. Marc’s mother has been deaf her entire life, and after the death of her husband, she has isolated herself. Kate’s mother has aphasia as the result of a stroke. Aphasia has affected her ability to process, use, and/or understand language. This connection challenges them as they continue to clash on how Eve should be handled, especially as they recover from a crisis at the zoo that puts them all in danger.
My favorite parts of the book are when Marc is working alone with Eve, trying to earn her trust, teaching her to communicate with him. I also enjoyed the few scenes written from Eve’s perspective. These portions of the book displayed extreme sensitivity in the use of words to make me feel the emotions I did as I read. The characters, with all their flaws, are likeable, realistic.
This book was well-researched, and I enjoyed learning new things from it. I have always disliked the use of animals for various kinds of research. I did not realize though that apes are used because their DNA matches that of humans so closely.
I received an advance copy of the book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
This is a beautifully written story of the healing power of language across species. The first three pages are hard to read, and some may want to skip those pages. It describes the scene of Eve, the chimpanzee at the center of the story, being ripped from her mother by poachers and later sold to a medical research lab. Eve eventually is sent to the Dayton Zoo in Ohio. Primate keepers Kate and Marc, despite their difference of opinion of what the job should entail, are assigned to integrate Eve into the zoo’s chimp community.
Kate and Marc do find common ground. They each are caregivers for their mothers. Marc’s mother has been deaf her entire life, and after the death of her husband, she has isolated herself. Kate’s mother has aphasia as the result of a stroke. Aphasia has affected her ability to process, use, and/or understand language. This connection challenges them as they continue to clash on how Eve should be handled, especially as they recover from a crisis at the zoo that puts them all in danger.
My favorite parts of the book are when Marc is working alone with Eve, trying to earn her trust, teaching her to communicate with him. I also enjoyed the few scenes written from Eve’s perspective. These portions of the book displayed extreme sensitivity in the use of words to make me feel the emotions I did as I read. The characters, with all their flaws, are likeable, realistic.
This book was well-researched, and I enjoyed learning new things from it. I have always disliked the use of animals for various kinds of research. I did not realize though that apes are used because their DNA matches that of humans so closely.
I received an advance copy of the book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
May 8, 2023
A man. A woman. A chimp. Each carries secret pain. Each must learn to trust, to communicate, to find healing.
Kate and Marc work for the Dayton Zoo, specialists in primates, both peers and rivals. Kate’s time in the field convinced her of the importance of habitat protection and naturalization of chimpanzees. Marc argues that zoos are “a finger in the extinction dyke.� They don’t trust each other, and are attracted to each other.
In comes Eve, a chimpanzee violently taken from her mother when a baby, then used as a lab animal. She is traumatized, unsocialized, and pregnant. Kate wants to quickly socialize Eve with the gentler chimps. Marc wants to give Eve time to trust and adapt. Marc’s gentleness and care is making advances, teaching Eve to communicate through sign language.
The zoo director is concerned about the bottom line. He pressures the staff to quickly advance Eve’s introduction to the pack so he can use her and her baby as promotion for financial profit. It brings conflict between Marc and Kate, threatening their new relationship.
Communication is a central theme. There is Marc communicating with Eve. Marc’s mother is deaf and mute; sign language was his first language. His mother has retreated from the world, overly dependent on him. He rushes home from work so she isn’t alone after the day help leaves. Kate’s mother has primary progressive aphasia, unable to communicate in words. The assisted living care facility doesn’t know how to cope with her limitations.
It takes time for Marc and Kate to trust each other with their stories. To trust each other at work. When they do, it impacts both their families in a positive way, Marc’s mother showing Kate’s mother a new way of communicating.
This is how we fail, again and again…but language is what we have and if we give up and let it fail, there is nothing left.
from Language of Kin by Lynne Hugo
Our family has adopted puppy mill breeder dogs. The females spent years in cages, giving birth, and the male lived outdoors, suffering from untreated broken bones, frostbite, and allergies. Like Eve, shut down and scared when she arrives at the zoo, our Suki hid in a corner, untrusting and fearful. It took days of sitting and talking with her, caring for her, before she would come to me in the evening for doggie cookies. It took a year before she began to act like a real dog, and even into her senior years, she shyly came from her corner in the evening, smiling, to shake and roll on her back and beg for treats. We had adopted Kara, the male dog from a puppy mill, so she could socialize with another dog. When he came and snuggled next to her, she was uncertain. But they bonded, and Kara taught Suki how to play.
So I understood the methods employed by both Kate and Marc, the need for an animal to socialize with their own kind, and the need for them to learn to trust those who care for them.
I read this book over 24 hours. The original setting, the central issue of how to deal with Eve, and the deep understanding of human nature elevated the story and kept my interest.
I received a free book from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
Kate and Marc work for the Dayton Zoo, specialists in primates, both peers and rivals. Kate’s time in the field convinced her of the importance of habitat protection and naturalization of chimpanzees. Marc argues that zoos are “a finger in the extinction dyke.� They don’t trust each other, and are attracted to each other.
In comes Eve, a chimpanzee violently taken from her mother when a baby, then used as a lab animal. She is traumatized, unsocialized, and pregnant. Kate wants to quickly socialize Eve with the gentler chimps. Marc wants to give Eve time to trust and adapt. Marc’s gentleness and care is making advances, teaching Eve to communicate through sign language.
The zoo director is concerned about the bottom line. He pressures the staff to quickly advance Eve’s introduction to the pack so he can use her and her baby as promotion for financial profit. It brings conflict between Marc and Kate, threatening their new relationship.
Communication is a central theme. There is Marc communicating with Eve. Marc’s mother is deaf and mute; sign language was his first language. His mother has retreated from the world, overly dependent on him. He rushes home from work so she isn’t alone after the day help leaves. Kate’s mother has primary progressive aphasia, unable to communicate in words. The assisted living care facility doesn’t know how to cope with her limitations.
It takes time for Marc and Kate to trust each other with their stories. To trust each other at work. When they do, it impacts both their families in a positive way, Marc’s mother showing Kate’s mother a new way of communicating.
This is how we fail, again and again…but language is what we have and if we give up and let it fail, there is nothing left.
from Language of Kin by Lynne Hugo
Our family has adopted puppy mill breeder dogs. The females spent years in cages, giving birth, and the male lived outdoors, suffering from untreated broken bones, frostbite, and allergies. Like Eve, shut down and scared when she arrives at the zoo, our Suki hid in a corner, untrusting and fearful. It took days of sitting and talking with her, caring for her, before she would come to me in the evening for doggie cookies. It took a year before she began to act like a real dog, and even into her senior years, she shyly came from her corner in the evening, smiling, to shake and roll on her back and beg for treats. We had adopted Kara, the male dog from a puppy mill, so she could socialize with another dog. When he came and snuggled next to her, she was uncertain. But they bonded, and Kara taught Suki how to play.
So I understood the methods employed by both Kate and Marc, the need for an animal to socialize with their own kind, and the need for them to learn to trust those who care for them.
I read this book over 24 hours. The original setting, the central issue of how to deal with Eve, and the deep understanding of human nature elevated the story and kept my interest.
I received a free book from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.
July 27, 2023
A remarkable book: engaging characters, compelling narrative, profound themes, and beautifully written.
The title alludes to the centrality of language and, by extension, of communication in general, as a phenomenon, an idea, a problem, a mystery explored in the novel: between parents and children, between lovers, among workers (and bosses), between males and females of the species, between humans and animals, even between culture and nature.
To that end, in addition to the narrative events and the relationships among the characters, the author also deploys the "language of literature" in intriguing and constructive ways. The writing also consists of a conversation among different literary and rhetorical genres, as if they too are "kin," each speaking in its own language. At different moments, we can hear: 'poetry' in some of the descriptions of nature; 'science' in the accounts of zoological research; 'psychology' in the relations with parents; 'romance literature' in the depictions of the feelings and behavior of Kate and Marc; 'thrilling suspense' in the page-turning, edge-of-your-seat narrative sequences; 'techniques of administration, selling, marketing, and advertising' in the running of zoos and health services; even a very original use of 'stream of consciousness' in the passages where we see things from the chimp Eve's point of view. Kate's passages are in the first person. Those pertaining to Marc are in the third person.
We thus get to look inside, outside, and all around: roots, branches, and the surrounding ecosystem.
This rhetorical richness reinforces the investigation of the issues that are addressed in the narrative content of the novel and in the emotional responses it elicits and the philosophical connotations it suggests, pointing out how very difficult and yet how essential it is to communicate in order to understand and to then act accordingly, and how language is both our tool for doing so and, for humans at least, also the instrument we use for avoidance and deception, of self and of others.
If, however, we extend the notion of ‘kinship� to include the family of all living beings, and if we master a “language of kin� that allows us to communicate more clearly and more honestly, we will perhaps come to understand more, act better, and be more content.
The title alludes to the centrality of language and, by extension, of communication in general, as a phenomenon, an idea, a problem, a mystery explored in the novel: between parents and children, between lovers, among workers (and bosses), between males and females of the species, between humans and animals, even between culture and nature.
To that end, in addition to the narrative events and the relationships among the characters, the author also deploys the "language of literature" in intriguing and constructive ways. The writing also consists of a conversation among different literary and rhetorical genres, as if they too are "kin," each speaking in its own language. At different moments, we can hear: 'poetry' in some of the descriptions of nature; 'science' in the accounts of zoological research; 'psychology' in the relations with parents; 'romance literature' in the depictions of the feelings and behavior of Kate and Marc; 'thrilling suspense' in the page-turning, edge-of-your-seat narrative sequences; 'techniques of administration, selling, marketing, and advertising' in the running of zoos and health services; even a very original use of 'stream of consciousness' in the passages where we see things from the chimp Eve's point of view. Kate's passages are in the first person. Those pertaining to Marc are in the third person.
We thus get to look inside, outside, and all around: roots, branches, and the surrounding ecosystem.
This rhetorical richness reinforces the investigation of the issues that are addressed in the narrative content of the novel and in the emotional responses it elicits and the philosophical connotations it suggests, pointing out how very difficult and yet how essential it is to communicate in order to understand and to then act accordingly, and how language is both our tool for doing so and, for humans at least, also the instrument we use for avoidance and deception, of self and of others.
If, however, we extend the notion of ‘kinship� to include the family of all living beings, and if we master a “language of kin� that allows us to communicate more clearly and more honestly, we will perhaps come to understand more, act better, and be more content.
July 4, 2023
WOW! Lynne Hugo, the author of “The Language of Kin,� has written an exemplary, outstanding, and intriguing novel. The theme is animal and human communication. I love how Lynne Hugo compares and contrasts communication between chimpanzees and humans. The author also discusses how deaf people can communicate and how mute people, who can hear, can communicate. The author writes about an autistic helper and how he relates to the world around him.
The author vividly describes the landscape, habitats, scenery, and her characters. I was fascinated, and I feel that I was able to learn about signing and communication. Also mentioned is poaching and how Eve, a chimpanzee taken by poachers, views humans. Changes in the environment also cause problems for the animals.
The author describes the human characters as complex and complicated. Kate and Marc are co-workers at the Dayton Zoo. Both have different perspectives on animal habitats and the environment. They both do share the stressors of handicapped mothers and also the stressful work environment. The Dayton Zoo is making accommodations for Eve, a chimpanzee that had been isolated and experimented on. They are trying to acclimate Eve to the zoo. There is a push to socialize Eve with the other chimpanzees for publicity and profit. Will Kate and Marc be able to make that work? Through Eve’s narrative, the reader gets to see her reactions.
I am impressed with the research that the author has done, and I also found that there are many layers to this wonderfully complex story. I highly recommend this novel to other readers.
The author vividly describes the landscape, habitats, scenery, and her characters. I was fascinated, and I feel that I was able to learn about signing and communication. Also mentioned is poaching and how Eve, a chimpanzee taken by poachers, views humans. Changes in the environment also cause problems for the animals.
The author describes the human characters as complex and complicated. Kate and Marc are co-workers at the Dayton Zoo. Both have different perspectives on animal habitats and the environment. They both do share the stressors of handicapped mothers and also the stressful work environment. The Dayton Zoo is making accommodations for Eve, a chimpanzee that had been isolated and experimented on. They are trying to acclimate Eve to the zoo. There is a push to socialize Eve with the other chimpanzees for publicity and profit. Will Kate and Marc be able to make that work? Through Eve’s narrative, the reader gets to see her reactions.
I am impressed with the research that the author has done, and I also found that there are many layers to this wonderfully complex story. I highly recommend this novel to other readers.
August 25, 2023
I absolutely loved this novel for many reasons.
For first of all, there’s Eve, an orphaned chimpanzee, first taken by heartless poachers and then abused in a medical lab until they are forced to stop their experiments and send her to a zoo—which is where the novel begins. Eve’s point of view is presented in a simple and believable way, not overdone, adding a touching perspective.
Next is the love story between Kate, the zoo’s primatologist, and Marc, a primate keeper at the zoo, who clash over their opposing views of animals in captivity, yet are united in working for Eve’s best interests. While there is a subtle chemistry between Kate and Marc from the start, their lives become intertwined through a fascinating subplot involving their mothers—one unable to speak and one unable to hear. Finding unique ways to communicate is important both literally and metaphorically throughout this cleverly written novel.
Both timeless and timely, The Language of Kin is a cry for compassion and action to save our planet and those, like Eve, who suffer as a result of man’s greed and ignorance. And it’s a beautiful love story on different levels—between a man and woman, adult child and parent, and finally, love for our planet and all its creatures great and small.
Informative. Engaging. With moments of tenderness, as well as page-turning excitement. A five star recommendation for sure.
For first of all, there’s Eve, an orphaned chimpanzee, first taken by heartless poachers and then abused in a medical lab until they are forced to stop their experiments and send her to a zoo—which is where the novel begins. Eve’s point of view is presented in a simple and believable way, not overdone, adding a touching perspective.
Next is the love story between Kate, the zoo’s primatologist, and Marc, a primate keeper at the zoo, who clash over their opposing views of animals in captivity, yet are united in working for Eve’s best interests. While there is a subtle chemistry between Kate and Marc from the start, their lives become intertwined through a fascinating subplot involving their mothers—one unable to speak and one unable to hear. Finding unique ways to communicate is important both literally and metaphorically throughout this cleverly written novel.
Both timeless and timely, The Language of Kin is a cry for compassion and action to save our planet and those, like Eve, who suffer as a result of man’s greed and ignorance. And it’s a beautiful love story on different levels—between a man and woman, adult child and parent, and finally, love for our planet and all its creatures great and small.
Informative. Engaging. With moments of tenderness, as well as page-turning excitement. A five star recommendation for sure.
May 5, 2023
The Language of Kin by author Lynne Hugo
Where do I begin reviewing a novel that has left such an imprint on my heart and left me speechless...
The Language of Kin is nothing short of phenomenal! Ms. Hugo has masterfully created a story that brought my life to a screeching halt until I read the very last word on the last page... Outstanding and beautiful, this is a story I'll never forget!
This Award-Winning author has flawlessly taken Women's Fiction to another level by transporting her reader to a place where communication takes on a whole new meaning. Through her strong yet flawed characters, be it human or primate, we're shown how far they will go in helping and protecting those closest to them from the complexities and cruelties that encompass their worlds.
Kate, Marc, and Eve, as well as others, not only captured my heart, they inserted themselves in a way I felt I was living within their story. From the romantic to the scientific, along with elements of what family truly is, this is a welcoming, profoundly touching, and meaningful read for anyone looking to experience something very unique and refreshing.
A literary gem, a must-read, The Language of Kin is thoroughly captivating. Don't miss it...
Thank you, author Lynne Hugo, for giving life to this story and allowing me the opportunity to experience every twist, turn, and heartfelt word.
5+ Stars
#TheLanguageofKin
#lynnehugoauthor
#BlankSlatePress
ARC
Wild Sage Book Blog
Where do I begin reviewing a novel that has left such an imprint on my heart and left me speechless...
The Language of Kin is nothing short of phenomenal! Ms. Hugo has masterfully created a story that brought my life to a screeching halt until I read the very last word on the last page... Outstanding and beautiful, this is a story I'll never forget!
This Award-Winning author has flawlessly taken Women's Fiction to another level by transporting her reader to a place where communication takes on a whole new meaning. Through her strong yet flawed characters, be it human or primate, we're shown how far they will go in helping and protecting those closest to them from the complexities and cruelties that encompass their worlds.
Kate, Marc, and Eve, as well as others, not only captured my heart, they inserted themselves in a way I felt I was living within their story. From the romantic to the scientific, along with elements of what family truly is, this is a welcoming, profoundly touching, and meaningful read for anyone looking to experience something very unique and refreshing.
A literary gem, a must-read, The Language of Kin is thoroughly captivating. Don't miss it...
Thank you, author Lynne Hugo, for giving life to this story and allowing me the opportunity to experience every twist, turn, and heartfelt word.
5+ Stars
#TheLanguageofKin
#lynnehugoauthor
#BlankSlatePress
ARC
Wild Sage Book Blog
July 11, 2023
The important subject of animal testing and animals in captivity can be covered in an essay or nonfiction book, yet Lynne Hugo has taken these important issues and shown the importance of thoughts and feelings by conquering the subject in a fiction book thus making the impact on the reader exponentially more critical. This book got to me! The story opens with poachers murdering chimpanzee mothers and stealing their babies. I felt like I was there witnessing the horror and hearing the chimpanzees scream. Then we follow Kate and Marc who work at the Dayton Zoo with chimpanzees. There we meet Eve who was orphaned due to poachers killing her mother and stealing her. As if things couldn’t get any worse they do because Eve was then used for experiments in a medical lab. Eve lives up to her name by dealing with not just her past but also showing Kate and Marc how to help others including the parents they are caring for due to health and disabilities. While this book is amazing at bringing awareness to animals, it is even more remarkable at shedding light on caring for others with physical and mental difficulties. I loved this book and will be bringing it to Book Club tomorrow night to try to convince everyone to vote for it as one of our reads. I can already see how this book can provide such an amazing impact on several people I know.
September 22, 2023
This book is beautiful and heartfelt. I had to pace myself and read it a little each night because even though it was a heavy read it was one I wanted to spend time with.
The book begins as Eve, a chimpanzee, has her own point of view as her mother is killed in the wild and she is forced into a life of captivity. That first night I only read and reflected on that chapter.
The book not only tells Eve’s story, but also how two employees in the primate area of the Dayton Zoo must deal with their own personal and professional challenges.
Kate is frustrated that the zoo doesn’t have her same philosophy on primates. She also deals with a mother that has lost her ability to understand words and uses pictures from magazines to communicate.
Marc is Kate’s coworker and is tasked with helping Eve acclimate to the zoo after coming to them from a medical testing facility. He worries that he doesn’t have the experience necessary to help Eve. Marc has always cared for his mother who is deaf and mute.
The book sheds light on varying animal care philosophies which would make for an interesting point in a book club discussion.
The concept of language being more than the spoken word, family bonds, love, and acceptance in both the human and primate world make this a powerful read as well as one that made me shed multiple tears.
April 27, 2024
This was a very interesting book. It dealt with language both human and animal. It is set in a zoo where a new chimpanzee is being cared for by several staff members. Eve, as she is called, has been severely tramatized because she was captured at at young age and sold to a research lab. For eight years she was kept in a small cage and used for medical research.
The author weaves several story lines in this book. First the cruelety of using animals for medical research. She also deals with aphasia and people who are hearing impaired. One of the staff members, Marc, has a mom who is hearing impaired and she has isolated herself from the rest of the world. Her son works with Eve and atempts to teach her sign language.
Another staff member, Kate, has a mom who is afflicted with aphasia and is also slowly withdrawing from the world. Added to all of this is the conflicting opinions of Kate and Marc on whether animals should be confined to a zoo or left to live in their natural habitat.
PS (Several days later) I can't stop thinking about this book. I think the essence of it is how important language and communication are. You see it in both Kate and Marc's mom and the struggles they go through. It just hit me how many times the characters said "We need to talk" or "Can we talk later?". Don't you just love a book that you keep reflecting on long after you have finished the book.
The author weaves several story lines in this book. First the cruelety of using animals for medical research. She also deals with aphasia and people who are hearing impaired. One of the staff members, Marc, has a mom who is hearing impaired and she has isolated herself from the rest of the world. Her son works with Eve and atempts to teach her sign language.
Another staff member, Kate, has a mom who is afflicted with aphasia and is also slowly withdrawing from the world. Added to all of this is the conflicting opinions of Kate and Marc on whether animals should be confined to a zoo or left to live in their natural habitat.
PS (Several days later) I can't stop thinking about this book. I think the essence of it is how important language and communication are. You see it in both Kate and Marc's mom and the struggles they go through. It just hit me how many times the characters said "We need to talk" or "Can we talk later?". Don't you just love a book that you keep reflecting on long after you have finished the book.
July 16, 2023
In The Language of Kin, author Lynne Hugo leads us on a captivating journey where understanding, empathy, and connection transcend the limitations of spoken language. With insightful prose and an enchanting narrative, Hugo immerses readers in a world where nonverbal exchanges hold transformative potential.
Through vivid descriptions of the destruction of natural habitats and humanity's meager attempts to recreate them, Hugo weaves a compelling tale of Eve, a traumatized former lab chimp. In telling Eve's story from the chimp's point of view, the author reminds us that genuine connections can be formed across species through a shared language of emotion, presence, and empathy.
Within the pages of The Language of Kin, Hugo masterfully explores the many ways words can be misunderstood, hindering our ability to truly comprehend each other. This poignant and thought-provoking novel invites readers to listen with their hearts, embrace the power of intuitive communication, and acknowledge the transformative capabilities of love and empathy.
The Language of Kin not only delivers a gripping read but also serves as a testament to the author's mastery of language—both written and unspoken.
Through vivid descriptions of the destruction of natural habitats and humanity's meager attempts to recreate them, Hugo weaves a compelling tale of Eve, a traumatized former lab chimp. In telling Eve's story from the chimp's point of view, the author reminds us that genuine connections can be formed across species through a shared language of emotion, presence, and empathy.
Within the pages of The Language of Kin, Hugo masterfully explores the many ways words can be misunderstood, hindering our ability to truly comprehend each other. This poignant and thought-provoking novel invites readers to listen with their hearts, embrace the power of intuitive communication, and acknowledge the transformative capabilities of love and empathy.
The Language of Kin not only delivers a gripping read but also serves as a testament to the author's mastery of language—both written and unspoken.
July 20, 2023
Thank you @getredprbooks @amphoraepublishinggroup for having me on this booktour.
I remember doing a group project with some “animal advocate� girls in my Sociology class in college about primates and the existential being of the first human. We went ahead and picked chimpanzees because we thought it would be easier to research and write about our closest animal-friend. Guess what?! If this book was written back in the days, I would have used this as one of the books to be read as entertainment. I love how Lynne Hugo fictionalized her researched references and simplified it for non-scientific (me 🙋🏻♀�) readers to understand it. Kudos for making it fascinating and interesting. Eve, the chimpanzee, is humanized and I love it. Her olive branches were extended to both Mark and Kate, and offered solutions to the complexities of the situations human created. This is heartbreaking and also heartfelt book! I love it and it is so easy to read! This is definitely for readers who have a soft spot for animal-lovers.
I remember doing a group project with some “animal advocate� girls in my Sociology class in college about primates and the existential being of the first human. We went ahead and picked chimpanzees because we thought it would be easier to research and write about our closest animal-friend. Guess what?! If this book was written back in the days, I would have used this as one of the books to be read as entertainment. I love how Lynne Hugo fictionalized her researched references and simplified it for non-scientific (me 🙋🏻♀�) readers to understand it. Kudos for making it fascinating and interesting. Eve, the chimpanzee, is humanized and I love it. Her olive branches were extended to both Mark and Kate, and offered solutions to the complexities of the situations human created. This is heartbreaking and also heartfelt book! I love it and it is so easy to read! This is definitely for readers who have a soft spot for animal-lovers.
June 18, 2023
The Language of Kin by Lynne Hugo is an incredible story that has stayed with me since I turned the final page.
Eve, the chimpanzee at the center of this story stole and broke my heart all at once.
Eve had a very tough start in her life as a research experiment. After many years of this, she was relocated to the Dayton Zoo and has to learn a new language in order to communicate and learn to trust humans and other animals.
We meet our human characters, Kate and Mark who are the trainers tasked with working with Eve. They have very different ideas of how to teach Eve how to communicate.
The research the author did for this novel was INCREDIBLE. I love when I read a novel that I absolutely LOVE but also learn something.
The characters are so well written with an incredible well-paced plot.
I was cheering for Eve, and she will stay with me for a long time.
Eve, the chimpanzee at the center of this story stole and broke my heart all at once.
Eve had a very tough start in her life as a research experiment. After many years of this, she was relocated to the Dayton Zoo and has to learn a new language in order to communicate and learn to trust humans and other animals.
We meet our human characters, Kate and Mark who are the trainers tasked with working with Eve. They have very different ideas of how to teach Eve how to communicate.
The research the author did for this novel was INCREDIBLE. I love when I read a novel that I absolutely LOVE but also learn something.
The characters are so well written with an incredible well-paced plot.
I was cheering for Eve, and she will stay with me for a long time.
September 20, 2023
Disclaimer. I received this book from a contest run by the author.
This is a story of lost souls, both human and primate�.of love and longing to communicate but not always having the knowledge of how or when to � say the words”�..
Lynne Hugo took on a story of multiple characters each with a different problem- deafness, autism, aphasia, pride, different outlooks about how Eve, a traumatized chimpanzee should be treated�.and wove them together into a story of warmth, compassion and resilience. I highly recommend reading it whether your an animal activist, a reader looking for something a bit different and if you’re part of a book club, some of the best discussion questions I’ve seen ( been in a club for 10+ years and some books had, well, lousy follow ups!)
Thank you Lynne - I truly enjoyed the story.
This is a story of lost souls, both human and primate�.of love and longing to communicate but not always having the knowledge of how or when to � say the words”�..
Lynne Hugo took on a story of multiple characters each with a different problem- deafness, autism, aphasia, pride, different outlooks about how Eve, a traumatized chimpanzee should be treated�.and wove them together into a story of warmth, compassion and resilience. I highly recommend reading it whether your an animal activist, a reader looking for something a bit different and if you’re part of a book club, some of the best discussion questions I’ve seen ( been in a club for 10+ years and some books had, well, lousy follow ups!)
Thank you Lynne - I truly enjoyed the story.
July 13, 2023
My goodness, what a powerful and moving story. I am a huge animal lover - so from the very first pages, where the poachers killed the mothers to grab the baby chimps to sell, I knew this book would rip my heart out and probably make me mad too.
Is this about how we treat animals, specifically primates - from horrible lab testing to zoo enclosures? Yes. Yet, the author did an amazing job weaving storylines that display how humans can find common ground when we don’t see eye-to-eye on everything. And we need more of that in the world.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐢𝐧 offers science, drama, and even romance in a thought-provoking and fascinating look at how we interact with the world around us.
Thank you @getredprbooks and @lynnehugoauthor for a gifted copy.
Is this about how we treat animals, specifically primates - from horrible lab testing to zoo enclosures? Yes. Yet, the author did an amazing job weaving storylines that display how humans can find common ground when we don’t see eye-to-eye on everything. And we need more of that in the world.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐢𝐧 offers science, drama, and even romance in a thought-provoking and fascinating look at how we interact with the world around us.
Thank you @getredprbooks and @lynnehugoauthor for a gifted copy.
September 10, 2023
This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time. It's a beautifully written love story in so many ways. Mother and child, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, human to chimpanzees, and eventually chimp to chimp. Eve's history is sad yet she emerges triumphant and I loved that she finally got the life she deserved. Kate and Marc grow so much in their personal lives as well as how they approach their work and that development was a joy to see. There are many thought-provoking questions that arise as you read and while I don't have the answers I believe bringing awareness is the first step and the author does this brilliantly.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2023
The Language of Kin describes the horrific treatment of apes and how they are used in experiments. This book discusses the close match of their DNA to humans and how apes have been used for medical experiments. Kept in cages without sunlight or companions, I read about the exposure of the cruelty humans have shown toward apes. This was an eye opening read, and it was hard to put down. Kate and Marc are two characters who work at a zoo and become close when a new chimp comes from a science mill.
Eve comes from the science mill to the zoo where she discovers a new freedom she had lost. This story is heart breaking, powerful, and raw. Such troubling emotions for this book, but it was so good!
Eve comes from the science mill to the zoo where she discovers a new freedom she had lost. This story is heart breaking, powerful, and raw. Such troubling emotions for this book, but it was so good!
March 16, 2023
This novel written by Hugo is brilliant. Kate and Marc have many things in common from working at a Zoo in Ohio, to both being caregivers to their mothers. Marc’s mother being deaf and living at home with Marc. Kate’s mother unable to speak and unsure if she could hear while living in an assisted living facility. Marc’s mother Ria uses sign language to start communicating with Dorothy who is Kates mother. Just as Marc has taught Eve the chimp at the zoo to communicate with him and gain her trust. Eve was brought to the zoo from a lab where she was being used for research after she was captured and her mother killed by poachers several years prior.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2023
This story was so full of emotions for me. Kate and Marc must work together to care for Eve, a chimpanzee that was used for medical experiments and orphaned by poachers. Kate and Marc disagree and need to come together for Eve. The one thing they have in common is they both are the caregivers for their mothers. This story was so moving and really pulled my heart strings. It had me thinking about so many things. This is a perfect book club book. Once you read it you can't help but want to talk about it. This was another well written beautiful story from one of my favorite authors.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
September 5, 2023
This was a powerful and emotional read that will stay with me for a long time. I’m especially sensitive where animals are concerned and have to choose books, movies, etc. related to animals very carefully. Admittedly some parts of this were hard to read but I am so glad I pushed through. The story was compelling and eye opening and Eve was an unforgettable character. It was fascinating to read about different perspectives related to integrating animals into zoo type settings and I always appreciate books that shed light on topics I don’t know enough about.
September 5, 2023
This was a powerful and emotional read that will stay with me for a long time. I’m especially sensitive where animals are concerned and have to choose books, movies, etc. related to animals very carefully. Admittedly some parts of this were hard to read but I am so glad I pushed through. The story was compelling and eye opening and Eve was an unforgettable character. It was fascinating to read about different perspectives related to integrating animals into zoo type settings and I always appreciate books that shed light on topics I don’t know enough about.
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