Open Throat – Henry Hoke

Expectation: An exploration of the trials and tribulations of a queer mountain lion navigating an increasingly difficult life in Los Angeles.

Reality: Not necessarily queer but highly engrossing with a wonderfully executed ending. 

My Take:

Any story narrated by a queer cat is an automatic read (see “The Last House on Needless Street”), but outside of a few mentions of gender curiosity — both human and feline — there was nothing overtly queer about this story. 

So let’s be clear: this is not a novella about a genderqueer mountain lion — even if the author says it is. It may be an unpopular opinion, but it’s true. The queer hook is (ingenuous) marketing malarky to help this slim story gain publicity. 

It’s no different than how Disney loves to promote a “gay character” only to be disappointed by the minimal screen time or incredibly understated queerness of said character (here’s looking at you, LeFou).

The mountain lion is simply interested in the smells and actions of the various humans and animals it encounters, which could be perceived as queer, but in reality is no different than how your companion animal greets a visitor to your home. Pushing queerness on every animal is projection at its finest.

Was I disappointed in this turn of events? Yes and no. 

Yes, because the perspective of a genderqueer mountain lion sounds like an anthropomorphic delight. 

No, because this was an engrossing read that blurred the lines of magical realism and literary fiction from the POV of a big cat. It was akin to a quirky yet sentimental film wrapped in a fever dream from Disney’s past that it wants to keep firmly in the vault and purge from memory.

There’s love, adventure and, most importantly, revenge. If you’re willing to go along for the ride, it’s a crowd pleaser. 

Inspired by P-22, the Los Angeles mountain lion that lived near the Hollywood sign, “Open Throat” explores the dangers of climate change and urban sprawl on wildlife and even tackles homo sapiens’ role as friend and foe to our wild compatriots. 

In less than 200-pages Henry Hoke gives the reader a lot to unpack, but the less you know going into it the better. While he nearly lost me with the domestication plot line and dream about the happiest place on earth, he connected both elements meaningfully to the complexity of sentient beings and our lack of understanding of their full capacity for emotion — the running theme of the novella. 

Hoke drives this home even further in the ridiculously satisfying conclusion that, had I not already been charmed by the story, would have surely sealed the deal. Like the orca pod wreaking havoc on boats, there’s something gratifying about watching nature strike back. 

Narrated by Pete Cross, the audiobook can be completed in a single session, and honestly, it’s the best way to tackle this story. I found Cross’ narration to be captivating and understated. This performance could have steered toward camp, but Cross kept the curiosity and charm of the big cat intact while never letting us forget about its wild roots. 

Side note: If you’re interested in a nonfiction perspective on mountain lions and how they are adapting to human encroachment, I highly encourage reading David Baron’s fantastic “The Beast in the Garden.”

Rating (story): 4/5 stars

Rating (narration): 4/5 stars

Format: Audiobook (library loan)

Date read: July 10, 2023

Multi-tasking: Good to go, but its non-linear structure requires concentration. I had to replay a few sections when my mind wandered.