Having loved Gruen’s book Water for Elephants, I was as giddy as a little kid at Christmas for her next book, Ape House. I landed a free reviewers copy which arrived in the mail early last week and couldn’t wait to get started.  I finished the first 100 pages of the book just last night (of its 320 total pages).  While the book is not as magical and whimsy as Elephants was, I will finish it before the actual release of the book on September 7th.

It’s the story of a group of Bonobo apes that become misplaced after their home, a language lab in Kansas, is blown up by animal rights activists. So far, the first 100 pages is more about two couples, their relation to the apes, and the drama of their own lives.  There’s Isabel, the head researcher who was hurt in the explosion.  Her love of the apes and their communication through sign language shines through, as Gruen obviously as talent for writing animal relationships with humans. She’s engaged to Peter, another researcher, who allows the apes to be sold after the explosion because the university and other researchers had received threats.

Then, there’s John Thigpen, a reporter who had just visited with the apes hours before the explosion.  He returns to Kansas a few days later to investigate.  While I think John is suppose to be a key character, he’s a bit flat.  His wife, Amanda, is much more interesting.  She’s hot and turns the heads of all men who she passes.  She’s a failed novelist eager to fly out to L.A. to write a sitcom that’s been given the green flag.  And her overbearing mother is eager for grand children! Mom finding the couples sex toys, bagging them and organizing them by shape and color was a hoot!

Unfortunately, you become more wrapped up in the personal lives so far of these two couples, as the apes are treated to just a few short chapters as to the mystery of their whereabouts. If they are meant to be the center of the novel, then we’ve still got a ways to go. Had the apes been coveting a secret that could unravel the mysteries of the ages, we’d almost have a Dan Brown thriller on our hands as John races to uncover the story, and Isabel recovers from the pain – both physical and emotional – and the reader tries to discover who has the apes and what’s in store for them.

Like I said, the book lacks the magic that Elephants had.  The romance is there.  A bit of the humor is there.  Gruen has a strong fan base so the book will do well, but in the end it may just be monkey-business.  Full review to follow…