Open Throat A Novel
Open Throat by Henry Hoke, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux on June 6, 2023, is a novel that presents a unique perspective through the eyes of a queer mountain lion living in a drought-affected area beneath the Hollywood sign. This 176-page work explores themes of loneliness, identity, and the complexities of human interactions as the lion observes the lives of those around them, including a nearby homeless encampment and the hikers who traverse the landscape.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into the lion’s internal struggles with gender identity and memories of a challenging upbringing, all while navigating the harsh realities of life in Los Angeles. As the story unfolds, the lion faces a series of temptations and dangers, ultimately confronting profound questions about existence and connection. Open Throat intertwines elements of fiction, erotica, and LGBTQ+ themes, offering a thought-provoking exploration of societal inequalities and the impact of climate change through a compelling and imaginative lens.
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Finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize, and the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction. One of the Washington Post‘s 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2023. One of The New York Times‘ 10 Best California Books of 2023. Longlisted for the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award.
“Open Throat is what fiction should be.” —The New York Times Book Review
A lonely, lovable, queer mountain lion narrates this star-making fever dream of a novel.
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 a nearby homeless encampment, observing 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.
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. 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?
Henry Hoke’s Open Throat is a marvel of storytelling, a universal journey through a wondrous and menacing world recounted by a lovable mountain lion. Feral and vulnerable, profound and playful, Open Throat is a star-making novel that brings the mythic to life.
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