I don't like Magical Realism. But every time I read a description for one, I think, this is the one! It never is, and Bestiary is no different. I just don't get it. Bestiary did have me excited from the first chapter because it's in second person as the mother is telling stories to her daughter. From there it alternates, between her and the daughter (first person). Unfortunately, other than the narrative, I was not into this one at all. I really could not even tell you what this was about other than three generations of women.
Bestiary has a lot of bodily fluids: blood, urine, semen, vomit, poo, all of it. There's also an awkward fixation on orifices, mainly mouths and anuses. There's always something going in and something else entirely coming out. They're also always digging holes and sticking things places. And I'm sure this all had some bigger meaning that my nonliterary brain just could not understand. I was confused the entire time I was reading and it was a relief to reach the end. The best way to describe Bestiary is weird. Perhaps for those of you who do understand Magical Realism will get something out of it.