|
|
Post by Bara on Jul 10, 2009 6:33:47 GMT -5
Just over half-way through. He's running for Canada with Essay, Tinder and Baboo. I, too, feel the loss of Almondine and their hunger.
Almost too scared to continue.
I think it is the best 'dog-training manual' I have ever read. It's working for my two already, although we're not as advanced as 'dog-tag-dog'.
|
|
|
|
Post by Einstein on Jul 10, 2009 10:31:55 GMT -5
Well, it is beautifully written...
Let us know how you think of it when it's over. Almondine breaks my heart. But you HAVE to finish, no way you can't now!
|
|
|
|
Post by Bara on Jul 10, 2009 12:46:08 GMT -5
Can't put it down. But fearful every paw-step of the way ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Einstein on Jul 15, 2009 9:06:08 GMT -5
Sooooo, did you finish it yet Bara?
|
|
|
|
Post by Bara on Jul 15, 2009 9:09:27 GMT -5
Yep. Strange ending. Strange. It's promised to a friend.
Leaves you with nowhere to go, reading-wise. Strange.
|
|
|
|
Post by adcooper on Jul 17, 2009 6:27:21 GMT -5
Aren't the dogs tremendous? And the imagery. Every scene so clearly drawn.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bara on Jul 17, 2009 7:48:09 GMT -5
Yes. Yes! Much more finely drawn than the humans, even Edgar himself.
Especially Almondine, of course. But, Essay, too. Tinder. And even the pups. I was trying to resist the anthropomorphism, but then my 'Almondine' would sit in front of me, engaging eye to eye. And in HER case, she yips a full conversation to you, without moving a paw or a buttock (occasional ear.) Then waits for a response - which never comes satisfactorily.
I'd love to know the story of what happened with Henry and the dogs left behind.
Did you read the story of the author? The background is autobiographical (not the story, I presume.)
The imagery of the rain-ghost of his father is inspired.
It's disturbing, though. Promised to my friend, Trish, owner of Victory the ER TB and Meagan the little Border Collie.
|
|
|
|
Post by niaru on Jul 17, 2009 9:27:08 GMT -5
Yes, it is disturbing, isn't it? I agree with the "what NOW" feeling. I gave the book (in translation) to my sister, I wonder what she'll think of it...when I told her a bit of what it's about she said "I hope it doesn't have a sad ending"...!!!
For some reason when reading about Almondine I kept seeing a yellow Lab or a Golden, even though I knew the dogs in the story are all shepherd type dogs...
|
|
|
|
Post by Einstein on Jul 17, 2009 10:30:38 GMT -5
I was just soo pissed with what happened to Edgar in the end, not for him soley, but his mother. Hadn't she lost enough? It left me feeling raw, empty and pissed off to be honest. LOVED reading it, HATED the end.
I gave it to Samantha to read, she was here when she finished it. I did warn her outright and she was still pissed too!
I wonder what the author wanted the reader to feel at the end?
|
|
|
|
Post by samantha on Jul 17, 2009 15:21:46 GMT -5
Yup I hated it. The ending ruined the book for me. My mother had given it to me to read the week before Michelle's wedding and I finished Michelle's copy while I was up there. My mother raved about it and said it was the best book she'd ever read, etc. And truly the ending ruined it. It was such a well written book with fantastic imagery...
Honestly, I was really turned off when Almondine died. And when Edgar died I wanted to throw the book across the room. I agree with Michelle- I was left feeling very empty and raw.
|
|
|
|
Post by adcooper on Jul 17, 2009 21:32:14 GMT -5
It's the same book, but we have all these different feelings about it. I guess that is more revealing of us than of the book! It is dangerous to lose yourself in this story, though, that's for sure. And the author definitely jumps off a cliff in the finale. I don't feel like I went over the cliff though. I feel like I was standing on the side, observing this magnificent catastrophe. And THAT probably reveals something VERY wrong with me! Oy vey.
|
|
|
|
Post by HokieThea on Jul 17, 2009 21:50:55 GMT -5
Man, I am so glad I'm not the only one who did not think this book was best book ever! I really kind of felt like the author's editor said, okay that's enough, wrap her up. And bam.
I know this is so much less deep than Edgar Sawtelle, but has anyone ever read the author Anne Rivers Siddons? Her books to me are always the same. I enjoy about 3/4 of the book, but she invariably has to throw in some stupid, ridiculous twist so out in left field that completely ruins the story.
P.S. You all MUST go to Amazon.com and read the customer reviews of this book. Very interesting, as well as validating!
|
|
|
|
Post by Bara on Jul 18, 2009 7:02:33 GMT -5
I don't know, Michelle and Samantha. I'd stick with 'strange'. The dead weren't unhappy and hardly noticed their own passing. He resisted the temptation of a ghost 'rain-dog'.
Strange. Like you, Claire, I didn't see Almondine as a Shepherd. In my mind's eye, she was more of a rough-coated Lurcher type.
Will check on the Siddons, Thea, thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Einstein on Jul 19, 2009 21:18:40 GMT -5
So funny, I saw her as a Pressa Canario!
|
|
|
|
Post by samantha on Jul 21, 2009 8:57:20 GMT -5
Bara- I agree he didn't really notice himself passing. It was peaceful, but the violence of his mother struggling to get into the burning building where he kept returning to gave us a glimpse of the grief that she was going to have once she realized her son wasn't coming back out... That is partly what made it so hard for me, as well as the fact that after all he had been through to die that way- it is horrific. It is a classic good vs evil and evil "won"... I did think of Almondine as a Shepherd type dog.  |
|
