Diego Rodrigues Rodrigues itibaren Sutu, Saare County, Estonia
This is a unique and brilliant book, told from the point of view of a dog, Enzo. I can’t give it less than 5 stars, even though it’s not flawless. I love dogs and Enzo is a wonderful dog. Because of how I feel about dogs, and reading this for a speculative fiction book discussion, well it didn’t seem to properly fit that genre, but I’d had the book on my list for ages (recommended by a few friends with similar taste) and I’m glad I got motivated to read it, as my to-read books often languish unread indefinitely. I was so afraid this would make me horribly depressed because I knew that it would be sad, and it’s about a dog. I don’t believe in reincarnation and I am sad. However, it was also hilarious. Very, very funny. I actually do have a favorite passage, which I will not share in this review (I’d have to paraphrase actually) because I want readers to be able to read it for themselves. It’s one that struck my funny bone with its truth. It was sort of a weird book though. The first long part I was amused a good deal of the time, then I was mostly angry and sad, and finally mostly sad. I wish it had been the other way around, first crying and then laughing, and I keep thinking that would have been possible for the author to accomplish this because there are sad and funny/happy things during the beginning, middle, and end of the book. Ah well. What Enzo’s voice/story does is give a perfectly perspicacious commentary on the human condition. His perspective is so wise. I don’t care at all about automobile racing, but the way it was described was a metaphor for how to live one’s life, and that was done so well. I do hate it when books’ (and television’s and movie’s) stories get jazzed up unnecessarily, and a great middle part of the book irked me a bit. Also, I often didn’t enjoy the scenes as much where Enzo was not an eyewitness. Readers who know and love dogs will especially appreciate this story and its narrator. I guess non-dog people can enjoy it too, but they’re going to miss a few things, I think. My Goodreads friend Chrissie thinks she wouldn’t like this because it would be too soppy but I’m going to encourage her to give it a try. Maybe not though since she did read a part/parts and wasn’t impressed, and I was spellbound from the first line onward. ETA: I have to add that this is a beautifully written book! Dog or no dog. ETA again: The whole time I was reading this I longed for a dog to pet as I was reading!
This is my summer reading goal. Dave Eggers says you are actually smarter when you finish reading it. Lets hope so. By summer reading goal, I meant the summer of my life. Three years later and I haven't made it passed the first 200 pages. It's a lovely door stop though.