Red Dog: Amazon.ca: Books

To put my 1 star into some context, let me start by saying I have no hesitation in rating all four of Louis de Bernieres previous books either 4 or 5 stars. His style has in the past proven to be so rich and his characters so compelling that I was greatly looking forward to this book's release. In fact, having previously lived in Australia for many years myself I was particularly delighted to hear that the Pilbara was to be the setting. Regrettably, the results are utterly underwhelming. I have my suspicions that Louis may have been trying to write a children's book that somehow failed to be marketed as such. As a follow up to his previous works this narrative is about as flat as Australia itself. Trying perhaps to evoke the straight forward and rugged lifestyle of many of the Pilbara's real-life residents, Louis has completely dispensed with his fine-tipped word brush and turned to a very direct and simple style. In doing so he seems to have stripped himself of the tool that proved so much at the center of his masterful previous efforts. Sure, the notion of a dog being loved and known in a community that thinly stretches across hundreds of rugged miles is not a bad subject matter. But, this book never reaches any kind of emotional plateau and the annecdotes, at least as conveyed, really aren't interesting enough to move forward under their own steam. The human characters are paper thin throughout and even Red Dog himself remains distant. Finally, the attempt by Louis to use Aussie vernacular is so deliberate and forced that it is, to Aussie ears almost impossibly bad. It leaves you cringing the way actors with bad accents do. Sorry Louis. I'll be there waiting for your next book, but honestly, reading this one was hard bloody yakka.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Rusty the rover, Dec 5 2006

By

Stephen A. Haines (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME) (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Red Dog (Paperback)

We consider Canis familiaris a "domestic breed", but there are some dogs who cannot abide constant human contact. A brief contact, particularly for meals or temporary shelter is enough. Then, it's off again on a fresh exploration or hunt. Such a dog was the rust-coloured kelpie living in Western Australia's Pilbara mining territory. Known as "Red Dog" for obvious reasons, this animal moved through the human community entirely on his own terms. De Bernieres traces much of Red Dog's life, or at least what could be determined from interviews and newspaper accounts, presenting it as a continuous story. It's a captivating read from the opening page.

Although this book might be considered in the "young folks" genre of the "Lassie" or "Shep" variety, Red Dog was real. Giving him a name would have been out of place. De Bernieres introduces him as "Tally Ho", but that was in his early years when Red Dog's centre of operations was a caravan inhabited by an older couple. Moving into a mining community, Red Dog discovered how to manipulate the miners, all men without companions, and the surrounding communities. They petted, fed and sheltered him in turns. He cadged rides in buses, cars, even on the train running south to Perth, nearly 1500 kilometres distant. As the town grew, Red Dog improved his tastes, hitting hotels and restaurants for culinary leftovers. He took up with one of the workers, but John's death in the bush led Red Dog to further his explorations. He was seeking his lost "master".

The stories of Red Dog's wanderings give de Bernieres an opportunity to apply his descriptive skills to the people and the countryside. He fully captures the Australian inflections, and notes how a mining town was a magnet for itinerants. Immigrants of varied origins accumulated in the mining environment, learning co-operation and "mateship" while retaining their individuality. Australian men "don't cry", but it was acceptable when an Italian rough cries over a Red Dog injury - "because that's what Italian men do". Australia may be "the island continent", but that doesn't mean uniformity of outlook. The local policeman is vividly expressive about the local selectors putting out strychnine to reduce the dingo population.

Red Dog's story is almost unique in animal lore. We are fortunate that a writer of de Bernieres' talents was the one who spent the time and effort to reconstruct Red Dog's story. He's produced an outstanding account, one which appeals to all ages and to any nationality. For those outside Australia, there's a glossary of common terms provide further meaning. Anybody who's owned a dog will find this a welcoming read. Those who haven't shared part of their life with a floppy-eared, tongue-wagging, devoted, endlessly challenging animal will learn here what they've been missing. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

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5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely delightful, Mar 18 2002

By

"shmarco68" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Dog (Hardcover)

a beautifully written tale of an exceptional resident of Western Australia. Mr. Bernières captivates his readers as deeply as the Red dog captivates all of the characters. I have this goofy smile that appears on my face whenever I think of Red dog.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story, beautifully told
This book has it all - tears, laughter, romance. I fell in love with Red Dog. Even though the language is simple, and the story short, this is not just a children's book as... Read more

Published on Mar 10 2002 by kiwichick

4.0 out of 5 stars A Red Dog's Tale
Red Dog is the new novella by Louis de Bernieres, one of Britain's best contemporary writers, and represents an exciting new departure in his fiction. Read more

Published on Feb 11 2002 by Kye Digby