Red Dog by Louis de BerniÃ¨res, 0436256177, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

The Reader Deceived

I spent some time trying to work out the reason for this book - and failed. Is it intended as a children's book? Perhaps, but surely the style needs to be more animated and the use of narrative detail more imaginative. It certainly isn't a well researched account of the life of a remarkable animal; the author admits to knowing very little about the humans in Red Dog's life. A piece of imaginative fiction loosely based on fact is rather ruled out by the two-dimensional characters and unwillingness to develop incidents beyond the obvious - plus the careless sentimentality. Surely it couldn't be a way of making money out of a devoted public for what seems like half a week's work!

A readable novelty book

Red Dog is an unowned but much loved canine, who lived in Western Australia. He was his own dog, in that he chose which 'owners' he would spend time with before moving on, and travelled around the region hitching lifts. He became a local celebrity of sorts. De Bernieres recounts episodes in Red Dog's life that he has collected while travelling in the region and coming across his statue.

The book is the sort of short novelty read that is published on the premise that people will buy pretty much anything a popular author writes. De Bernieres has trodden this path before with 'Labels', and has obviously enjoyed researching and writing Red Dog. It is well written, a good, simple read, and is fine on its own terms. Just do not expect to find any similarities with the fiction that made his name.

My one gripe would be that de Bernieres sometimes describes what the dog is feeling and thinking, which is plain silly.

One of the most emotional books I have read in a long time.

I laughed at the first paragraph and cried at the last. For anybody brought up on Greyfriars Bobby this book is a must. I didn't have any preconceptions about the book and its similarity, or not, to Captain Corelli but the fact that it was so different did not make me feel any differently about the author and his work.

p.s. I also have a dog who "drops bombs" like Red so can entirely sympthise with the characters in the book.

uplifting memorable tale

This is a slim A5 size book about a legendary dog in Western Australia.

It is a touching tale in which the author in his usual wonderful way, brings every character to life, especially the dog.

It's as much a story for children as is Peter and the Wolf and the Harry Potter's.

A particular essence of the Australian Outback is brillianty captured. No small feat for a foreigner. But this foreigner is an expert story teller.

It's sad and funny, it's thought-provoking and entertaining. And it's rightly enjoying huge sales.

But for those who judge de Bernieres solely on his Corelli book (or worse that film!) and who haven't read his others, should avoid this one at all costs.

For people who love a good read, this book will not disappoint. But expect to cry at the end of it.

Vast departure from Louis' Other works.

I own all of Louis de Bernieres's books, and this one is so different from the rest. The book differs in style and in its themes vastly.

Set in Austrailia about a stray dog loved by almost everyone who meets him wasn't quite what I was expecting. Judging the book on its own merits though leaves me feeling a little disappointed. Louis' rich use of language and equally typical rich vein of humourous wit are mostly missing, except from the Dog and his commonly smelly farts. Louis saving grace is that he sets out to write about a dog who's legend he encountered whilst on a trip around Austrailia - he succeeds I suppose and re-counts the legend in a moderately funny and sometimes sad way.

The book is sub 150 pages, and is a very straight forward read.

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