What do you think?
Rate this book
Walking in Circles Before Lying Down
Dawn Tarnauer’s life isn’t exactly a success story. Already twice divorced, the young Californian is too busy job-hopping to start a career, her current boyfriend insists on living “off the grid,” her Life Coach sister perpetually interferes with incomprehensible affirmations, her eccentric mother is busy promoting the culmination of her life’s work: The Every Holiday Tree, and her father is ending his brief third marriage while scheduling two dates for the same night.
Dawn’s only source of security and comfort, it seems, is Chuck, a pit-bull mix from the pound. So, when her boyfriend announces that he’s leaving her for another woman, a despairing Dawn turns to Chuck for solace.
“I should have said something sooner,” Chuck confides, as he tries to console her. “Couldn’t you smell her on his pants?” Dawn is stunned. It’s one thing to talk to your pets, but what do you do when they start talking back? It’s not just Chuck, either; she can hear all dogs–and man’s best friend has a lot to say. The ever-enthusiastic Chuck offers his tried-and-true advice on the merits of knocking over garbage and strewing it everywhere, auxiliary competitive peeing etiquette, and the curative powers of tossing a ball. Doubtful of her own sanity, Dawn considers that, in the ways of life and love, it might be better to trust Chuck’s doggie instincts instead of her own.
Filled with sharp wit, biting humor, and canine conversation that would make Doctor Dolittle’s jaw drop, Merrill Markoe’s engaging, cleverly written novel is about the confusing search for love and the divine acts of dog.
From the Hardcover edition.
Dawn’s only source of security and comfort, it seems, is Chuck, a pit-bull mix from the pound. So, when her boyfriend announces that he’s leaving her for another woman, a despairing Dawn turns to Chuck for solace.
“I should have said something sooner,” Chuck confides, as he tries to console her. “Couldn’t you smell her on his pants?” Dawn is stunned. It’s one thing to talk to your pets, but what do you do when they start talking back? It’s not just Chuck, either; she can hear all dogs–and man’s best friend has a lot to say. The ever-enthusiastic Chuck offers his tried-and-true advice on the merits of knocking over garbage and strewing it everywhere, auxiliary competitive peeing etiquette, and the curative powers of tossing a ball. Doubtful of her own sanity, Dawn considers that, in the ways of life and love, it might be better to trust Chuck’s doggie instincts instead of her own.
Filled with sharp wit, biting humor, and canine conversation that would make Doctor Dolittle’s jaw drop, Merrill Markoe’s engaging, cleverly written novel is about the confusing search for love and the divine acts of dog.
From the Hardcover edition.
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
102 people are currently reading
2519 people want to read
About the author
Merrill Markoe
32 books147 followersAn author, a television writer and a sometime standup comedienne.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 870 reviews
March 13, 2012
This is a book that has been on my "To Read" list forever. It is a cute, quirky, quick-read book. Parts of this book were hilarious; however, the characters were a bit over-the-top for me; or maybe it was just that EVERY single character seemed to be particularly bizarre. I will certainly try another Merrill Markoe book.
January 3, 2009
As a dog owner, I found this book hilarious and strangely informative.
Did you ever think you could understand what your dog is saying to you? My beagle is constantly saying things like, "Take me out now please!" or "I really would like some of that organic uncured turkey bacon you're eating."
In this book, the main character's dog takes pity on her and really does start talking to her. And so do all the other dogs she knows, which is a lot as she works at a dog daycare.
And you know, I find myself believing that what her dog said to her is probably what Ian is saying to me. "Don't leave me alone in the car, you won't come back for like five hundred years, and I'll just have to eat the seat cushions. It's a rule!" Ms. Markoe is funny and a good writer, and she also knows her dogs. It's a good combination.
Did you ever think you could understand what your dog is saying to you? My beagle is constantly saying things like, "Take me out now please!" or "I really would like some of that organic uncured turkey bacon you're eating."
In this book, the main character's dog takes pity on her and really does start talking to her. And so do all the other dogs she knows, which is a lot as she works at a dog daycare.
And you know, I find myself believing that what her dog said to her is probably what Ian is saying to me. "Don't leave me alone in the car, you won't come back for like five hundred years, and I'll just have to eat the seat cushions. It's a rule!" Ms. Markoe is funny and a good writer, and she also knows her dogs. It's a good combination.
August 17, 2007
I don't think that Merrill Markoe meant to write a work of great literature. This book is *fun*. If you have a good imagination and a sense of play, it's a very entertaining, wonderful book. Merill Markoe's dogs are much wittier and to the point than mine . Read it for fun. I laughed all the way through and have recommended it to all of the playful, imaginative people I know.
February 21, 2009
Ya know, I feel a bit let down after reading this book. The cover is literally squashed with reviewers talking about how witty and funny the doggy dialogue is, but I didn't think it was that great. Nothing was mind-blowingly funny, and several of the characters went beyond quirky and slipped slowly into the just-flat-annoying category. The plot was as transparent as really really old socks, and I ended up not caring about Dawn because why should I? She didn't seem to think she was worth anything.
The relationships in the book were too overstated, and I think my dogs would have much more exciting things to say to me if they ever decided to voice their opinions.
Maybe good for a quick plane flight or some brainless bedtime reading, unless you can't stand for a girl to get walked all over again and again, and then it wouldn't be very restful reading. I guess I'd only recommend it if you're really bored!
The relationships in the book were too overstated, and I think my dogs would have much more exciting things to say to me if they ever decided to voice their opinions.
Maybe good for a quick plane flight or some brainless bedtime reading, unless you can't stand for a girl to get walked all over again and again, and then it wouldn't be very restful reading. I guess I'd only recommend it if you're really bored!
July 3, 2007
Wow. It's rare that I don't finish a book...or a movie, for that matter. Particularly one that I enter into *looking* for fluff.
"Walking in Circles" is, to me, the equivalent of "Elizabethtown" -- all of the right elements are there (appealing setting, familiar characters, familiar author/filmmaker), but were so unimaginatively executed, I had to stop half-way through so as to not reward lowest-common-denominator work.
"Walking in Circles" is, to me, the equivalent of "Elizabethtown" -- all of the right elements are there (appealing setting, familiar characters, familiar author/filmmaker), but were so unimaginatively executed, I had to stop half-way through so as to not reward lowest-common-denominator work.
March 28, 2011
The Blurb: Dawn Tarnauer's life isn't exactly a success story. Already twice divorced, the young Californian is too busy job-hopping to support a career, her Life Coach sister provides perpetual interference, and her eccentric parents need parenting. (Life in disarray, but not a tragedy. Promising start. ) Dawn's only source of security and comfort, it seems, is Chuck, a pit-bull mix from the pound. (Yay! Dogs! I love dogs!) So when her boyfriend announces that he's leaving her for another woman, a despairing Dawn turns to Chuck for solace.
"I should have said something sooner," she hears Chuck say, consoling her. "Couldn't you smell her on his pants?" (Cheating boyfriend--boo! Talking dog--yay!)
Dawn is stunned. Suddenly she can hear not just Chuck talking, but all dogs--and man's best friend has a lot to say. Doubtful of her own sanity, Dawn nevertheless considers that in the ways of life and love, it might be better to trust Chuck's doggie insincts instead of her own. (All right! Lighthearted relationship comedy complete with talking dogs!)
But then I read it. Dawn is a mess. And not in the adorable, romantic-comedy sort of mess. Or even the, I'm-a-mess-and-I-know-it-and-I'm-going-to-do-something-about-it. It's more along the lines of the all-of-your-friends-stop-talking-to-you-because-your-life-is-a-diaster-and-it's-only-going-to-get-better-when-you-finally-start-acting-like-a-grownup kind of mess.
And then her dog started talking. And he was more of a jerk than the humans! This is so not cool. Your dog may be obnoxious or stubborn or crazy (mine is all three), but we love them because they aren't jerks. Because they are loyal. Because they love us even when we don't deserve it.
If Dawn had learned from her mistakes or grown as a character, I might have been able to forgive some of the novel's other problems. But she really doesn't. At the very end of the book, she dumps the toxic boyfriend, but it doesn't redeem her pages and pages of mind-numbing idiocy. Huge, huge disappointment. Would not recommend. To anyone. Ever.
"I should have said something sooner," she hears Chuck say, consoling her. "Couldn't you smell her on his pants?" (Cheating boyfriend--boo! Talking dog--yay!)
Dawn is stunned. Suddenly she can hear not just Chuck talking, but all dogs--and man's best friend has a lot to say. Doubtful of her own sanity, Dawn nevertheless considers that in the ways of life and love, it might be better to trust Chuck's doggie insincts instead of her own. (All right! Lighthearted relationship comedy complete with talking dogs!)
But then I read it. Dawn is a mess. And not in the adorable, romantic-comedy sort of mess. Or even the, I'm-a-mess-and-I-know-it-and-I'm-going-to-do-something-about-it. It's more along the lines of the all-of-your-friends-stop-talking-to-you-because-your-life-is-a-diaster-and-it's-only-going-to-get-better-when-you-finally-start-acting-like-a-grownup kind of mess.
And then her dog started talking. And he was more of a jerk than the humans! This is so not cool. Your dog may be obnoxious or stubborn or crazy (mine is all three), but we love them because they aren't jerks. Because they are loyal. Because they love us even when we don't deserve it.
If Dawn had learned from her mistakes or grown as a character, I might have been able to forgive some of the novel's other problems. But she really doesn't. At the very end of the book, she dumps the toxic boyfriend, but it doesn't redeem her pages and pages of mind-numbing idiocy. Huge, huge disappointment. Would not recommend. To anyone. Ever.
March 31, 2009
This was a cute one. It's about a girl who has a horrible dysfunctional family and keeps making bad choices. She works at a doggy day care. One day, after her boyfriend walks out on her, her dog (and all the other dogs) start talking to her, giving her advice, telling her to follow her instincts.
The family and relationship dynamics are things we've seen before- we all know she needs to dump the using boyfriend and go out with the cute nerd. What is unusual and funny is the dialogue with the dogs. They pretty much say what dogs think- most important things are food and play. As someone who likes to give voices to her animals (okay, you know you do too!) I liked how the author made this work.
The family and relationship dynamics are things we've seen before- we all know she needs to dump the using boyfriend and go out with the cute nerd. What is unusual and funny is the dialogue with the dogs. They pretty much say what dogs think- most important things are food and play. As someone who likes to give voices to her animals (okay, you know you do too!) I liked how the author made this work.
December 12, 2014
Not sure why I stayed with this book for the duration. All of the characters were unlikeable and complete train wrecks. I am a huge animal lover and was very disappointed that the author couldn't make the dogs likeable.
July 30, 2007
Really, really funny stuff.
I want Merrill Markoe to be my friend, so I can listen to her snarky but right-on-the-money comments.
I want Merrill Markoe to be my friend, so I can listen to her snarky but right-on-the-money comments.
January 15, 2019
DNF @ 15% / 0 Steam Fans
UGH that 15% was oh so painful to listen too!! Call me a dog hater but the amount of credit that was given to the dogs in this story was just ridiculous. Further along the MC - Dawn may allow for some explanation; however, I just couldn't get behind all of the bad choices that were made in such a short amount of time. Seriously two failed marriages in such a short amount of time I just cannot get behind or believe. Then there was the loss of Dawn's thirteen year old dog during surgery that just pushed me over, nope not finishing this one!
This book was read for #Buzzwordathon in 2019.
This specific video book review will be included in the January 2019 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
UGH that 15% was oh so painful to listen too!! Call me a dog hater but the amount of credit that was given to the dogs in this story was just ridiculous. Further along the MC - Dawn may allow for some explanation; however, I just couldn't get behind all of the bad choices that were made in such a short amount of time. Seriously two failed marriages in such a short amount of time I just cannot get behind or believe. Then there was the loss of Dawn's thirteen year old dog during surgery that just pushed me over, nope not finishing this one!
This book was read for #Buzzwordathon in 2019.
This specific video book review will be included in the January 2019 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
January 20, 2015
The characters were completely unlike able. I thought I'd like to see a dog talk and what he'd possibly say but then I didn't even like the dog. The author just doesn't really seem to know how to write good dialogue. The main character, Dawn, is very whiny and unmotivated and has no backbone to speak of so all the other characters spent their time berating her and she just took it, all the while every once and a while blaming her parents for the way she is.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. It took me way too long to read bc I just couldn't get into it.
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. It took me way too long to read bc I just couldn't get into it.
February 11, 2008
I loved this book! If you love dogs, you should like it a lot. It was a really quick read, I literally read it in a few hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon when I wasn't feeling too well. I have 2 dogs and 3 cats and my husband and I are always talking to them and making them talk back to us, so this book was a great read for me. So cute!
July 1, 2024
Delightful, and clever dialogue from the dog's perspective.
March 21, 2013
I should have liked this book more. I like Merrill Markoe. I LOVE dogs. So why don't I love this book? I feel like it was a bit all over the place. Hopeful when I read passages like "she had a sociopath tracking device where her heart was supposed to be" seemed promising. The dog starts to talk about 30% of the way in. He's just a carciature of what a human thinks a dog is saying. If we're comparing dog characters I loved Garth Stein's Enzo to pieces. Chuck is just the Adam Carolla of the dog world. Meh.
The story jigs and jags all over the place. And when one of the dog characters I cared about gets hit by a car. The story quickly jigs over to Dawn's own self-absorbed storyline. Double Meh.
And while there was some kind of theme Ms Markoe was trying to convey, I think it gets lost. Buried under too many pointless characters and storylines. If we could focus on "seeing the world with as much enthusiasm as a dog" then I think I would have liked it so much more.
This won't be one I will be telling people to read.
The story jigs and jags all over the place. And when one of the dog characters I cared about gets hit by a car. The story quickly jigs over to Dawn's own self-absorbed storyline. Double Meh.
And while there was some kind of theme Ms Markoe was trying to convey, I think it gets lost. Buried under too many pointless characters and storylines. If we could focus on "seeing the world with as much enthusiasm as a dog" then I think I would have liked it so much more.
This won't be one I will be telling people to read.
May 1, 2015
Spoilers-you have been warned.
Ugh. I so wanted to like this book more than I did. I am a dog lover, my Jack Jack is like my child and him being able to talk to me would be amazing. I liked the idea of this book, there was just so much to it. The constant drama/new crisis in Dawn's life was confusing. She was really unstable at times-the moving from place to place really drove me crazy. Her self esteem sucked and she let her family walk all over her. Chuck was the most reliable and stable throughout the whole book.
I had planned to give this book three stars just because I love dogs, but then when the "God Save the Queen" and "Just Kidding" chapters came up, I had had enough. Joking about taking dogs to the pound pisses me off immensely. The main reason I finished the book was to make sure Chuck turned out ok. Glad to know Brandy didn't return to her crappy owner too.
Ugh. I so wanted to like this book more than I did. I am a dog lover, my Jack Jack is like my child and him being able to talk to me would be amazing. I liked the idea of this book, there was just so much to it. The constant drama/new crisis in Dawn's life was confusing. She was really unstable at times-the moving from place to place really drove me crazy. Her self esteem sucked and she let her family walk all over her. Chuck was the most reliable and stable throughout the whole book.
I had planned to give this book three stars just because I love dogs, but then when the "God Save the Queen" and "Just Kidding" chapters came up, I had had enough. Joking about taking dogs to the pound pisses me off immensely. The main reason I finished the book was to make sure Chuck turned out ok. Glad to know Brandy didn't return to her crappy owner too.
September 5, 2015
This book could have been really great. The premise was great, the conversations with the dogs were great - I was laughing out loud quite a few times. It was like Eliza Thornberry for adults.
But come on. NO ONE'S life is that messed up. It was so unrealistic, and I'm not even talking about the talking to dogs part. Two failed marriages, a sister/life coach who dated two wife-killers and a mom who's crazy about making a Christmas tree for the whole year. Let's not even start on Dawn's abusive-but-sexy boyfriend, who we are constantly reminded is great in bed...
I don't know why "adult" books have to be all about sex and swearing. It's definitely back to YA for me.
But come on. NO ONE'S life is that messed up. It was so unrealistic, and I'm not even talking about the talking to dogs part. Two failed marriages, a sister/life coach who dated two wife-killers and a mom who's crazy about making a Christmas tree for the whole year. Let's not even start on Dawn's abusive-but-sexy boyfriend, who we are constantly reminded is great in bed...
I don't know why "adult" books have to be all about sex and swearing. It's definitely back to YA for me.
July 24, 2014
You Know how in many books there is one character who you wish that you could roll into a ball and have some professional football or soccer player (yes, I know that those are the same thing in Europe) would just bunt them as hard as they possibly could? Oh you have noticed that, well this book is chock full of them. One of my neighbors lent this book to me actually because she disliked it and wanted my opinion on it. When I returned it to her today, she said she planed to apologize for recommending it to her book club. The overall story of the book goes no where: Girl has a crappy childhood. Her mom, sister, and boyfriends are selfish little dimwits who continued to manipulate the protagonist long after she knows what they are like. To cope with this, she talks with her dog and learns that she can communicate with all dogs. The only person who learned anything was the protagonist and that lesson was she came from the worst family of all time and had one of the worst boyfriends of all time. And as for that dog... that dog's views on everything are very similar to those of many teenage boys I have met. Rotating around sex, food and a belief in self-entitlment to what ever world has to offer. I'm not sorry to see the back cover of this book,which is odd since many times I feel bitter-sweet about finishing the books I read. And if any of my Goodreads friends (or any sentient, literate, humanoid)finds and reads this review, I would not recommend this book to you.
April 19, 2016
This book fell short of my expectations. A family made up of people with little ambition and even smaller accomplishments. Divorced parents composed of a self-serving mother and a father who thinks himself a playboy and balanced by two grown daughters who appear to have attended a school promoting small business opportunities for underachievers. The highlight came about 80 pages into the story when Dawn (a dog walker, bather and sitter) began hearing her canine clients speaking to her. Now THAT was comical. I found the story a bit shallow with the strongest characters being the dogs. Dawn has a habit of making poor decisions when it comes to relationships and after 3 failed attempts, finally heeds the advice and opinion of one of her dogs. And like a dog that will usually make 3 circular motions before lying down for a long nap, sometimes we have to follow the circles of life before we find our comfortable spot in life. I can't say that the book left me pondering the mysteries of life, but it did make me want to communicate with my dogs -- especially when I ask them who chewed up a newspaper in the middle of the floor and they all three look the other way.
July 21, 2008
This was a 'meh' book. After reading another book about dogs (Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog), I thought I'd try out this one which just happened to be on a shelf at the library I was perusing. It took waaaaaay too long to get into the real story, and once I had, the author tried to make it as obnoxious and dumb as possible.
Which is not to say the book is without merit, but honestly, a butcher/meat guy orgy? No thanks. The narrator/protagonist's family is also beyond annoying and it's very difficult to make it through many of the densely packed pages of dialogue where the characters basically keep repeating themselves.
Good things about this book? The description of the narrator's first dog was very loving and nice. The final love interest is a nice guy, but you wonder why the protagonist is such an idiot about things.
Every dog that opens its mouth in this book comes off as dumb and manipulative. It sort of made me dislike dogs while I was reading it. Fair warning.
Which is not to say the book is without merit, but honestly, a butcher/meat guy orgy? No thanks. The narrator/protagonist's family is also beyond annoying and it's very difficult to make it through many of the densely packed pages of dialogue where the characters basically keep repeating themselves.
Good things about this book? The description of the narrator's first dog was very loving and nice. The final love interest is a nice guy, but you wonder why the protagonist is such an idiot about things.
Every dog that opens its mouth in this book comes off as dumb and manipulative. It sort of made me dislike dogs while I was reading it. Fair warning.
January 21, 2016
First of all, using the four letter word in this book certainly doesn't add to the story, but that's my pet peeve with a lot of books and movies. At least, it wasn't used often and I guess was used when it fit the story. Other than that, this was a cute story. As someone else described it chick lit with Dr. Dolittle thrown in.
June 21, 2013
I usually *hate* stories in which animals play a major role (especially stories involving dogs), so I was surprised when I liked this bizarro fake memoir of a woman who talks with dogs. It's better than it sounds!
September 16, 2018
Living a confusing and difficult life can make a person seem crazy to even themself. There was no exception to this character as she went through her own difficult life and came out semi okay once she discovered a friendship in a canine.
However to most bizarre thing about this story was what the character could do with her canine friend, it would be a major spoiler due to it not happening for a while, however it changed how I read the book from then on.
However to most bizarre thing about this story was what the character could do with her canine friend, it would be a major spoiler due to it not happening for a while, however it changed how I read the book from then on.
August 12, 2018
This is a really sweet book about a woman and her fur babies. I love how she could communicate with the dogs. That could have ruined the book so it was a bit risky. However, it just made it fun! I also enjoyed the storyline as well as the other characters.
September 8, 2022
I listened to this one on the way to Vancouver and back. It was cute and funny and the reader was amazing. Different voices for the people and the dogs. I laughed out loud at parts especially when she starts hearing dogs talk.
January 11, 2023
it was good in places, others not so good, but boring.
January 22, 2024
Cute book.
I enjoyed all the dogs and their various personalities.
I’m not into the romance genre/aspect.
I enjoyed all the dogs and their various personalities.
I’m not into the romance genre/aspect.
February 3, 2016
Walking in Circles Before Lying Down
by Merrill Markoe
3-1/2*
Clever story about Dawn Tarnauer, a twice-divorced Californian who can't seem to catch a break, either in life or love. She has terrible instincts and judgment about people, stemming from being surrounded by narcissists her whole life. Her sister, Halley, is the same in that she has a strange history of picking the wrong men, including an infamous killer, whom she is sure is being framed. To know Halley for any length of time was to know that she had a sociopath tracking device where her heart was supposed to be. Dawn is surrounded by users, including those she should be able to rely on the most. It is full of so many examples of selfish and insensitive behavior by her parents and her sister, among others, that you start to feel the craziness she goes through. There is no dealing with people like this. Resistance is futile.
In the midst of her despair after yet another relationship has ended, she finds herself having one-sided conversations with her dog, Chuck. He is the only being she feels comfortable with. She talks to him and vents her frustrations about life until one day he talks back and tries to convince her to let him help her make better decisions by using the years of instinctive skill he can provide. She's sure she's losing her mind but over time just goes with it as she realizes she can hear other dogs as well and can communicate with all of them. The author's imagination about their thought processes and her vision of their voices and personalities is pretty funny.
There is a running joke throughout the book about how aspiring writers should follow certain rules, including using visual statements that grab the readers' attention. The joke is well-done as it pops up at perfect moments. That being said, the author followed that rule in a stupendous fashion, as there are certain moments that are so well written--the comic timing and/or imagery produced is really excellent.
It was in the middle of an acid rain of unsolicited advice from Halley that I met my second husband, Jake.
Right behind her was a guy who looked like one of the tousle-haired "Alive with Pleasure" people from the Newport cigarette billboards. He was tall, square-jawed, ready to put on a pair of Dockers and laugh heartily at the innocent pleasures of a sprinkler in summer with his shirtless buds from Abercrombie & Fitch.
(Dad:) "I thought things were going good." (Dawn:) "That's the kiss of death," I said. "The only way to make love last is to want it over."
Relationship advice from her Peter Pan rockabilly dad:
"But as you get older, come to find out the best things in life are quick. It took a few decades, but I finally achieved my life's goal of combining marital bliss with a one-night stand."
And finally, thoughts from someone she'll discover is actually good to know and shows promise. (Dawn:) "Does anybody have a family that functions like a family?" (Friend:) "I think so, but my theory is that the 'good family people' hang out with other 'good family people'. Those of us born into the nutcase class seek representatives of our caste to make us feel normal." Truth.
My thoughts are that this is a story that is cute but not cutesy. It is lighthearted and humorous but also has heavier undertones. It links the fictional characters with celebrities famous or infamous that we actually know about in real life in a funny way (even when referencing real-life tragedies). It also covers heavier matters of dealing with toxic people, struggling with depression, and with the unease of being temporarily jobless or homeless. Those darker moments are lightened up with the humor of the conversations with the dogs and hearing them explain why they do some of the things they do, being reminded of the silly antics of puppies and the boundless joy of happy dogs, and the eventual hope that Dawn is finally getting her life on track.
by Merrill Markoe
3-1/2*
Clever story about Dawn Tarnauer, a twice-divorced Californian who can't seem to catch a break, either in life or love. She has terrible instincts and judgment about people, stemming from being surrounded by narcissists her whole life. Her sister, Halley, is the same in that she has a strange history of picking the wrong men, including an infamous killer, whom she is sure is being framed. To know Halley for any length of time was to know that she had a sociopath tracking device where her heart was supposed to be. Dawn is surrounded by users, including those she should be able to rely on the most. It is full of so many examples of selfish and insensitive behavior by her parents and her sister, among others, that you start to feel the craziness she goes through. There is no dealing with people like this. Resistance is futile.
In the midst of her despair after yet another relationship has ended, she finds herself having one-sided conversations with her dog, Chuck. He is the only being she feels comfortable with. She talks to him and vents her frustrations about life until one day he talks back and tries to convince her to let him help her make better decisions by using the years of instinctive skill he can provide. She's sure she's losing her mind but over time just goes with it as she realizes she can hear other dogs as well and can communicate with all of them. The author's imagination about their thought processes and her vision of their voices and personalities is pretty funny.
There is a running joke throughout the book about how aspiring writers should follow certain rules, including using visual statements that grab the readers' attention. The joke is well-done as it pops up at perfect moments. That being said, the author followed that rule in a stupendous fashion, as there are certain moments that are so well written--the comic timing and/or imagery produced is really excellent.
It was in the middle of an acid rain of unsolicited advice from Halley that I met my second husband, Jake.
Right behind her was a guy who looked like one of the tousle-haired "Alive with Pleasure" people from the Newport cigarette billboards. He was tall, square-jawed, ready to put on a pair of Dockers and laugh heartily at the innocent pleasures of a sprinkler in summer with his shirtless buds from Abercrombie & Fitch.
(Dad:) "I thought things were going good." (Dawn:) "That's the kiss of death," I said. "The only way to make love last is to want it over."
Relationship advice from her Peter Pan rockabilly dad:
"But as you get older, come to find out the best things in life are quick. It took a few decades, but I finally achieved my life's goal of combining marital bliss with a one-night stand."
And finally, thoughts from someone she'll discover is actually good to know and shows promise. (Dawn:) "Does anybody have a family that functions like a family?" (Friend:) "I think so, but my theory is that the 'good family people' hang out with other 'good family people'. Those of us born into the nutcase class seek representatives of our caste to make us feel normal." Truth.
My thoughts are that this is a story that is cute but not cutesy. It is lighthearted and humorous but also has heavier undertones. It links the fictional characters with celebrities famous or infamous that we actually know about in real life in a funny way (even when referencing real-life tragedies). It also covers heavier matters of dealing with toxic people, struggling with depression, and with the unease of being temporarily jobless or homeless. Those darker moments are lightened up with the humor of the conversations with the dogs and hearing them explain why they do some of the things they do, being reminded of the silly antics of puppies and the boundless joy of happy dogs, and the eventual hope that Dawn is finally getting her life on track.
January 17, 2016
A friend of mine forced this into my hands, and who am I to refuse a book with a doggie on the cover?
I skimmed reviews of this book when I started out, and I have to say that I could see their point on a lot of things. It took a very long time for the story to get started - I could see why some people quit early.
I was excited at the thought of reading a dog's perspective, but the depiction here was lacking. I think W. Bruce Cameron nailed the dog's perspective in "A Dog's Purpose," and so reading the rendition here was a pitiful copy. Chuck didn't actually make a convincing dog. He acted like a human in a dog's body with a few throw away jokes (a few of these were clever, but the good mood didn't last long). I did like the idea that Dawn's hearing voices was entirely unsourced - it's never clear if she really hears them, or if she is hearing voices in her head. Although it is curious that she only visits a psychiatrist once...
Dawn, as a a protagonist, was entirely unsympathetic. I understand that it is realistic to have characters in books love assholes, but for one reason or another, I couldn't connect with Dawn and I couldn't give a shit about her. I feel this was the writer's fault: she failed to write Dawn in a way that made me feel sympathy for her actions. Instead, I was rolling my eyes every time she gave in to Paxton or her mother. I believe the meandering narrative also contributed here: it's interesting how despite all of the inner monologuing, there wasn't really enough to explain why Dawn was sticking with assholes.
Too many characters were introduced willy nilly. I also didn't care about any of them. I was never sure where the plot was going, and not in an "I'm on the edge of my seat" way. I think the author liked to ramble with flowery sentences, making it look like she was showing off writing skills and self indulging herself with her words.
All in all, a disappointment, especially in comparison to other canine fiction. But easy and not too terrible of a time waster.
I skimmed reviews of this book when I started out, and I have to say that I could see their point on a lot of things. It took a very long time for the story to get started - I could see why some people quit early.
I was excited at the thought of reading a dog's perspective, but the depiction here was lacking. I think W. Bruce Cameron nailed the dog's perspective in "A Dog's Purpose," and so reading the rendition here was a pitiful copy. Chuck didn't actually make a convincing dog. He acted like a human in a dog's body with a few throw away jokes (a few of these were clever, but the good mood didn't last long). I did like the idea that Dawn's hearing voices was entirely unsourced - it's never clear if she really hears them, or if she is hearing voices in her head. Although it is curious that she only visits a psychiatrist once...
Dawn, as a a protagonist, was entirely unsympathetic. I understand that it is realistic to have characters in books love assholes, but for one reason or another, I couldn't connect with Dawn and I couldn't give a shit about her. I feel this was the writer's fault: she failed to write Dawn in a way that made me feel sympathy for her actions. Instead, I was rolling my eyes every time she gave in to Paxton or her mother. I believe the meandering narrative also contributed here: it's interesting how despite all of the inner monologuing, there wasn't really enough to explain why Dawn was sticking with assholes.
Too many characters were introduced willy nilly. I also didn't care about any of them. I was never sure where the plot was going, and not in an "I'm on the edge of my seat" way. I think the author liked to ramble with flowery sentences, making it look like she was showing off writing skills and self indulging herself with her words.
All in all, a disappointment, especially in comparison to other canine fiction. But easy and not too terrible of a time waster.
March 13, 2014
I’d never read a book by Merril Markoe but I MIGHT give her another try, for the same reason as the reason I give this book 3 instead of 2 stars: once in awhile, there is a line so delicious that I had to stop and just savor it. For me those lines were given by Dawn, the main character, in skewering the psycho-babble talk of her “Life Coach” sister, whose life couldn’t have been more of a mess but who decided that Life Coaching was the perfect profession for herself.
Dawn’s family is dysfunctional in amazing ways. The first chapter was full of sadly humorous descriptions of her mother, sister, and father. Her father alone approaches “normal” in his response to life’s craziness – he adds to it - but he provides some love and help to his daughter. The main boyfriend is a typical narcissist who uses people, lies, and cheats … and it takes needy Dawn the entire book to see it. How could she totally “get” the family dynamics and the full irony of the life coaching stuff and not see his most obvious characteristics?
The big story hook here is that Dawn, after a really horrible day, can suddenly talk to her dog, and then to all dogs. What the dogs say is supposed to be funny, but it really isn’t. It bothered me a lot that her own dog, for whom she sacrificed, to whom she was loyal and loving, was not the sweet dear little soul that she believed he was. The author made a mistake here in my opinion. Why set up a character (and others) who devote their love, time, attention, and often life’s work to dogs, and make them ungrateful little bitches and, um, the male equivalents? Her dog could at least have said “Gosh, I love you” or “thanks” once, some nice thing. But no.
Some details and especially the sly, clever remarks about life coaching were great, and for that I “liked it” – which is 3 stars, but I don’t really recommend this book.
Dawn’s family is dysfunctional in amazing ways. The first chapter was full of sadly humorous descriptions of her mother, sister, and father. Her father alone approaches “normal” in his response to life’s craziness – he adds to it - but he provides some love and help to his daughter. The main boyfriend is a typical narcissist who uses people, lies, and cheats … and it takes needy Dawn the entire book to see it. How could she totally “get” the family dynamics and the full irony of the life coaching stuff and not see his most obvious characteristics?
The big story hook here is that Dawn, after a really horrible day, can suddenly talk to her dog, and then to all dogs. What the dogs say is supposed to be funny, but it really isn’t. It bothered me a lot that her own dog, for whom she sacrificed, to whom she was loyal and loving, was not the sweet dear little soul that she believed he was. The author made a mistake here in my opinion. Why set up a character (and others) who devote their love, time, attention, and often life’s work to dogs, and make them ungrateful little bitches and, um, the male equivalents? Her dog could at least have said “Gosh, I love you” or “thanks” once, some nice thing. But no.
Some details and especially the sly, clever remarks about life coaching were great, and for that I “liked it” – which is 3 stars, but I don’t really recommend this book.
May 3, 2008
I liked this book better than Curt did, but it could have been so much better. By far, the best part of the book is that Dawn could communicate with dogs. Her dog, Chuck, starts talking to her (not moving his mouth) and suddenly every dog can talk to her. Not sure why none of them bothered before. There were a lot of interesting, quirky sub-plots, including her self-centered sister, Halley, being a Life Coach, her mother's quest to market the Every Holiday Tree, her recurring homelessness, various dogs entering her life... but I was never sure what the actual plot was. What was I supposed to be following, and eagerly anticipating the resolution of? Mostly I sat there saying, "Get rid of that guy. He's shallow, egotistical, condescending, and an absolute schmuck. And he doesn't like dogs." Her relationships are one-dimensional and bland, and there are no compelling, dramatic events. She just wanders from one minor crisis to the next, and then the book is over. I suppose getting money from her "partnership" in the holiday tree thing and being able to buy and operate her own dog daycare is a happy conclusion, but never once in the book had she ever expressed an interest in doing that, so how is that a resolution? She talked about her burning desire to write a novel, but she never does (though the book itself is somehow supposed to be that novel... she never spends any real time writing during the course of the story.). Mostly she orbits around other people's events. While Dawn is likable, she's not all that interesting. She's dense as a brick about everything but dogs. Her devotion to them is her best quality. Otherwise she's pretty lame. But I'd have read the entire book just for the enjoyment of her conversations with the dogs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 870 reviews