I started reading this just before we went to Texas for a long weekend, and by page 13 knew that I would like it, and by halfway through, knew that I would have to leave it home (big, hardcover library books being no good on planes, especially when traveling with a toddler) and that was fairly agonizing.
I was really happy to get back to it, and thrilled that it lived up to my page 13 expectations. Loosely based on the story of Hamet, but not bogged down by it. The parallels were many, but some were very subtle, and wonderful twists, like the Ophelia stand-in. But, and this based on commentary from non-Hamlet readers in my online book club, not knowing Hamlet is in no way an impediment to enjoying this book. The story stands alone really well.
Wroblewski handled writing in the voice of the dogs so incredibly well. He made them legitimate characters, within the confines of what he imagined their mental and emotional capabilities to be. They're not cutesy, nor does he give them human-level intellects. Still some of the best writing I've read in a long time.
I cared so much about what happened to Edgar and his dogs, and even though I knew (based on Hamlet) what was likely to happen in the end, I was still ignoring household chores and whatnot to get there. One of the most compelling books I've read recently.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment