This Blog Has Moved!

I moved my blog on New Years Day, 2010. If you haven't come to see my new blog, head on over HERE now. This blog will be available for archive reading but I won't be posting here anymore. I hope you'll join me at my new bloggy home!

p.s. I am slowly but surely moving all the blogs I follow over to the new blog, so if I haven't come to visit you for a while, my advice is to leave a comment on my new blog, so I don't miss you in the shuffle!

About Me

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I am a bereaved mother and wife. I began this blog to help me look for the "good things" in life after my daughter, "Babybear", died in July 2005. Three years later, her daddy, my husband, "Bear", died in November 2008. (You'll find a link to their stories on my blog) And now, as difficult as it is, I continue to look for the good things in my life as I learn my new normal with my pup, "Furrybear", at my side. And the angels on my shoulder...

Thursday, June 5, 2008

The Hidden Life of Humans - Erika Ritter

After reading The Hidden Life of Dogs, I thought this book would be an interesting contrast, despite the fact that this one is purely fictional.

The back cover of the book indicates that this novel "examines contemporary human conditions through the eyes of a woman and a dog." Sounds interesting, right? I thought so too.

Narrating paragraphs alternate between Dana, the human, and Murphy, the dog. The only way to distinguish who is narrating at any point is by the paw prints next to the paragraph indicating Murphy's point of view.

The writing format of the book tends to change from chapter to chapter, and the author strays from the storyline on several occasions. Often, unnecessary delusions or dreams over take several sections of the book, and confuse the reader as to whether it is actually happening in the story or if Dana/Murphy are dreaming.

I found parts of the book amusing but I found other parts boring. It took me the entire length of library borrow time to read this book, which initially I had thought I would read in a snap.

As a dog lover, I also found it upsetting that no one really seemed to like Murphy, and that no one really wanted him. He was just a burden to everyone, even his owner, Jerry.

I am not sure I would recommend this book. The parts worth reading don't make up for the rest of the book's lack of direction. Disappointing, really, because I had been looking forward to reading this book.

2 comments:

Dawn said...

This doesn't have anything to do with this post, but I just wanted to say congratulations for winning the basket of goodies from Org Junkie!

Joc(e) said...

I think I'd skip it just on the basis of Murphy being unloved! :-(