Dog

by Michelle Herman

Single, childless, J.T. Rosen—a poet and college professor who has failed to live up to her early promise—has constructed a careful, orderly life around her work and the little house she has lived in alone for many years. Long ago, after a tumultuous youth filled with the "Sturm und Drang of boys and men," she gave up on the possibility of love; she has begun by now, in the Middle Western town she cannot bring herself to think of as home, to give up on the possibility of friendship.
When the dog enters her life, almost by accident he takes over her life, as puppies do.

But as the days and weeks pass, the relationship that unfolds between dog and woman provides a glimpse for her of the possibilities that life still offers, of goodness that she begins to understand can be "counted on" in some inexplicable way.

Dog is about how a person constructs a life for herself, about the bits and pieces that make up a life as one goes along, and about the possibility of goodness, always, among those pieces—the possibility of love, and grace.

Genres: Fiction, Adult Fiction

191 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Michelle Herman‘s newest book is If You Say So, her fourth collection of essays/memoirs. You can read her parenting, family, and relationship advice weekly in the Sunday Care and Feeding column at Slate.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Michelle has lived for many years in Columbus, Ohio, where she lives in a 120-year-old house with her husband, the painter Glen Holland.

Reviews

[Emily Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog unfolds with such openness, such simplicity, such foursquare tenderness. And yet, this small miracle of a novel is steeped in its protagonist's rich and nuanced observations of self, loneliness, companionship. The concluding, miniature meditation on goodness and happenstance roots this brief but wise novel in the heart's memory.

[Grace Gottschalk · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
i rounded up bc i like dogs. and the cover.

this story wasn’t so much about dogs and it was about the main character, jill, having one long reminiscing session lowkey regretting abt her past lovers and how she was extremely closed off. she was kinda annoying but near the end she was less insufferable. like how was she able to date multiple men when she was like that meanwhile i’m awesome and don’t have a bf🫣🫣🫣
but anyways it got a bit redundant which is why this wasn’t actually a 3 star read. the prose is really great at some points but the use of parentheses was a bit extreme at times and made the the sentences super long and confusing and also made me cringe lol.

also why does she not play with her dog like wtf😭😭😭 she decided she didn’t want to talk to people and forced her dog to follow suit and not to meet other dogs like arent dogs social creatures😭😭😭 but she acts like this and wonders why she’s single????? like bruh you don’t even play w your puppy. also at the end when she was lowkey trying to justify to herself her older brother who’s a professor cheating on his wife with one of his students,,,, like what.

also literally at the end it introduced a lot of interesting ideas like not fully seeing and understanding ppl bc you’re too busy being too closed off and not listening to ppl fully and ruining relationships. but then the book ended like what😭

overall good book. got rly redundant. i like dogs. and i like the cover.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this short book way back in 2005 when it was released. Part of a discovery of the author and her work which led to interviews and interactions over the years (back when I was n active book blogger). With the release of her latest book, which includes the main character of this book, I decided to go back and refresh my memory on the fictional character of J.T. Rosen. I was again surprised by Herman's ability to take the internal thoughts and emotions of a character and turn it into an engaging read without much of a plot. I think it is because the issues that the characters wrestle with are universal and so we can both relate and see our own experiences and emotions from a different perspective through this fictional character.

At its most basic, Dog is about how a rescue puppy rescued someone who was stuck in a rut and cut off from relationships and deeper human emotions. Love, goodness, loneliness, family and career are all explored as Professor Rosen learns what it means to share a house with a dog. Serious issues are involved but Herman keeps it light and has a wry tone which makes it a quick and enjoyable read.

[Judy Christiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella was brilliant. While I don’t think it is for everyone, it was definitely a gem for me. I was once described by someone as “not a pet person”, which highly insulted me, but I am sure that is what the person felt. Stating that, I also have several other similarities to the main (person) character, Jill, in this story. That honestly isn’t a good thing, since Jill has many issues.
Her life is turned inside out (for the better) one day when she decides on the spur of the moment to adopt an unwanted puppy. As a single female, her life was totally her own until this time. She is a strong person and did not let anyone close to her. This puppy invaded her house and her heart and she comes out a much better person at the end of the story.
The story is more about her sad relationship with the world, then the life of the dog (Phil), but Phil does have a big part of the story and is the hero of it.

[Cynpai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as focused on the dog as you might think, more focused on the way a dog can influence and change a person's life, inside and out. At times J. T. was a bit too much but she was consistent in this way, and I could appreciate her as a character, if not some of her feelings on things such as names. This is the first book I've managed to finish in years due to mental issues reading much at length and so for that I am very thankful this book was written and published. If you want a short, sweet story that will make you smile every couple pages, give it a try!

[Cyndy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I checked this book out on a whim while pulling requests volunteering at the library. It was short. Good thing because it really wasn't what I expected. It wasn't about her life with the dog so much as it was her ruminating over past lovers. I have just adopted a puppy and can't believe that she doesn't play with her puppy. That she doesn't *need* to play with her puppy. My puppy totally dominated my life for the first two months I had her. I could not relate to her at all.

[Carolyn Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short novel about a middle-aged woman, who is totally set in her ways, adopting (almost by accident) a dog, which turns out to be life-changing for her.  She learns to be a bit more spontaneous, buys practical clothes (for dog-walking), desires a better relationship with her brother, starts actually seeing the sky, etc.  Very heart-warming and totally believable!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange little novel about how a college professor who lives a solitary life by choice is changed by the adoption of a dog that becomes a loyal and beloved companion that prompts her to reflect on her life. I can't say it is a must read -- but I did find it sort of sweet.

[Kim Migliozzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked the parts about the connection with the dog and the insight the dog gives the narrator but

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

The frequent use of hyphens and parenthesis was very distracting when trying to read the book, as was the use of so many literary terms that most people are not familiar with.

Kind of boring.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, short little book. Jill reminds me if me a little.

[Alida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pictures of puppies looking cute as heck. My idea of a perfect book.

[Carol Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog ownership

A single woman in her mid-forties adopts her first dog. She slowly discovers the joy a dog can bring a person.

[Carol E. Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story

Great read for introverts. Could not put it down. Phil is definitely one of the best dogs and a true friend.

[Travis]

good short book

[Willa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cute little story about a single woman named Jill facing the end of her child-bearing years who ends up adopting a dog. While there are aspects that I don't think set a good example for dog ownership - she doesn't think about what's involved in caring for a dog before adopting him, she doesn't properly lead-train him, she doesn't socialize him, she doesn't play with him - there are other aspects that make me happy - she's very conscientious about his house-breaking and his daily walks, and she really does love him and worry about his welfare. Phil is his name, and he's an unusual puppy in that he seems content not to be played with. He's very calm and only seems to act like a puppy on his midnight walks when he alternates between stubbornly investigating every interesting thing for as long as he wants and running pell-mell up the street pulling Jill stumblingly along behind him.

And these actions of his bleed over into more of Jill's life than just those midnight walks. She also begins to investigate things thoroughly - her past relationships, whether with lovers, family or friends, and also her current life, with its lack of emotional attachments. By the end, you can imagine a future for Jill with a little experimentation into her own form of running pell-mell once in a while (kind of like she did when deciding to adopt Phil in the first place) and seeing where she ends up because of it.

One thing that bothered me significantly was the author's writing style. Lots of long sentences with asides built into the middle of them to further explain or enhance the thought being conveyed. While I tend to do the same thing to an extent - see how I'm doing it now and how I did it in the paragraphs above - I try to stick to one at a time, while this author will use two or three at a time and within each other, causing me to forget the beginning of the sentence by the time I reach the end of it. If not for that, I probably would have given it one more star.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the title, the book is not really focused on a dog. Rather it is about a middle aged, single college English professor who is looking for some way to reconnect with the world. While surfing for adoptions, she comes across a dog rescue. As she learns to take care of her puppy, she begins to reflect on her life and relationships and starts to develop a bond with him and grows to depend on his unwavering love and devotion. She realizes the emptiness in her life and inches towards change. While not always likable, we can all relate to her pain, feelings of isolation and loneliness and her dissatisfaction with her life and career as a professor and poet whose aspirations have faded away. Her reflections on her family and relationships bring us to a better understanding of how she became what she is. This is a slender novel, easily read in 1 or 2 sittings.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

**WARNING: SPOILER**

This was a light and fun book about a middle-aged woman getting a puppy completely on the spur of the moment, having never owned a dog before. If you read it superficially, it's a mostly funny, sometimes sad book. However, there's a deeper level because there are many parallels between her journey in life and that of the dog. As she becomes more attached to the dog - Phillip - she gains insight into herself and the reasons she may have problems with both friendships and romantic relationships. All in all, a good read. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is because I sincerely disapprove of anyone getting a pet without thorough preparation for the lifetime commitment involved.

[Mommooshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasant, short book. It was relaxing and interesting to read, but then the closing pages really brought it all together into a philosophical realization about life, being optimistic, and believing there can be good ahead of you in your life. All brought about by an impulse adoption of a rescue puppy and the close bound that developed between the narrator, Jill (who had never been a dog-person) and her dog, Phil.

Anyone who loves animals and has had a special pet of any type will probably especially enjoy this book, but even non-pet owners can find wisdom in the realizations Jill achieved because of her dog, Phil. I recommended it as a simple, short book that will sneak up on you as you finish it with deeper meanings.

[Deschka · Rating 3 out of 5]

" The dog, the dog , the dog-the dog had taken over her life.
But this was not necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps she had needed to have her life taken over. "

How can you not be pulled in and want to read on after those first sentences? Anyone who has ever been owned by a dog, or has taken care of another being understands how being responsible for a living creature can take over everything and alter your life. And consequently we relate to these thoughts and wonder how the protagonist will handle the changes.

The story is simple, almost simplistic, a running narrative and analysis of thoughts really. But nevertheless compelling and intimate. A fun, short read.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

From a literary standpoint, some lines were very beautifully written. The story line threw me a little. I thought it would be more about the dog. The book is more about a semi-reclusive poetry professor who quite accidentally takes adopts a puppy (I believe she googled "adoption" with the idea of looking at adopting a child). She basically does so many things wrong with raising her puppy that it's surprising that the dog turns out as well as he does. Overall I found the book quite frustrating, and the main character a bit annoying...

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a book discussion group that reads books about animals; however, this one ended up focusing more on the main character. I kept waiting for the moment - predictable, yet engaging - when the dog starts to make the main character's strictly confined life a little larger and more generous, but it never arrived. Instead, she drinks wine, mulls over past boyfriends, and dwells some more on past boyfriends. She arranges her life with the dog in such a manner that she continues to minimize her interaction with people. I guess that's just who she is.

[Sharen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A jewel. The undercurrents are deep and thoughtful, prompting reflection about the choices we make in life, and how we deal with the people closest to us. In Jill's case, this includes her mother in particular, but also her brother, her lovers, her students and colleagues. Absorbing "Phil", formerly known as "Dog", into her life brings on the kind of wistful self-examination that accompanies mid-life as well as a new mindfulness, sense of humour included. Michelle Herman writes beautifully.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't really like it and was disappointed not to. There wasn't enough dog in it and too much going on in the main character's head. And I found her truly unlikable, she was an intellectual snob and altho she "sorta comes around," she didn't nearly enough for my liking. And I didn't like the portrayal of the dog (!). I know! How is that possible, I'm such a dog person! He was too much like her, kind of aloof. Altho I know there are plenty of dogs like that, I've never had one, thank god.

[Anika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book off the shelf because of the photograph on the cover and it turned out to be an auspicious choice! I loved this book from poet-turned-novelist Michelle Herman. It is the story of a sad English professor and the turn her life takes with the introduction of Phil the dog. Bizarre and beautiful.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

fun, though i would've liked to have it be more about the dog. there's probably a lot more here than i'm willing to discuss, about women and aging and expectations. it was nice to have more of a loner-ish character who wasn't insane. but the discussions of past lovers and things was really lost of me. maybe i just wasn't in the right mood.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the picture on the cover makes you want to take it home, it's the story that makes this book stick with you. I'm not sure that Jill is meant to be a likable character, but how you not like someone who's taken in Philip? It's a great story...one that makes you feel lonely, but that makes you enjoy the loneliness, and appreciate your dog.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite what other reviews say, my expectations were exceeded when I picked this up in the general fiction section and found it actually focusing on a woman acquiring a puppy. Heavens! There's also a lot of introspection and no truly discernible point or plot, but it's cozy. I feel like I'll appreciate it more when I'm actually the age of the 45-year-old main character, though.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a delightful little book. I could only give it three stars because I could not relate to the main character very well. I think it would be a very good book for a woman to read, especially a middle aged single woman, to read. There wasn't a whole lot of action; the book was more psychological. This is the kind of book I enjoy; it gives more opportunity for character development.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dog is the story of a lonely, single, middle aged college professor who adopts a puppy. She is so anti-social that she decides to walk the dog at midnight to avoid chats with other dog walkers. She finds the company of the dog to be enough to satisfy her. Written by an OSU professor.