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Sight Hound: A Novel
The long-awaited novel; a very special love story; from the best-selling author of Cowboys Are My Weakness.
This is the story of a woman, Rae, and her dog, Dante, a wolfhound who teaches "his human" that love is stronger than fear (the dog has always known this). Dante is the catalyst for change in other characters as well, and they step forward with their narratives: Rae's house-tender; her therapist; two veterinarians; and an anxiety-ridden actor, Howard, who turns out to be as stalwart as Dante himself. As the "seer" who hunts by sight rather than smell, Dante has some things to add, as does Rose, another dog who lives at Rae's heels, and Stanley the cat. Among and above these myriad voices, Rae voices her own challenges. With the wit and dead-on candor we've come to expect from Pam Houston, Sight Hound unfolds a story that illuminates the intangible covenant between loved ones. Here, dogs and humans are simply equal creatures, looking to connect and holding on for dear life when they do. Reading group guide included.350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2004
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About the author
Pam Houston
45 books923 followersHouston is the Director of Creative Writing at U.C. Davis. Her stories have been selected for the Best American Short Stories, the O. Henry Awards, the Pushcart Prize, and the Best American Short Stories of the Century. She lives in Colorado at 9,000 feet above sea level near the headwaters of the Rio Grande.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
October 1, 2007
Best summed up by Dante, the Irish Wolfhound - "I wanted her to see that sometime, no matter what we do, the good thing happens anyway....I wanted her to see that the only life worth living is a life full of love; that loss is always part of the equation; that love and loss conjoined are the best opportunity we ever get to live fully, to be our strongest, our most compassionate, our most graceful selves. After all, aren't we all just trying to learn the same things here, about sharing the food bowl with our sisters and brothers, trying to keep crumbs out of the dog bed, remembering to bring the squeaky toy inside in case of rain?"
And from Rae - "if a person is living right, keeping their eyes open, the exact right dog will come to them, the dog that will teach them whatever set of lessons they need to learn right then."
And from Rae - "if a person is living right, keeping their eyes open, the exact right dog will come to them, the dog that will teach them whatever set of lessons they need to learn right then."
December 14, 2018
I knew I would have issues with this book before I had read half a dozen pages. I was confused about what was happening, who was who, where they were going, when it was taking place. I thought maybe I wasn't paying attention ( I have been working awfully hard lately) so I kept going, thinking I would be able to sort things out as I got further along.
But the book defeated me. I wanted so much to like the story of Dante, an Irish Wolfhound belonging to Rae, a playwright. Dante had cancer and lost a leg, but was supposedly a spirit guide of sorts for his person. The book is divided into sections and each section has multiple chapters, each one told by a different narrator, including the dog. Each 'voice' was admirably different, but one thing they all had in common was a seeming desire to fill this confused reader's head with apparent trivia.
I simply could not deal with it.
DNF around page 100.
But the book defeated me. I wanted so much to like the story of Dante, an Irish Wolfhound belonging to Rae, a playwright. Dante had cancer and lost a leg, but was supposedly a spirit guide of sorts for his person. The book is divided into sections and each section has multiple chapters, each one told by a different narrator, including the dog. Each 'voice' was admirably different, but one thing they all had in common was a seeming desire to fill this confused reader's head with apparent trivia.
I simply could not deal with it.
DNF around page 100.
May 3, 2008
Cheesy as it may be, when I describe this I think of the title to another book: "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius." An author with novels and short stories for every girl who took off out west from Indiana or whatever state she might be "taking off" from, I have always felt like Pam Houston was my tourguide. She gets me, western living, men in the West and the guys who want to be like them, and most importantly, she gets dogs and all they entail. Lucy is my Dante, no doubt about it. Read whatever she writes, you'll enjoy it. I had the pleasure of attending a charity luncheon here in Boise and she was the guest author. I was tongue tied upon meeting her, but she signed all my books and even noted how "old school" the cover for "Cowboys Are My Weakness" was. I felt cool.
January 28, 2016
I was charmed by Sight Hound in the first few pages, when the protagonist's dog quoted the Buddha. Sight Hound is all about the important purposes of pets, told from a variety of perspectives, including several dogs.
I thought, from the title, that this would be about a seeing-eye dog, but it's actually about a woman who is unlucky in love, except when it comes to her dog, Dante, who is dying of cancer. But there's plenty of humor in this book, and healing. I loved it.
I thought, from the title, that this would be about a seeing-eye dog, but it's actually about a woman who is unlucky in love, except when it comes to her dog, Dante, who is dying of cancer. But there's plenty of humor in this book, and healing. I loved it.
July 13, 2015
Between a 2 and 3. Wolfhounds are one of the most amazing breeds and I liked the central focus on Dante and the importance of the bond between woman and dog. For that reason, I also liked the chapters from the vet and vet tech, and I didn't even mind the overly philosophical chapters from Dante's POV or the more whimsical chapters from the other dog and the cat.
But I also got very tired of the more literary-fiction aspects while we were reading about Rae's previous dull romantic partners, or about her frequently-histrionic husband's love of wearing lingerie, or wondering why her random, foul-mouthed, angry friend Jonathan was even in the book. Just tell me the story and keep me in the moment.
But I also got very tired of the more literary-fiction aspects while we were reading about Rae's previous dull romantic partners, or about her frequently-histrionic husband's love of wearing lingerie, or wondering why her random, foul-mouthed, angry friend Jonathan was even in the book. Just tell me the story and keep me in the moment.
November 25, 2011
I absolutely loved this book. With the backdrop set in Colorado and even some of it in the San Luis Valley, it made everything in the book that much more appealing. I loved the way she wrote from nine different perspectives and was reminded of Barbara Kingsolver's 'The Poisonwood Bible,' also a fave of mine. I will definitely read more Pam Houston books and am happy to be introduced to her through this one.
April 5, 2009
This is Pam Houston's first novel (she has done short stories) and it was published in 2005. Perhaps it is because I have read "Marley and Me" and "The Art of Racing in the Rain" both of which told a story from the dog's point of view, that I found this uninspiring. Been there, read that.
The format is a bit unusual. The novel is divided into sections, each with a chapter narrated by a different character. Those characters include Rae (typical Pam Houston female, this time a playwright) her Irish Wolfound Dante (3 legged w/osteosarcoma) , her cross dressing husband Howard (a would be actor), another dog Rose, a gaggle of friends, a nerdy but devoted vet, and a vet student currently in the Army. Frankly, there are too many characters to make this whole thing gel in any kind of cohesive way. And "Sight Hound" lacks the humor which would have made reading this more enjoyable. Houston seems to have taken herself too seriously this time.
Cutting through all the other plot distractions,this is basically a love story about a 40-something lonely woman (with the typical Houston childhood issues)living on a ranch in Colorado, whose relationship with her "enlightened" Irish Wolfhound becomes a metaphor for the meaning of a life well-lived. Houston is a very good writer and her prose is faultless in its clarity but she hits you over the head with this dog/philosopher image and it just didn't work for me.
An interview I read with the author quoted her as saying it took her four years to write "Sight Hound" during which time she was in "therapy". Maybe being in therapy is the problem. How many writer's, poet's, and artist's creativity has been compromised by working through those deep personal conflicts, the very issues that provided them the fuel and the inspiration for their work?
The format is a bit unusual. The novel is divided into sections, each with a chapter narrated by a different character. Those characters include Rae (typical Pam Houston female, this time a playwright) her Irish Wolfound Dante (3 legged w/osteosarcoma) , her cross dressing husband Howard (a would be actor), another dog Rose, a gaggle of friends, a nerdy but devoted vet, and a vet student currently in the Army. Frankly, there are too many characters to make this whole thing gel in any kind of cohesive way. And "Sight Hound" lacks the humor which would have made reading this more enjoyable. Houston seems to have taken herself too seriously this time.
Cutting through all the other plot distractions,this is basically a love story about a 40-something lonely woman (with the typical Houston childhood issues)living on a ranch in Colorado, whose relationship with her "enlightened" Irish Wolfhound becomes a metaphor for the meaning of a life well-lived. Houston is a very good writer and her prose is faultless in its clarity but she hits you over the head with this dog/philosopher image and it just didn't work for me.
An interview I read with the author quoted her as saying it took her four years to write "Sight Hound" during which time she was in "therapy". Maybe being in therapy is the problem. How many writer's, poet's, and artist's creativity has been compromised by working through those deep personal conflicts, the very issues that provided them the fuel and the inspiration for their work?
March 8, 2010
great novel, although it took me a bit to get used to the narration by different characters, each with a very different voice and perspective. It sounds like it should be sappy, but it's so not overdone: one of the best narrators is the main character's cancer survivor Irish wolfhound, Dante.
Beautiful descriptions of Colorado and a drought, wonderful insights into love and friendship and dogs and life in general.
Here's a couple lines I liked (this one from Dante): "I wanted her to see that sometimes, no matter what we do, the good thing happens anyway. Sometimes there is a man who lets the occasional hamburger fall from the barbeque. "
Here's a line from the main character's other dog: "I'm a simple girl, and I like simple things. A big old stainless-steel bowl of dry food and then a trip out to the horse pasture for a few poopsicles for dessert. The trick is to catch them on a frostbitten morning, somewhere between five and ten minutes after thy've been laid down, when a slight coating of ice is starting to form on the outside, but on the inside they are still all warm and soft. Rae says I'm just a tactile girl, and I guess she's right about that. When people call me stupid she says, no, not stupid, tactile, focused on the present moment, engaged with her senses, living in her body. Like where the heck else are you supposed to live?"
Beautiful descriptions of Colorado and a drought, wonderful insights into love and friendship and dogs and life in general.
Here's a couple lines I liked (this one from Dante): "I wanted her to see that sometimes, no matter what we do, the good thing happens anyway. Sometimes there is a man who lets the occasional hamburger fall from the barbeque. "
Here's a line from the main character's other dog: "I'm a simple girl, and I like simple things. A big old stainless-steel bowl of dry food and then a trip out to the horse pasture for a few poopsicles for dessert. The trick is to catch them on a frostbitten morning, somewhere between five and ten minutes after thy've been laid down, when a slight coating of ice is starting to form on the outside, but on the inside they are still all warm and soft. Rae says I'm just a tactile girl, and I guess she's right about that. When people call me stupid she says, no, not stupid, tactile, focused on the present moment, engaged with her senses, living in her body. Like where the heck else are you supposed to live?"
June 29, 2008
I picked this up because I like Houston's short stories, and the premise intrigued me. But it didn't work for me for three main reasons. First, there isn't enough story here to absorb me. Rae finds a boyfriend and presumably a life, through the careful prodding of her dog Dante who is dying of cancer, but - what I suppose is intended to be the climax is just sort of laughable. There's no clear temptation, no feeling that maybe Rae would go in a different way than she ultimately does. Second, although the method of telling the story through the voices of multiple people, two dogs, and even a cat is clever, it's reduced to mere gimmick by the voices being mostly undifferentiated. The only character I could clearly identify without looking at the chapter headings was Darlene. Finally, I don't think I'm enough of a dog lover to appreciate this book and look past its faults. Because that's who it's written for - not the person who appreciates both the outdoors and literary quality, as her previous stories are, but simply: the person who likes dogs a whole lot.
October 21, 2007
I wanted to read this book because I noticed it had been on the Green Apple staff picks list. I also thought maybe it would be good for me because one of the main characters was a dog, and I just got a dog. But unfortunately for me, I wanted to put the thing down after the first 20 pages. Somehow I managed to slog my way through the rest until the end (I always do this, I always hold out the hope that something might get better, but usually, as I was in this case, I am wrong). The book had its moments, but when I say "moments" I mean Hallmark moment ABC After School special kind of moments. It was sappy and sweet and full of a rawr rawr kind of lesbian-hetero-canine feminism that I didn't understand or relate to.
Maybe that's not quite fair. It did have its real moments. I liked one of the vet characters, and the dog narration was touching in its own way. But the main character/narrator had a really annoying habit of complete self-absorption that made it pretty clear that Pam Houston is probably not too far off from the same, and that just made the whole experience of reading that much worse. In addition, main character/narrator kept exoticizing Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, and other Far Eastern exotic travel destinations a la westerner-that-is-yearning-to-find-themselves-I-mean-really-find-themselves, that was annoying. Pam Houston, sadly, seems to be not too far off from a certain kind of old-school hippie or me-generation yuppie middle-aged self-described Buddhist womyn with 30 bumper stickers on the bumper of her car. I ran into enough people like this during my senior year of college to last me for the rest of my life, thank you very much.
Bottom line, I just don't think I am the right age, ethnicity, class, or background to read and have really enjoyed this book. But late 30-something, early 40-something hippies/yuppies whose lives revolve around therapy, their dogs, and themselves, would probably enjoy it. And are welcome to it.
Maybe that's not quite fair. It did have its real moments. I liked one of the vet characters, and the dog narration was touching in its own way. But the main character/narrator had a really annoying habit of complete self-absorption that made it pretty clear that Pam Houston is probably not too far off from the same, and that just made the whole experience of reading that much worse. In addition, main character/narrator kept exoticizing Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, and other Far Eastern exotic travel destinations a la westerner-that-is-yearning-to-find-themselves-I-mean-really-find-themselves, that was annoying. Pam Houston, sadly, seems to be not too far off from a certain kind of old-school hippie or me-generation yuppie middle-aged self-described Buddhist womyn with 30 bumper stickers on the bumper of her car. I ran into enough people like this during my senior year of college to last me for the rest of my life, thank you very much.
Bottom line, I just don't think I am the right age, ethnicity, class, or background to read and have really enjoyed this book. But late 30-something, early 40-something hippies/yuppies whose lives revolve around therapy, their dogs, and themselves, would probably enjoy it. And are welcome to it.
May 26, 2016
I felt like this book tried to be deep and mysterious and instead came off as confusing and convoluted to me. It is told from multiple character perspectives, and most of the voices sounded the same. Mostly they went off in totally different directions than talking about Rae and Dante, and for a book that was meant to be about a woman and her dog this was annoying. I didn't need the flowery script, give me the emotion. Alas, the whole thing fell in a messy heap for me and I found myself hoping Dante would die soon and let me finish the book. Then the book carries on for a few more pointless chapters anyway.
Definitely not my kind of book at all, but huzzah, I struggled through and I finished it. Two stars.
Definitely not my kind of book at all, but huzzah, I struggled through and I finished it. Two stars.
July 22, 2012
A serious heartbreaking book about the relationship between a special dog and an owner who needs unconditional love. Some reviewers have criticized the multiple points of view (not always chronological). I found listening to the audiobook added a special dimension since each voice was created by a different narrator. The dog's voices were especially delightful.
February 26, 2009
Found this by chance in an airport bookstore, and it was one of the best books I read that year. Each chapter is in the voice of a different character...a device that can sometimes be wearing, but it works here.
July 27, 2023
Read this book while at the beach, and it was fine but nothing earth-shattering. I enjoyed the story and different perspectives on protagonist Rae and her beloved Irish Wolfhound, Dante, who survived an experimental cancer treatment but ended up losing his leg after the treatment ultimately failed. Unfortunately, I also felt there was a continuity issue in that the perspectives leave gaps in the story. For example, the book opens with Rae and her friend Mona on a trip with Dante, though it seems like Mona might be more of a romantic partner. Yet Mona is barely mentioned again in the book and Rae's later relationships are exclusively heterosexual. There are frequent other instances where the story jumps around and it's hard to keep track of who is who early in the book, because most characters are only minimally developed until the important ones (clearly not Mona) make repeated return visits to the story.
My favorite characters were definitely Dante and his fellow wolfhound Rose (aka Rosebeast). Their perspectives were pure and straightforward. Dante waxes poetic on how to help Rae grow strong enough to some day live without him, and his own feelings on being a 3 legged dog vs. a 4 legged dog with one leg that doesn't work so well. Rose is Rae's younger dog, a bit on the immature side because she isn't as emotionally connected to Rae as Dante and is enjoying living life as a dog, but as Dante's health declines, she comes to realize that she may soon be called upon to provide the support role to Rae.
Would I read another book by this author? I'm not sure, it was hard to get a good feel for her reading this one. Would have read the description to see if it sounded appealing. If it was another dog book, perhaps.
My favorite characters were definitely Dante and his fellow wolfhound Rose (aka Rosebeast). Their perspectives were pure and straightforward. Dante waxes poetic on how to help Rae grow strong enough to some day live without him, and his own feelings on being a 3 legged dog vs. a 4 legged dog with one leg that doesn't work so well. Rose is Rae's younger dog, a bit on the immature side because she isn't as emotionally connected to Rae as Dante and is enjoying living life as a dog, but as Dante's health declines, she comes to realize that she may soon be called upon to provide the support role to Rae.
Would I read another book by this author? I'm not sure, it was hard to get a good feel for her reading this one. Would have read the description to see if it sounded appealing. If it was another dog book, perhaps.
unfinished
March 6, 2024I don't want to rate this one because I don't plan to finish it and only made it about 40% through, and I hate to rate something badly without finishing it.
I do appreciate the premise of the story, sort of a "coming of age" for the main character, Rae, and how her dog(s) helped her through hard times, etc. I don't love dog books in general because they always seem to involve the dog's death, and for some reason that always hits me pretty hard, so that's already a strike for this one. If I got to read from only Rae and her dog Dante's perspectives, I think I would actually like this, but all the noise from the other characters' POVs, especially her cringey but well-intentioned boyfriend's chapters, just really do not interest me or add to the story (IMO of course). I think I could finish this and actually end up thinking it was okay, but I don't force myself to finish books I just don't like anymore (there are so many good ones out there and life is too short), and I think I gave it a fair chance.
I do appreciate the premise of the story, sort of a "coming of age" for the main character, Rae, and how her dog(s) helped her through hard times, etc. I don't love dog books in general because they always seem to involve the dog's death, and for some reason that always hits me pretty hard, so that's already a strike for this one. If I got to read from only Rae and her dog Dante's perspectives, I think I would actually like this, but all the noise from the other characters' POVs, especially her cringey but well-intentioned boyfriend's chapters, just really do not interest me or add to the story (IMO of course). I think I could finish this and actually end up thinking it was okay, but I don't force myself to finish books I just don't like anymore (there are so many good ones out there and life is too short), and I think I gave it a fair chance.
January 7, 2021
Well...that was heartwrenching wasn't it? I mean...we all know what's going to happen just based on the blurb on the back but I still wasn't prepared.
Before I go too deep, here is my CAWPILE:
C- characters: 7
A - atmosphere: 6
W - writing Style: 10
P - plot: 3
I - intrigue: 6
L - logic: 10
E - enjoyment: 10
So, overall I have to give this book 3 stars. The reality was, I really enjoyed this book. A lot. However, there were some things that weighed on me a lot. There isn't a plot. At least, not one that I could decipher. I tried to find it but it just wasn't there. Also, I was a bit confused at some points. Having so many different points of view was just plain confusing and when something happened to a certain character, which seemed pivotal, I had no idea who the character was.
But, Dante and Rae will stay with me for years to come. I loved this gem of a book.
Before I go too deep, here is my CAWPILE:
C- characters: 7
A - atmosphere: 6
W - writing Style: 10
P - plot: 3
I - intrigue: 6
L - logic: 10
E - enjoyment: 10
So, overall I have to give this book 3 stars. The reality was, I really enjoyed this book. A lot. However, there were some things that weighed on me a lot. There isn't a plot. At least, not one that I could decipher. I tried to find it but it just wasn't there. Also, I was a bit confused at some points. Having so many different points of view was just plain confusing and when something happened to a certain character, which seemed pivotal, I had no idea who the character was.
But, Dante and Rae will stay with me for years to come. I loved this gem of a book.
October 19, 2017
I picked up this book for two reasons. One, I am a Pam Houston fan ever since I read Cowboys are My Weakness. Two, our beloved dog just had his leg amputated due to cancer and this story features a dog under similar circumstances. The story lived up to expectations. Houston is a lyrical and heartfelt writer who creates characters that are easy to relate to. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character including the dogs. It did get a little confusing figuring out who was narrating as to what their role in the story was but overall it worked.
July 15, 2020
To begin, a disclaimer: I am not even remotely objective about Pam Houston. Rather, I’m a bit obsessed with her, and as far as I am concerned - her writing and her storytelling are beyond reproach.
Pam Houston writes my heart. I don’t know how she does it, but she always does.
This book is a gem. I didn’t expect it, and was a bit emotionally unprepared for something that pulled so much out of me as a reader, because let me tell you - this one did.
For anyone who has experienced the love and loss of a pet, Dante will no doubt remind you of the heart-breaking blessing of that experience - viscerally. I cried every time I sat down to read, but it isn’t a book about or intended to inspire grief. What it is, is a beautiful story filled with incredible characters (they are so authentic, it’s hard to doubt they’re inspired, at least in part, by real folks) trying to do the right thing in the midst of fear, grief, and life-changing circumstances.
It’s a beautiful exploration of relationships, of our responsibilities to one another, and of what it means to truly love.
Pam Houston has done it again. I am not worthy.
Pam Houston writes my heart. I don’t know how she does it, but she always does.
This book is a gem. I didn’t expect it, and was a bit emotionally unprepared for something that pulled so much out of me as a reader, because let me tell you - this one did.
For anyone who has experienced the love and loss of a pet, Dante will no doubt remind you of the heart-breaking blessing of that experience - viscerally. I cried every time I sat down to read, but it isn’t a book about or intended to inspire grief. What it is, is a beautiful story filled with incredible characters (they are so authentic, it’s hard to doubt they’re inspired, at least in part, by real folks) trying to do the right thing in the midst of fear, grief, and life-changing circumstances.
It’s a beautiful exploration of relationships, of our responsibilities to one another, and of what it means to truly love.
Pam Houston has done it again. I am not worthy.
March 13, 2013
How could I not like a book that was dedicated to veterinarians and written by a UC Davis English/creative writing professor? :)
This book was inspired by the author's own dog, who developed the same type of cancer as the dog in the story. One of my vet school professors actually operated on the author's dog, and is mentioned in the acknowledgements. I'm impressed by the author, because I'm a pretty nitpicky guy, but she seemed to get the bulk of the medical stuff right.
The novel was an appropriate mix of funny, wistful, and tragic. I especially liked that each chapter was written from the point of view of a different character, even the dogs (a la As I Lay Dying, but for my taste, with much better results). I can definitely relate to some of the issues brought up about how animals impact our lives, and how to cope with the impending death of a pet. Overall, I think the hope and peace that animals bring to our lives shines through as the overall lasting impression.
Definitely worth a read!
This book was inspired by the author's own dog, who developed the same type of cancer as the dog in the story. One of my vet school professors actually operated on the author's dog, and is mentioned in the acknowledgements. I'm impressed by the author, because I'm a pretty nitpicky guy, but she seemed to get the bulk of the medical stuff right.
The novel was an appropriate mix of funny, wistful, and tragic. I especially liked that each chapter was written from the point of view of a different character, even the dogs (a la As I Lay Dying, but for my taste, with much better results). I can definitely relate to some of the issues brought up about how animals impact our lives, and how to cope with the impending death of a pet. Overall, I think the hope and peace that animals bring to our lives shines through as the overall lasting impression.
Definitely worth a read!
May 6, 2008
This was a truly enjoyable book by Pam Houston. I liked her writing style, where each chapter was told by a different character in the story, thus offering multiple perspectives on the action and plot.
It's a rather sad story about an Irish Wolfhound with osteosarcoma, and his owner, a playwrite from Colorado, who must deal with the dog's illness. It's not all doom and gloom though...there are some very funny parts. Ultimately, however, the book is about faith. Faith in love, faith in relationships, and faith in oneself.
The main characters are a hodge-podge of damaged eccentrics: two vets, two playwrites, a singer, a hockey player, a house sitter and an actor...but the most delightful chapters are the ones told by the two dogs and the cat. Dante, the enlightened Wolfhound, is the most endearing character of the lot, and the reader is drawn into the drama of his illness along with his owner Rae.
A great read.
It's a rather sad story about an Irish Wolfhound with osteosarcoma, and his owner, a playwrite from Colorado, who must deal with the dog's illness. It's not all doom and gloom though...there are some very funny parts. Ultimately, however, the book is about faith. Faith in love, faith in relationships, and faith in oneself.
The main characters are a hodge-podge of damaged eccentrics: two vets, two playwrites, a singer, a hockey player, a house sitter and an actor...but the most delightful chapters are the ones told by the two dogs and the cat. Dante, the enlightened Wolfhound, is the most endearing character of the lot, and the reader is drawn into the drama of his illness along with his owner Rae.
A great read.
December 21, 2008
My friend Kerfe sent me this book not knowing much about it but knowing that I love dogs and books about dogs. This one is worth reading. It is told from different perspectives: of Rae, the main character (Pam Houston?), her husband, friends, her ranch caretaker, and best of all for me, the various animals. I'm a sucker for anthropomorphism and I loved the voices the various critters were given. Essentially, Rae is in love with Dante, her Irish wolfhound, who has survived gruesome surgery for osteocarcoma but probably doesn't have much time left. He is the constant in her peripatatic life. (Dante even has a pen pal, a little girl who had the same condition--an interesting side note).
Telling much more would probably create spoilers, so I'll end this here, with my recommendation. I didn't give it five starts because there were a few parts that seemed clunky or unnecessary. Read it anyway. Thanks Kerfe!
Telling much more would probably create spoilers, so I'll end this here, with my recommendation. I didn't give it five starts because there were a few parts that seemed clunky or unnecessary. Read it anyway. Thanks Kerfe!
Read
February 5, 2009Houston has covered this terrain before in her best-selling story collections (Cowboys Are My Weakness; Waltzing the Cat) and a collection of non-fiction, A Little More About Me. In her first novel, she expands the scope of her storytelling without giving up the outdoor settings and failed romances. The debate over her use of multiple narrators is evenly split: some critics think the collection of voices (12 by one count) provides perspective; others find it unnecessarily complicated. Most agree that while human voices are weaker, Houston sure can make a dog talk. In fact, many critics think the wolfhound is the strongest narrator in the book. While Sight Hound is a fine novel, it may not entice like the author's shorter fiction.
This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.
July 18, 2007
Each chapter is told by a different character in this story, including the dogs and cats of the family. The main character, playwright Rae, hasn't had much luck with men, but her love for her dog Dante is pure and uncomplicated. Dante is diagnosed with cancer, and Rae puts all of her energies into prolonging his life, volunteering him for experimental surgery. The ups and downs of the three years he spends in remission are narrated from the perspective of each individual featured in the novel. Rae believes that animals have "souls as deep and authentic as anything in creation"…and after reading what Dante has to say about his family and life…I whole-heartedly agree. A fun and joyful read. Book #16 of my 2006 Book List, finished reading it on 3-20-06.
July 25, 2007
I enjoy Pam Houston's stories for the adventurous, independent characters. This book is not one of my favorites, but I still gave it four stars because I like her writing so much. I do not have a dog (or any pets for that matter), and I didn't get into the whole psychic/emotionally connected canine thing. So, for the pages upon pages of dog stuff, I tuned out (probably NOT what the author intended). I liked the story of how the main character found happiness, and just Houston's style in general.
April 5, 2007
Now, I don't have a pet. My husband won't let me have one. :(
But I'm not a huge "pet person". However, I became more of a pet person after reading this book.
Pam Houston is a great writer...I'm a big fan. This is the story of finding and losing her dog, Dante.
The book can be a bit confusing, because it is told from many viewpoints, including the dogs and cat. However, it is a beautiful lesson about how every pet is sent to you to teach you something about life.
But I'm not a huge "pet person". However, I became more of a pet person after reading this book.
Pam Houston is a great writer...I'm a big fan. This is the story of finding and losing her dog, Dante.
The book can be a bit confusing, because it is told from many viewpoints, including the dogs and cat. However, it is a beautiful lesson about how every pet is sent to you to teach you something about life.
November 26, 2007
I love Pam Houston's writing--I am from Montana and am a major dog lover. I fell in love with Dante the Irish Wolfhound - a once in a lifetime dog much like my own beloved Charlie who was in his last chapter of life as I read this book. I cried many times while I read this book and longed for more time with Dante and my Charlie. Pam Houston writes beautifully of what its like to live on a ranch in the West and the bond that happens when special dogs find their way to us.
June 29, 2015
Who doesn't like a Buddhist-quoting dog?
How fun and touching that Houston had two dogs narrate this book--as well as multiple other people (which for the most part was great, because they are all quirky and interesting...but at times it got a little confusing keeping track of who was who).
With her wonderful descriptions, Houston made me want to live on a ranch in Colorado.
The focus of this book is LOVE. What's not to love about that?
How fun and touching that Houston had two dogs narrate this book--as well as multiple other people (which for the most part was great, because they are all quirky and interesting...but at times it got a little confusing keeping track of who was who).
With her wonderful descriptions, Houston made me want to live on a ranch in Colorado.
The focus of this book is LOVE. What's not to love about that?
August 4, 2017
I read this book quite some years ago. Re-read it again after finding a paperback version for a few dollars. Loved it all over again. A wonderful blend of the wisdom of dogs, in this case Dante a venerable Irish Wolfhound and his friend Rose a dog of mixed heritage, and the humans in their lives. Dante especially speaks to the heart, teaching valuable lesson to his people.
March 20, 2009
Of course I loved this book; it concerns an Irish Wolfhound. Unfortunately, he is dying of cancer. Since I have been through the same ordeal with my own Wolfhound, I was very emotionally involved with the book. I actually e-mailed the author, thanking her for such an outstanding book.
May 19, 2013
This book isn't what I was expecting but that's not always a bad thing. It isn't so much about Dante the dog as it is about the people that he had relationships with. Interesting perspective and voices.
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