La fattoria del cane rosso

by Nathaniel Ian Miller, Alessandra Osti (Translator)

Crescere in una fattoria nell'Ovest dell'Islanda ha insegnato a Orri ad apprezzare la bellezza che si trova nella l'emozione di veder nascere un nuovo vitellino, il ritorno del canto degli uccelli dopo un lungo inverno, la compagnia del proprio cane Rykug. Ma ora lo attendono Reykjavík e l'università, un mondo completamente diverso rispetto a quello in cui ha vissuto finora con il padre, un uomo taciturno e un po' bizzarro, e la madre, una professoressa universitaria intellettuale e affettuosa.
Tuttavia lontano dalle sue vacche e dai suoi prati rocciosi battuti dal vento, Orri non riesce a dormire, è tormentato e inquieto, triste. Così, dopo appena qualche mese in città, e dopo aver saputo che il padre ha iniziato a mostrare i sintomi di una depressione, decide di prendersi una pausa dall'università e di tornare alla fattoria, rischiando di trovare, forse, proprio dove l'aveva lasciato per allontanarsene, un futuro inaspettato. La fattoria del cane rosso è un romanzo indimenticabile su una famiglia, una fattoria, una mandria di bestiame e un kelpie rosso. È anche un romanzo magmatico sull'Islanda, che cambia come cambia la terra di cui è fatta, sospesa tra i vulcani e l'oceano. Ed è, infine, un romanzo sull'amore che improvvisamente arriva e ci impone di scegliere, una volta per tutte, ciò che desideriamo davvero.

Genres: Fiction, Coming Of Age, Audiobook, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Family, International

Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2025

About the author

Nathaniel Ian Miller is the author of the critically acclaimed debut novel The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and has been translated into four languages. A former journalist for newspapers in New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin and Montana, he now lives with his family on a farm in Vermont.

Reviews

[Diane Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

I loved his first book, The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven. This one falls a little below that in my esteem, but still very good. A book about a failing cattle farm in Iceland is certainly different, and this is pretty graphic in all the lurid details of the actual description of why and how, but the characters are wonderful. The depiction of a close family who accept each other's differences and needs is a joy to read, with the addition of a grandmother, a neighbor and a girlfriend as supporting cast makes it even better. Plus there's a great dog, an Australian Kelpie, who actually acts like a real dog. Add in a wonderful, uplifting ending, and you have a very good novel.

[Dawson Sprinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this ARC via Edelweiss. My opinions expressed in this review are both honest, and my own. I really enjoyed this book, and yet I really struggled to write something about it, so hopefully this is straightforward and makes sense.

Red Dog Farm, written by Nathaniel Ian Miller is a quiet and beautiful piece that keeps your attention in spite of the mundane setting. The struggling farm at the center of this novel paints a wonderful allegory for life and its difficulties and its cycles. Every season on the farm is wrought with hardship and something unintended, or genuinely bad is always happening, because that is the way life is, no?

If you take anything away from this piece, let it be patience. Patience in the face of life. Life which at times is beautiful and rewarding (much like the Icelandic countryside) but at other times seems to want nothing more than to tear you down (coincidentally also much like the Icelandic countryside). Persistence and patience are central to this plot. The love story that blooms between Orri, our main character, and Mihan the girl he meets online, takes the entire book to really come to fruition. These characters are patient in their long-distance relationship, and we ourselves must be patient with the story.

Red Dog Farm has quite a bit to say but it isn't too keen on saying it quickly. It isn’t a particularly long piece, but time seems to slow when you read it, and combined with the shortened length of many of the chapters can create a real sense of time passing. Also assisting in this feeling of patience is the Icelandic culture itself. The book frequently brings up Icelandic culture and contrasts itself with others, mentioning loud American tourists or the Jewish Lithuanian culture which Orri is only one generation removed from. When being exposed to things that are new particularly the unfamiliar Icelandic place names and the unfamiliar structure and spelling of Icelandic words, my brain slowed just ever so slightly to process what I was seeing, and I do think that that may be a downside to some. I happened to enjoy it, but it certainly isn’t going to be for everyone.

The burgeoning love story in this book also caught my attention. It felt distinctly realistic. Something that the romance novels that I frequently read fall short on are accurate relationships. Neither Mihan or Orri are without faults, and the distance does really effect their relationship. They struggle at times, and other times they succeed. I really truly didn’t know if they were going to make it as a couple. As I’ve mentioned previously, this book does not shy away from its lessons. Things don’t always go the way they should or the way we want them. Their relationship is one of them. Most of the other cast of characters were also very good. For one, Pabbi felt very mysterious but not in a mystical sense. He is Icelandic and a farmer making him naturally closed off meaning we don’t get s whole ton of information about him very quickly. Amma is Orri’s Jewish grandmother who was born during the Second World War in Lithuania. She is patriotic, but at times really struggles with the relationship she has with her home country. Her daughter, Orri’s mother, also struggles on the trust front. What we see of her as a younger woman is a person who was frequently outcasted and treated worse because of Antisemitism. Both her and her mom approach people who are ignorant about Jewish history completely differently which makes for an interesting dynamic. To finish off I wanted to briefly mention Rykug, the aforementioned red dog. She is an absolute sweety and I really appreciate the way Miller works her in to nearly every chapter or event. Frequently in books involving pets, they can be forgotten and not utilized as much as I would like them to be.

Overall, I think if you are interested in a quiet and comfy read, this book might do you well. If you aren’t necessarily a patient person, I think this could still be a good read for you. My only warnings for this piece would be to one, take your time with this piece and appreciate the views, and maybe avoid this piece if you are sensitive to occasionally severe mental health issues as it is a semi common topic brought up in this novel. This book releases on March 4th of 2025 and I definitely would recommend picking this one up.

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

(free review copy) As a rural resident living in Midwest farm country, I’m ALWAYS up for reading farming books - and this book isn’t just set on a farm, it’s ABOUT farming. And I loved it so much. I really just want to make sure everyone understands, though, that this is ABOUT farming. It’s about cows and mud and shit and hay and tractors. It’s about depression and the incredibly hard life for any farmers trying to make a living. It’s about heritage and coming of age and trying to figure out what the hell you want to do in life.

Oh, and it’s also set in, and about Iceland. It’s really about Iceland too. I was absolutely fascinated by that part of the book, and learned so much about the cultural complexities of the country.

My second book by this author that I loved!

Source: free hardcover copy from publisher

[Madison Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will always be tied to my airplane crush who asked me what I was reading, to which I answered, “A book about an Icelandic cattle farmer.” He asked what the conflict was and I said “I think farming itself is innately conflict.”

I loved this book! I got an early copy from NetGalley but it comes out next week! Farm lit is maybe one of my favorite genres haha (if it is a genre?) I think living in a big city, I often long for a stronger tie to nature and this book writes that so well. It beautifully mirrors relationships with loved ones and relationships with the land and how we are all so very connected even when we might not feel it or want it at times.


“[Amma] said she liked Iceland because you could see troubles coming from very far off, but you couldn’t run from them because there was nowhere to go. You just hunkered against the rock, and while you were down there, hunkering, you admired the moss.”

[Maureen Grigsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read everything by this author!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book kind of disappointed me.😢 I found it interesting at first. Miller conveyed the difficulties and rewards of farming in such a climate as Iceland. There isn't much to it, but the scenery is great, so that should make it all worthwhile, right? Not to Orri's Pabbi. Orri grew up on a little farm that had old, struggling machinery, weak fences, and a red dog named Rykug, who wasn't the typical dog farmers owned on farms in Iceland. But that's what Pabbi was. He wasn't like most farmers and Orri sensed that he didn't like farming much, even though his Pabbi and Mamma sacrificed a lot to get where they were. But to Orri, it was home, and he didn't know how much he loved his home until he took time off from college to help his Pabbi. That's when Orri is taken on a ride of his life to discover who he is, figure out the secrets his parents are harboring, and discover what he wants to do for the rest of his life.

I really wish I could've loved it, but I didn't. It was too wordy and the story dragged on in the middle. I was skimming through descriptions and explanations that hardly seemed necessary. I fully understood from the first five to ten chapters that farming in Iceland is rough. I'm usually a patient reader, so it was weird for me to do this. I'm not docking off stars for swearing, but if you don't fancy that, there's your heads up. But I will say this. Miller is a brilliant writer. The dialogue was engaging, the writing flowed well and was (somewhat) easy to read, and the characters were complex and realistic. I chuckled a few times, smiled when he mentioned Rykug (the red farm dog), and shook my head at Orri when he would fumble his relationship with Mihan.😅🫣 The ending was satisfying, but I wish the rest of the story was as straightforward and quick as the ending and beginning were. Either way, it was a good book and I'm glad I got to learn about Iceland and the realistic and unglamorous life of farmers. But don't take my word for it. Hopefully, you'll enjoy the book more than I did! ☺️

I received an advanced reader copy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Mary McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Growing up on a cattle farm in Iceland, Orri feels that leaving for college will satisfy his search for independence. When he returns home for the holidays, he feels a connection to the farm and the land and decides to stay. As the farm takes a visible toll on his parents, his future is upended. A coming of age story about growing up and wanting a connection- to his family , his love and the land he will fight to keep. Deeply layered characters and a mesmerizing narrative. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.

Due in March 2025

[Jennifer Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One for your Iceland shelf. So well written with both empathy and humor. It’s a character-driven novel about mundane life on a farm and yet it’s hard to put down.

[Kate Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the writing and characters

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because who in their right mind–I’m looking at you, Vikings–would take their first steps onto our steaming black rock and think farmland? from From Red Dog Farm by Nathaniel Ian Miller

I was a fan of Nathaniel Ian Miller’s debut novel The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven and was pleased to be able to read his newest novel, Red Dog Farm.

I learned more than I ever wanted to know about farming in Iceland. Well, I never wanted to know anything about farming in Iceland. And yet, Miller’s vivid and detailed descriptions of haying and calving made me think of James Herriot: somehow it becomes immensely interesting and entertaining, because a master writer who loves his subject is spinning the story.

The main character is Orri, a young man wavering between college and staying on the farm to help his father. He finds joy in the challenge and the beauty of farm life. His mother’s people were Jewish Lithuania refugees. She works in town as a teacher. His father was born on an Icelandic volcanic island.

When Orri finds his soulmate online he is torn: does he finish his education, move to be with her, or stay on the farm he loves?

“But what is youth if not dreaming that you can do something new in this world,” he thinks, full aware that alteration “is written into our rocks and our bones.”

It is a joyous novel, full of love and hope.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nineteen year old Orri leaves university in Reykjavik, called home by his father's need for some help on his family's struggling cattle farm in this compelling coming of age story. A break from university turns into a transformative year, as Orri falls in love, and begins as all young people do to see his parents as fully formed human beings. As his mother's ambitions and father's tragic past become clear to him, Orri finds his purpose. Brilliant at depicting both the harshness of life on an Icelandic cattle farm and its beauty, Miller swept me along in his story to its satisfying conclusion.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent writing; this was interesting to me as I have friends heading to Iceland soon, and I realized I know NOTHING about it…but now I do! The weather, the farms, the geography, the hearty citizens who chose to move there in order to escape from so many worldly issues. Ask me anything…I am a pseudo expert! Well done Mr Miller!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathaniel Ian Miller is a wonderful writer, very descriptive. You feel like you are right there in the harsh, unforgiving Iceland landscape. It’s a novel that will stay with you. And cattle farming….you’ll never feel the same after reading this book.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Dog Farm is a beautiful story of love, connection and hardship. I loved spending time with these characters and I will miss them. I also absolutely loved Ólafur Darri Ólafsson's reading

[Bill Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fine read. Learn about Iceland and farming and cows and people. A good time was had by all.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this understated little book. I’ve been known to complain about lack of plot, but it was absolutely unnecessary for this story. The characterizations were so nuanced, realistic, & well done. Every character was interesting, had depth, & was believable. I loved that the family, even though they each struggled, genuinely cared for each other, as did the other secondary characters. I wouldn’t normally be very interested in farming life … I mean really - cows?? But he made me care or at least recognize why Orri & Pabbi cared.

And finally, from my perspective, the main character, the one that impacted everyone & everything else, was Iceland itself. I found it hard to believe that Mr. Miller is not from Iceland! I’ve been there & found it fascinating, though also quite stark, & that was during the summer. Mr. Miller really brought home what it might be like to manage a farm in such a remote & rugged place. The narrator, an Icelandic & American actor, really added to the experience. I’d highly recommend the audiobook.

[Dragon lisius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una storia bellissima che raccomando soprattutto ai lettori che, come il protagonista Orri, sono in quella fase della vita in cui non sanno bene che pesci pigliare. Hanno solo 20 anni o giú di lí, ma le decisioni che prenderanno adesso determineranno la loro vita. Un libro splendido, intriso di mentalità e cultura islandese fino al midollo, dal finale che ti rimane impresso.

[Dana A. O'Dea · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Hannah Marosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was sweet and reflective and it was way too easy to get attached to the characters. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for an easy read.

[Marta Jonsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story that I won’t forget. The narration is fantastic- read by ólafur Darri ólafsson. His Icelandic accent reading this story is perfection. The author did an incredible job of describing Iceland and the Icelandic people. Our quirks and all. My husband once got a speeding ticket in Iceland. The officer told us to slow down- that it is a beautiful country that should be enjoyed. The same applies to this book.

[Carson Barger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote a longer review but it didn’t save, but there’s a lot going on in this book and it creates a wonderful and amazing journey to embark on. In someways I find a lot of the charm that made Millers first novel Stockholm Sven equally present here. Namely the characters and the setting he presents, but at the same time it’s also a completely different book with its own charms and character. I cannot wait to read this book again

[Margot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A melancholy novel for patient readers who appreciate beautiful prose and realistic descriptions of life in a hostile environment-Iceland.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only want Sven, forever, but Orri is a close second. I loved thinking of him and Pabbi and mammi on the farm - the cows and the ravens and the dog, the neighbors - but felt the love story was a bit unbelievable. Or maybe believable but just a bit annoying. 4.25!

[Angie Boyter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful Icelandic setting and information, enjoyable characters, excellent writing
Narrator Orri is in his first year at the University of Reykjavik, but when he comes home to the family farm for his two-week March holiday, he realizes how overwhelmed his father “Pabbi” is and takes leave from school to help out. His mother is a Lithuanian Jew who teaches at Bifrost University, and it is clear the farm needs her financial support, but Pabbi also needs help just to get the work done. In addition to working around the farm, Orri takes on other projects, like helping his neighbor Runa acclimate to her newly discovered lesbian identity and exploring a romantic attachment for himself.
The people in the book are well developed and believable (as is the dog Rykug), and it was easy to become immersed in following them . After we get a thorough introduction to their lives and their problems, though, the real complications do not arise until about two thirds of the way through the book.
Although the plot did not take off as soon as anticipated, I picked up a LOT of interesting information in this book! Like most Americans, I know little about Iceland, and I really enjoyed learning more about the country’s geography and history and discovering famous people of Icelandic descent, like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. The Prologue to the book gives a beautifully poetic description of “Iceland’s paradox: The very stubborn nature of the place is change itself.” I discovered interesting things like brennivin, Iceland’s national drink. There were very evocative farming descriptions, including a beautifully sad description of killing a cow. I also picked up a new term, “beard”, a fake heterosexual partner for a gay person so that people will think they are straight.
An early reviewer of Red Dog Farm described it as a “deeply moving study of character and place”. I agree completely, and readers who approach the book with this expectation will find a lot to enjoy. If you are looking for a plot-driven read, though, you might want to save this book for another day.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Little Brown and Company.

[Artemisia Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it’s my own Scandinavian roots but I’ve been a fan of Nordic literature for years. Though I wasn’t familiar with this author, I chose his book from my library’s New Fiction section for that reason. Once again, I was not disappointed. Red Dog Farm takes place on a modern day Icelandic cattle farm that feels like something from another era where much of the book centers around the hardscrabble lifestyle of Pabbi and his grown son Orri. This farmer patriarch is a “dying breed” as the expression goes, trying to hold onto something that seems to be slowly slipping from his grasp. Young Orri on the one hand has come to love the life they live, yet on the other yearns for something more. Orri’s mother, called Mamma by first person narrator Orri, is another story. She is a college professor who commutes to the city part of the time, spending the rest of her time on the farm, essentially straddling both worlds. Largely character driven, the novel becomes an interesting study into the shifting complexities of these relationships as the story evolves. The main actors and other supporting characters are all beautifully developed, and the underlying theme of the challenge of blending tradition with modernity is handled with nuance and authenticity, bringing everything together in a thoughtful, balanced way while wisely avoiding any kind of “happily ever after” fantasies. I know I’ll be looking to read Miller’s earlier book The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven and hope that it is just as soulful and captivating as Red Dog Farm.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book so detailed about farming, but I was into it! This book is well written, heartwarming, and has a cast of characters that is just big enough to be interesting but not too big that it becomes overwhelming. The setting was picturesque - I love Iceland and this brought it to life. I learned a whole lot about cows!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to this work. All opinions are my own.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, rambling read about cows, family, and Iceland. What I needed to re-start some non-fanfiction reading with low brain power. Did end on a really strange time skip in the last like 2 pages that seemed unncessary, otherwise, no complaints. The tone was enjoyable, and the book dealt with some serious topics without being too serious about them, if that makes sense.

[Sue Ronnenkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathaniel Ian Miller is a fiction author who continues to amaze me! He writes about subjects that should be painstakingly boring - but they’re not because his writing is so incredibly good. I highly recommend that you check out this author if he’s unknown to you. You just might be amazed too.

[Hayden Harp · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She liked Iceland because you could see troubles coming from very far off, but you couldn’t run from them because there was nowhere to go. You just hunkered against the rock, and while you were down there, hunkering, you admired the moss.”

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 for me. This brought back childhood memories for me of growing up with farm life. The responsibilities, the obligations to the farm animals, the struggles. Very thoughtful about the dedication it takes to have a farm.