The Girl with the Dogs

by Anna Funder

The Girl with the Dogs is a poignantly beautiful novella about what's really precious in life, from Miles Franklin Award-winning Anna Funder, author of All That I Am.

Amid the debris of their friends' marriages, Tess and Dan have hit the middle years relatively unscathed. But Tess senses she's at a hinge moment, poised between the life she thought she wanted and the one she long ago decided against. The demands of her Sydney family seem unrelenting: an uneasy teenage daughter, a father who has just been placed in care, the impending sale of her childhood home. Sent to London for a conference, she's unable to resist the pull of that relinquished life. What, she wonders, would it be like now? And might it have suited her better after all?

Deceptively concise, moving, elegant, The Girl with the Dogs was published online in 2014 under the title of Everything Precious.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Australia, Novella, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Novels

80 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2015

About the author

Anna Funder was born in Melbourne in 1966. She has worked as an international lawyer and a radio and television producer. Her book Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall, won the 2004 Samuel Johnson Prize. She lives in Sydney with her husband and family.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tess and Dan were parents to thirteen year old Charlotte and six year old twins, Tom and Lorna – their marriage had survived where some of their friends had been through bitter divorces and worse. Tess’ dad, Howard had recently been put into a nursing home and she was saddened at having to sell the childhood home that brother James and she had grown up in with their parents.

When Tess had to head to London for a work conference, she was tempted into retracing steps she had followed when she was younger – unmarried and unfettered – would it be a better life than the one she had now?

The Girl with the Dogs by Aussie author Anna Funder is a short novella of sweet poignancy. Heartfelt and deceptively simple, this novella shows the uncertainty of middle life where there are sometimes crises, sometimes not. A quick, easy read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.

[zed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice short read that had me looking up a Chekov short story.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could only but enjoy this very quick read. Who of us has not wondered what might have been? What if we'd chosen this path instead of that one?Especially when you've been in a long term relationship. It made me realise too, in spite of it's shortness, that we are not necessarily unique in our experiences.

[Ian Laird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neat ‘what if…’ shortish story playing on the irresistible urge to wonder what might have been if an early romance had blossomed and grown rather than withered and died: the tantalising prospect of ‘another possible life’.

Pleasantly married for 17 years, Tess is comfortable with Dan and the three children they share, when she is reminded of Dan’s long ago first serious yet ‘Completely Not Right’ girlfriend. Tess looks at her life: ‘Whatever the sustaining illusions of her marriage were, they would, like the fragile planks of a bridge over a deepening chasm, not survive her hurtling over them.’ (p4)

But Tess has the opportunity to find out what might have been. She heads across the world to a conference- in the same city as an important retrospective exhibition of the work of her former lover. He was a married Russian expatriate artist; she was then a 21 year old Australian on an extended stay in Capri, earning her way as a dog-walker, which is how they met. A lifetime later they catch each other’s eye at the exhibition and discuss their misunderstanding of who left who. After a time: ‘She leans in and kisses him for a long time. It feels anatomical.’ (p49)
She then returns to her real world: ‘her one and only life.’ (p56)

In my callow youth I often thought it would have been better to pull the plug on a relationship, rather than hanging on too long just to end up staring stupidly at my emotional entrails. But after the one time I ended a relationship, on the Opera House steps, thinking I was doing the right thing by both of us, I have come to wonder, from time to time, what might have been if I had tried harder.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl with the Dog by Anna Funder was a very short read, yet also a very satisfying one. If you are busy and do not have the spare time to invest in a huge novel, or if you want to have a reprieve from long novels, but you still want quality then this is the book for you.

Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

[Anna Spargo-Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love little stories. And I have loved much of Funder's other work. This story, though, lacks almost everything a story needs: the setting is weak, the relationships underdeveloped, the plot rushed. A woman decides she's not happy with her husband (who seems perfectly nice) and briefly side-steps in a way that means nothing. Weird.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gem – an extended short story that has the strengths of poetry – allowing language to yield up meanings beyond the text, enriching the imagination. I read it in an afternoon when I was feeling particularly stressed. It nourished me with its stories of family, love and memory. As all good literature does, it reminds the reader of what is important in life.

[Edd Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is most likely the shortest book I have ever read in my adult age. I do not think books with such length should be filled with heavy content. And that’s a main reason why I liked this book. The compacted story was boxed in enough to get all the details. Yet well rounded, and narrated correctly I believe this book even ended on a good note in which the title implies. Because of this you can guess the intuitiveness of the story as it builds up and you recognize the character Tess the girl with dogs who has other dreams who eventually comes back to earth . Short reading & recommendable but I would say read something a lil longer for enjoyment

[Hannah Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

i liked this, excited to read some bigger bodies of work from anna funder.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little gem of a book, that managed to achieve more in 57 pages than many books do in hundreds. I found it to be a convincing story of a woman working out where she wants to be in her life, written without unnecessary diversions or details. I can see how this could have been turned into a longer novel, but I'm glad the author kept it at this short length. Well worth reading.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sympathize a bit with the reviewers (esp pearl necklace) who are turned off by the the protagonist's demographic and her midlife concerns, but the gotcha scene in the care home was so damn funny that this gets four stars from me.

Generational turn-abouts are in more than fair play here and Funder's depiction of Tess' observations of her milieux feel wryly accurate.

[Annette Chidzey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Penguin Special I have read. Well written and engaging but slightly too brief for me to feel totally satisfied. Ended before I was ready for it to do so . Nevertheless, some poignant moments and images when you felt present and in the situation with Tess.

[Hannah Ianniello · Rating 1 out of 5]

My god. So painful. Boring musings of the upper middle class..."oh, I'll just go to Paris..."

[caffeinated reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the choices that we make.

[Kobi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He looks up and smiles again and in that instant he is a man with no past, who wishes only to love his wife, standing there in front of him."

This book has always sat in my favourite section of my local bookstore. I was always fascinated by the title, but never intended on picking it up. Until the day I had a mere $10 in my pocket, with every other book in that bookstore well and truly over $20, and I decided to pick it up. This book is only 57 pages, so naturally, I assumed it could either be the greatest 57 pages ever or that it would fall completely flat and I'd regret wasting $10 on it. Thankfully, it was engaging and I think it spoke of a valuable topic. What would have come of my life if I had chosen to go down that path? What could have been?

This was a quick read which I'm glad to have read, and I would recommend picking it up if you've got 20 minutes to spare!

[Lisa Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just ok - very short, just a snippet of an idea and I don't think it was explored to its potential.

[Ellen Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - this reminded me of Clare Keegan’s novellas (but Clare is in another league) - taking something ordinary (even mundane) and making it quite touching.

I don’t think this genre is my favourite, but I liked it way more than a Sally Rooney book. The title is misleading though I thought there’d be more fucking dogs.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful short story about mid-life in marriage, parenthood and living. What's left behind, is this enough, who am I and who do I want to be? Some of those endless questions we ask ourselves. A very quick read but very satisfying.

[Ann Single · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I love Anna Funder. If the library had had her shopping list I probably would have borrowed it with expectations of a good read.

[Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an easy, sweet, softly crushing little story. Concise and considered.

[Enie X · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story written 10 years ago still seems not far from the current world. Who knows females could be better at cheating.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need it to be longer!! A bit All Fours by Miranda July-esque.

‘To live with someone for a long time requires an element of fiction- the selective use of facts to craft an ongoing story’

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy from net galley in exchange for an honest review.

Sure I gave this three stars, but they're not the three positive stars I usually give, they're three "meh" kind of stars.

I don't think this was a great piece of short fiction, it was okay, but what I hated, yes, HATED was Tess. I cannot stand adulterous characters, and I can stand even less, characters who accuse without proof. Sure it was only a kiss, but she flew all the way to Europe with the deceitful intention of seeking out an ex whom she had truly loved in her youth, and then got caught out when she got home and only further proceeded to question her husband about her shitty actions.

She says and does a lot of things that she maintains she doesn't want to do or think, but continues to. She's a flawed character with questionable morals who doesn't hold anyone as an equal to herself and seems to be all about appearances.

Horrible characters aside, this is well written, a quick read and a modern story, I still want to read Funder's other work, but I will probably steer clear of her short fiction in future.

[Teena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella, only 57 pages. I'm glad the author didn't expand it into a full length novel since she achieved her purpose succinctly. Perfect for busy people and I am inspired to read other novellas in the Penguin Specials range.
Basic plot - Tess is having a little mid-life crisis, nothing unexpected when you have a teenager and young twins, a professional career, a husband you're not sure you can trust to be faithful and a father whose dementia a an extra burden. Travelling overseas for a conference, Tess decides to track down a former boyfriend, an artist, and has 'what if?' angst.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella tried too hard. To be liked, to be literary, to impress us with the author's offerings of insight.

It read choppy, and any thoughts remained superficial and transitory like a dog's emotions (that was a simile from the book, so you know) as it drags the reader through one poignant remembrance to another.

The character herself was painfully self-aware, her thought processes didn't feel real but rather just a vehicle to dump the author's own polished sentences onto the page.

There was a nicely foreshadowed twist that I didn't see coming, but overall The Girl with the Dogs felt too artificial and pretentious for me.

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really beautifully written, engrossing story of the middle aged version of trying to find oneself.

Tess has a stable marriage, a reasonably pleasant job and a decent life in Sydney, though many of their friends' marriages have not survived. She is wondering about her life and what could have been though, a little, in a not-quite-midlife-crisis way.

In fact the actual events are pretty minimal, the beauty of this little book is the exquisite writing that takes the author on a pensive little journey from inside Tess's head. A little bit of nostalgia, a little bit of might have been, a little bit of self discovery. All beautifully written.

[Wendy Greenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hauntingly written novella about life choices. It is minimalist in every sense - sharp writing conjures up an entire picture of present and past, responsibilities and dreams. Whilst I enjoyed the writing I didn't much like the content and Tess the protagonist whose mid-life wobble seemed unconvincing and indulgent.

[Karys McEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredible short story that captured a very specific and relatable moment in a long-term relationship. As soon as I finished reading, I rushed out and bought three copies to give to friends.

[Kristy 施玮 · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Every woman she knows has a secret list of faults she keeps in her heart, unnecessary and malign. How did it get there?”

“They are at a hinge moment: between youth and age, between the life you thought you wanted and the one you feel might, now suit you better. They are like hermit crabs who outgrow one shell and need to leave it before they are trapped inside, emerging for a moment, shell-less and pink, vulnerable to predators of every stripe.”

“To live with someone for a long time requires an element of fiction— the selective use of facts to craft an ongoing story.”

“A point comes when the cost of retreat seems greater than the dread of annihilation to come. And then a strange, fatalistic quiet kicks in and slows your pulse, giving you strength for the last, calamitous push.”

This novella offers readers an intimate glimpse into the life of Tess, a middle-aged woman juggling the demands of motherhood, the process of selling her childhood home and her prosaic 17-year marriage. As she witnesses the struggles of her friends going through divorces and breakups, Tess finds herself yearning for the passion of her youth and the life she could have had.

I stumbled upon this novella in the library, seeking a single-sitting read, and was intrigued by the blurb and Tess's journey. While reading, I didn't realise it was written by an Australian author until I came across "NSW”, a state in Australia. Funder's writing style exudes a European vibe, likely influenced by her background as an international lawyer with extensive experience living and studying abroad.

The core message of the story emphasises the importance of gratitude for what we already have, despite our innate desire to always seek something better. Tess's desires and actions showcase the complexities of human nature, oscillating between gratitude and a yearning for more. However, I couldn't help but feel disconnected from the story due to its focus on the midlife concerns of a privileged white woman. The novella embodies what may be perceived as clichéd "white people problems" in an Australian context and the entitlements of the upper middle class.

While I appreciate the book's intention to explore the theme of appreciating one's life, I found it challenging to fully connect with the protagonist and the concerns portrayed in the story.

[Debbie Robson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many readers of The Girl with the Dogs, I felt it was just too short. That said, I really enjoyed reading about Tess and Dan and their three children. “Tess has no idea when it began – probably at weaning - but each child has exactly what they want, every single item for breakfast and for lunch.” Another favourite insight into the family is Lorna’s relationship with apples. “Is it Fuji? Lorna has interrogated the crescents on her plate since she was three.” And here’s the teenager. “Charlotte’s uniform is hoiked up to reveal most of her thighs, which are unnaturally dark and mottled from fake tan, and she has painted eyeliner on flamboyantly, like an Italian film star from the 1960s...” We just start, as readers, to settle into the family dynamics when the narrative moves on.
I did enjoy the way the whole chain of events in this short story is set off by a remark about an old flame of Dan’s on Facebook which, of course, gets Tess thinking about her old flame. Mitya was Russian, a painter and living in Capri when Tessa meets him at the age of twenty one. She is backpacking around Europe and finds a job walking dogs, “mostly small ones that spent a lot of time in women’s handbags and under restaurant tables.”
“Of course Dan knows about that relationship, but for him it has receded into prehistory. For her, to speak of it now would be to blow out the private flame, small as a pilot light, of another possible life.” And who of us haven’t been there? Haven’t jumped at the chance to explore the road not taken twenty years before. Which is exactly what Tess does (in the midst of her father slipping away and the family home being sold). I do feel The Girl with the Dogs could have been almost doubled without the narrative and style suffering, because in my opinion it seems an exceedingly short novella. An enjoyable read. Three and a half stars.