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The Last Family in England
FROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Meet the Hunter family: Adam, Kate, and their children Hal and Charlotte. And Prince, their black Labrador.
Prince is an earnest young dog, striving hard to live up to the tenets of the Labrador Pact (Remain Loyal to Your Human Masters, Serve and Protect Your Family at Any Cost). Other dogs, led by the Springer Spaniels, have revolted. As things in the Hunter family begin to go badly awry - marital breakdown, rowdy teenage parties, attempted suicide - Prince's responsibilities threaten to overwhelm him and he is forced to break the Labrador Pact and take desperate action to save his Family.
Meet the Hunter family: Adam, Kate, and their children Hal and Charlotte. And Prince, their black Labrador.
Prince is an earnest young dog, striving hard to live up to the tenets of the Labrador Pact (Remain Loyal to Your Human Masters, Serve and Protect Your Family at Any Cost). Other dogs, led by the Springer Spaniels, have revolted. As things in the Hunter family begin to go badly awry - marital breakdown, rowdy teenage parties, attempted suicide - Prince's responsibilities threaten to overwhelm him and he is forced to break the Labrador Pact and take desperate action to save his Family.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
235 people are currently reading
7144 people want to read
About the author
Matt Haig
72 books49.8k followersMatt Haig is the author of novels such as The Midnight Library, How to Stop Time, The Humans, The Life Impossible and now The Midnight Train. He has also written books for children, such as A Boy Called Christmas, the memoir Reasons to Stay Alive and also The Comfort Book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 998 reviews
July 30, 2018
Okay, buy why u gotta rip out my heart like that, Matt Haig????
November 16, 2021
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary + Fantasy Elements
This is my second book by Matt Haig. I have read The Humans some time ago and loved it. I didn’t love this as that one but still, it was an interesting read because the main character and narrator is a Labrador dog! This is a small family dog (Prince) in England and feels responsible to protect this family from all kinds of dangers. Prince lives according to the rules set in the Labrador Pact where dogs have of that breed need to be loyal to the family members and protect them no matter what.
I felt really sorry for this dog, from start to end. The thing is that he was living in a family that was falling apart. He had to suffer with them and at times blame himself for their mistakes or do things that he was not proud of just to protect them. The other characters are well written, be it the humans or the other dogs. If you like to read a story about a dysfunctional family with problematic characters who have some serious issues then I think this one might appeal to you.
The ending might break your heart especially if you are an animal lover. There were some scenes that were hard to go through and there are several trigger warnings. Don’t be fooled by the gorgeous cover which implies a fun light story. Although this was still fun to me (It might not be to you), I wouldn’t call it a light story. It has some humorous and light moments but overall it is more serious than I thought it would be. I liked it a lot.
Genre: Contemporary + Fantasy Elements
This is my second book by Matt Haig. I have read The Humans some time ago and loved it. I didn’t love this as that one but still, it was an interesting read because the main character and narrator is a Labrador dog! This is a small family dog (Prince) in England and feels responsible to protect this family from all kinds of dangers. Prince lives according to the rules set in the Labrador Pact where dogs have of that breed need to be loyal to the family members and protect them no matter what.
I felt really sorry for this dog, from start to end. The thing is that he was living in a family that was falling apart. He had to suffer with them and at times blame himself for their mistakes or do things that he was not proud of just to protect them. The other characters are well written, be it the humans or the other dogs. If you like to read a story about a dysfunctional family with problematic characters who have some serious issues then I think this one might appeal to you.
The ending might break your heart especially if you are an animal lover. There were some scenes that were hard to go through and there are several trigger warnings. Don’t be fooled by the gorgeous cover which implies a fun light story. Although this was still fun to me (It might not be to you), I wouldn’t call it a light story. It has some humorous and light moments but overall it is more serious than I thought it would be. I liked it a lot.
January 8, 2009
This interesting book is the second adult novel from Mr. Haig, the author of the excellent and heartbreaking Dead Father's Club. The Labrador Pact is told exclusively from the point of view of a labrador named Prince, and the book details Prince's efforts to save his human family from being broken up by the forces of the outside world.
The entire book is a kind of extended (but loose) retelling of some of the main issues presented in Shakespeare's history plays. As with Dead Father's Club's reworking of the issues presented in "Hamlet," the Labrador Pact is not a strict interpretation of Shakespeare's histories. Rather, Mr. Haig somewhat ingeniously distills the essence of what is at stake in those plays into a modern storyline. At the same time, Mr. Haig does not fail to give copious hints of what he's about throughout the text, from the sprinkling of Shakespeare quotes to the naming of major characters after those in the plays.
In an offhand, almost sly way the book deals with such themes as the sanctity of the family unit, the meaning of love, the meaning of commitment, the question of duty and, most importantly, whether any of us really have the power to fully protect those that we love.
Like all good authors who deal with serious issues, Mr. Haig does not, of course, fully answer any of these questions. But the entertaining, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking exploration of these issues was a joy to read.
The entire book is a kind of extended (but loose) retelling of some of the main issues presented in Shakespeare's history plays. As with Dead Father's Club's reworking of the issues presented in "Hamlet," the Labrador Pact is not a strict interpretation of Shakespeare's histories. Rather, Mr. Haig somewhat ingeniously distills the essence of what is at stake in those plays into a modern storyline. At the same time, Mr. Haig does not fail to give copious hints of what he's about throughout the text, from the sprinkling of Shakespeare quotes to the naming of major characters after those in the plays.
In an offhand, almost sly way the book deals with such themes as the sanctity of the family unit, the meaning of love, the meaning of commitment, the question of duty and, most importantly, whether any of us really have the power to fully protect those that we love.
Like all good authors who deal with serious issues, Mr. Haig does not, of course, fully answer any of these questions. But the entertaining, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking exploration of these issues was a joy to read.
July 20, 2022
I thought I was going to love it as it's about a dog's perspective and by Matt Haig but by the end of it I was glad it was over. Didn't make an impact on me as I thought it would.
June 7, 2018
I wasn't sure when I started this and realised it was written from the dog's point of view if I'd like the book but it turned out to be quite a sweet tale full of twists and turns.
Even though the book is humorous it does cover a lot of more serious events such as the breakdown of a marriage, death and suicide. I really enjoyed the way these were written and covered.
It's a quick read, short chapters that turn really easily. It's not the most highbrow of books (thank heavens) but it does pass an enjoyable few hours.
Free arc from netgalley
Even though the book is humorous it does cover a lot of more serious events such as the breakdown of a marriage, death and suicide. I really enjoyed the way these were written and covered.
It's a quick read, short chapters that turn really easily. It's not the most highbrow of books (thank heavens) but it does pass an enjoyable few hours.
Free arc from netgalley
March 26, 2016
3.5 stars - It was really good.
The book opens with the narrator, a Labrador named Prince, preparing to be euthanized. I was incredibly close to DNF'ing the book right then and there, but I'm thankful I stuck with it. Prince tells the story of how he came to be on death row, which was a result of following the "Labrador Pact", which is what he abides by to protect and keep his human family together.
Fans of Shakespeare will appreciate the nod to Henry IV which is mirrored in the relationship between Prince and his pleasure seeking friend, Falstaff.
I enjoyed hearing the story through a dog's eyes (and nose of course). The author used this interesting perspective to examine relationships, loyalty, duty, honor and the binds that tie families together in a wry and endearing manner.
-------------------------------------------
Favorite Quote: Whereas dogs can learn to suppress their instincts, for humans there is no hope.
First Sentence: Dogs like to talk.
The book opens with the narrator, a Labrador named Prince, preparing to be euthanized. I was incredibly close to DNF'ing the book right then and there, but I'm thankful I stuck with it. Prince tells the story of how he came to be on death row, which was a result of following the "Labrador Pact", which is what he abides by to protect and keep his human family together.
Fans of Shakespeare will appreciate the nod to Henry IV which is mirrored in the relationship between Prince and his pleasure seeking friend, Falstaff.
I enjoyed hearing the story through a dog's eyes (and nose of course). The author used this interesting perspective to examine relationships, loyalty, duty, honor and the binds that tie families together in a wry and endearing manner.
-------------------------------------------
Favorite Quote: Whereas dogs can learn to suppress their instincts, for humans there is no hope.
First Sentence: Dogs like to talk.
June 8, 2018
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Astute observation of a family with secrets - bloody bleak ending though.
I enjoyed this book, as I enjoy most of Matt Haig's stuff - though I had a few reservations about it. However, overall, it was a clever concept, excellently executed (as always).
Prince is a labrador who is dedicated to the labrador pact - protecting the family above all else. He lives with Adam, Kate, Hal and Charlotte - a seemingly idyllic family who have quite a few secrets. As betrayal, depression and self-loathing start to take over, Prince finds it increasingly difficult to hold them all together.
The situation worsens when Simon, Adam's old friend and best-man, turns up - along with his pretty young wife. Temptation proves too strong for some family members, and Prince's final desperate act to protect the family ends in a fairly hideous manner...
Initially, when I realised the entire book was from the perspective of a dog, I thought it was a bit gimmicky. However, Haig's straightforward, non-pretentious style of writing meant that it didn't veer into over-cleverness - so for the most part, it worked well.
There were many lovely 'doggy' details that added authenticity too - such as getting high off of inhaling the 'smell pile' in the park, and each dog breed having its own personality.
As ever though, the strongest aspect was the characterisation. The family are richly depicted, their emotions explored thoroughly, and their little foibles illustrated to perfection. From teenage Hal's pain when he gets busted for having a party in his parent's absence, to Adam's embarrassing middle-aged fantasy about a younger woman - it's all beautifully relateable, which makes the book much more convincing to read.
However, I did have a few reservations. The ending was a tad over-dramatic, but to be fair, I didn't see it coming. As for the very end itself, god it was depressing! I kind of appreciate why Haig ended it like that - but jeez, it could have been handled a little less bleakly. The take-home message seemed to be 'humanity is screwed whatever you do, so don't bother trying to ever do anything nice for anybody.' As you can probably tell, I wasn't in love with it - and felt it jarred with the relatively upbeat tone of the rest of the book.
But all in all, this was a good read. He's a great writer!
Astute observation of a family with secrets - bloody bleak ending though.
I enjoyed this book, as I enjoy most of Matt Haig's stuff - though I had a few reservations about it. However, overall, it was a clever concept, excellently executed (as always).
Prince is a labrador who is dedicated to the labrador pact - protecting the family above all else. He lives with Adam, Kate, Hal and Charlotte - a seemingly idyllic family who have quite a few secrets. As betrayal, depression and self-loathing start to take over, Prince finds it increasingly difficult to hold them all together.
The situation worsens when Simon, Adam's old friend and best-man, turns up - along with his pretty young wife. Temptation proves too strong for some family members, and Prince's final desperate act to protect the family ends in a fairly hideous manner...
Initially, when I realised the entire book was from the perspective of a dog, I thought it was a bit gimmicky. However, Haig's straightforward, non-pretentious style of writing meant that it didn't veer into over-cleverness - so for the most part, it worked well.
There were many lovely 'doggy' details that added authenticity too - such as getting high off of inhaling the 'smell pile' in the park, and each dog breed having its own personality.
As ever though, the strongest aspect was the characterisation. The family are richly depicted, their emotions explored thoroughly, and their little foibles illustrated to perfection. From teenage Hal's pain when he gets busted for having a party in his parent's absence, to Adam's embarrassing middle-aged fantasy about a younger woman - it's all beautifully relateable, which makes the book much more convincing to read.
However, I did have a few reservations. The ending was a tad over-dramatic, but to be fair, I didn't see it coming. As for the very end itself, god it was depressing! I kind of appreciate why Haig ended it like that - but jeez, it could have been handled a little less bleakly. The take-home message seemed to be 'humanity is screwed whatever you do, so don't bother trying to ever do anything nice for anybody.' As you can probably tell, I wasn't in love with it - and felt it jarred with the relatively upbeat tone of the rest of the book.
But all in all, this was a good read. He's a great writer!
June 14, 2024
4 Stars for The Labrador Pact (audiobook) by Matt Haig read by Simon Jones.
I had no idea that Labradors were working so hard to help keep families together and safe. Every new family should definitely get a Labrador to help protect them. They’re the unsung heroes of our world.
I had no idea that Labradors were working so hard to help keep families together and safe. Every new family should definitely get a Labrador to help protect them. They’re the unsung heroes of our world.
July 4, 2018
What a totally brilliant audiobook that I loved even though it was quite a sad story.
Prince the family's Labrador has one purpose in his life and that is to keep his family safe and happy.
The story is told through the eyes of a dog trying to keep his family together.
I needed tissues for this one. Highly recommended.
Prince the family's Labrador has one purpose in his life and that is to keep his family safe and happy.
The story is told through the eyes of a dog trying to keep his family together.
I needed tissues for this one. Highly recommended.
January 7, 2009
Warning, dog lovers, do not read this one!
This book begins with Prince, a black labrador, being taken to the vet to be put down for vicious behavior.
Labradors are, in the book, the only breed that still keep the Pact, which says that the family always comes first. Apparently, Prince's totally screwed up family put him in a situation where, in order to help them, he did something that appeared vicious, and now dogs know he's broken the Pact.
While he's at the vet's waiting to be euthanized, he tells us the story... and I'm thinking that, of course, there will be a big revelation at the end, and Prince will be saved and proven right.
Then I got worried. Am I going to spend the next couple of days reading this book, then get furious at the end when Prince dies?
So I took a peek at the last page. Prince is still euthanized. Which totally sucks, and I tossed the book straight back in the book bag. NOT READING! Just glad I risked it, because otherwise I'd have owed the library for a new book.
This book begins with Prince, a black labrador, being taken to the vet to be put down for vicious behavior.
Labradors are, in the book, the only breed that still keep the Pact, which says that the family always comes first. Apparently, Prince's totally screwed up family put him in a situation where, in order to help them, he did something that appeared vicious, and now dogs know he's broken the Pact.
While he's at the vet's waiting to be euthanized, he tells us the story... and I'm thinking that, of course, there will be a big revelation at the end, and Prince will be saved and proven right.
Then I got worried. Am I going to spend the next couple of days reading this book, then get furious at the end when Prince dies?
So I took a peek at the last page. Prince is still euthanized. Which totally sucks, and I tossed the book straight back in the book bag. NOT READING! Just glad I risked it, because otherwise I'd have owed the library for a new book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2024
That was a really interesting perspective but it was depressing as hell!
I have 2 cats and it really made me wonder what they think all day.
I have 2 cats and it really made me wonder what they think all day.
October 8, 2024
Das Ende hat eigentlich gar keine Sterne verdient und hat mich stinksauer gemacht. Verstehe die Entscheidung der Charaktere absolut nicht, das war völlig überflüssig und hat dem Buch auch nicht mehr Sinn oder Inhalt gegeben 🤬
February 13, 2019
A dark book. Too depressing to recommend. Much preferred some of his other books ( loved The Humans)
January 15, 2020
I really don’t know what to make out of this. Who is the target audience here? Is it supposed to be a charming lil bedtime story? A heartfelt family drama? I’m really lost. Am I overthinking it too much?
The entire story is told through a Labrador’s perspective - all cute and that, but this is not a children’s book. It’s too dark for that: it has attempted suicide, a real suicide, lots of fucking (author’s words), bloodshed, violence, murder, drug misuse, broken relationships, cheating, etc.
On the other hand, there’s also plenty of cheap melodrama, EastEnders-style - family secrets from the past, a young woman seducing a married man, and what not.
I must say, Matt Haig really did manage to squeeze in A LOT in just about 300 pages. And what I’ve mentioned so far doesn’t even concern the main storyline.
Is there a main storyline, though? Prince, the family labrador, is trying to keep everyone together through the limited abilities and means of communication that he has, while constantly looking for advice from fellow labrador Henry, who seems old and wise enough to play the role of mentor.
The book starts off lightly, amusingly even, but it quickly descends into some really messed up territory as pointed out above - all the while preaching about a dog’s duty to keep his masters happy and his family together. No matter the price.
It’s a quick read, but the story is very incoherent and inconsistent. Were it a children’s book (which by all indications it should’ve been), I wouldn’t have had any issues with that. But given its grim turn of events, it just seems very chaotic and unfinished. The poor excuse for a tragic ending will probably have a reverse effect on some.
The entire story is told through a Labrador’s perspective - all cute and that, but this is not a children’s book. It’s too dark for that: it has attempted suicide, a real suicide, lots of fucking (author’s words), bloodshed, violence, murder, drug misuse, broken relationships, cheating, etc.
On the other hand, there’s also plenty of cheap melodrama, EastEnders-style - family secrets from the past, a young woman seducing a married man, and what not.
I must say, Matt Haig really did manage to squeeze in A LOT in just about 300 pages. And what I’ve mentioned so far doesn’t even concern the main storyline.
Is there a main storyline, though? Prince, the family labrador, is trying to keep everyone together through the limited abilities and means of communication that he has, while constantly looking for advice from fellow labrador Henry, who seems old and wise enough to play the role of mentor.
The book starts off lightly, amusingly even, but it quickly descends into some really messed up territory as pointed out above - all the while preaching about a dog’s duty to keep his masters happy and his family together. No matter the price.
It’s a quick read, but the story is very incoherent and inconsistent. Were it a children’s book (which by all indications it should’ve been), I wouldn’t have had any issues with that. But given its grim turn of events, it just seems very chaotic and unfinished. The poor excuse for a tragic ending will probably have a reverse effect on some.
August 11, 2025
So much happened in this book and nothing seemed to really make sense. It felt like it was too many big plotlines that were mashed together poorly. The short chapters read quickly, but also make it difficult, in my opinion, to actually get into the story.
The suicide attempt seemed crammed in there. She just came back home and everything went on like before? It also seems strange to me how hard they went on Hal after the party after their daughter literally almost took her own life like a week ago. Kate seemed completely out of character during that fight.
The sex scene after Simon's death... Strange. You just see a friend of yours crash to his death in a horrible way, but now it's all good because of this?
Every big thing that happened seemed so inconsequential, nobody seemed really affected or bothered.
All in all, there was too much going on for the story to grab me, specifically the last 100 pages. To me the end didn't even match the first 2/3rds of the book. Besides, the characters felt flat. I did not connect to any of them. I know the main character is Prince, but I also feel like he was very one dimensional. I did feel sad in the end, but that was mostly just because animals dying is always sad.
In conclusion, it was a quick read but not a particularly good one.
Unfortunately, I don't think I can give it more than 1 star.
Ps: the short part about Charlotte going into adulthood and Adam not knowing where to grab her felt super odd to me. Just give her a hug my man, she's your daughter...
The suicide attempt seemed crammed in there. She just came back home and everything went on like before? It also seems strange to me how hard they went on Hal after the party after their daughter literally almost took her own life like a week ago. Kate seemed completely out of character during that fight.
The sex scene after Simon's death... Strange. You just see a friend of yours crash to his death in a horrible way, but now it's all good because of this?
Every big thing that happened seemed so inconsequential, nobody seemed really affected or bothered.
All in all, there was too much going on for the story to grab me, specifically the last 100 pages. To me the end didn't even match the first 2/3rds of the book. Besides, the characters felt flat. I did not connect to any of them. I know the main character is Prince, but I also feel like he was very one dimensional. I did feel sad in the end, but that was mostly just because animals dying is always sad.
In conclusion, it was a quick read but not a particularly good one.
Unfortunately, I don't think I can give it more than 1 star.
Ps: the short part about Charlotte going into adulthood and Adam not knowing where to grab her felt super odd to me. Just give her a hug my man, she's your daughter...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2012
Although I gave this book four stars it is not because I "really liked it." The book was written from a dog's perspective. And it was very well done. That alone deserves a lot of credit, to write an entire novel from dog POV and have it work beautifully and not come out like a joke is very difficult. The plot and story flowed gracefully towards the conclusion, not heavy handed at all. Overall a very well-written tight novel.
But having finished the story I feel depressed. Everything was so dark, the message that the world is beyond hope and there is nothing you can do to stop things falling apart was hammered into me like nails in a coffin. Also, it made me miss my Leto puppy.
A beautiful but immensely sad story. For anyone who has ever had a dog companion, I think would if not enjoy would find this story thought provoking, though I cannot say that it will not depress, for I believe it should depress anyone who picks it up.
But having finished the story I feel depressed. Everything was so dark, the message that the world is beyond hope and there is nothing you can do to stop things falling apart was hammered into me like nails in a coffin. Also, it made me miss my Leto puppy.
A beautiful but immensely sad story. For anyone who has ever had a dog companion, I think would if not enjoy would find this story thought provoking, though I cannot say that it will not depress, for I believe it should depress anyone who picks it up.
May 29, 2018
I thought How To Stop Time was outstandingly good and I also enjoyed The Dead Fathers Club very much, but I'm afraid The Last Family In England didn't really do much for me.
The book is narrated by Prince, a Labrador who lives by the Labrador Code of Duty Before Pleasure and protecting his (human) family at all costs. These tenets are challenged as other breeds undermine them and his family suffers emotional problems and comes under threat. It's a good idea, which is loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV plays, and Matt Haig's humanity, compassion and insight are all there as he explores ideas of duty, responsibility, sacrifice and how far we can rely on faith and received wisdom.
Given all this, I'm not exactly sure why the book didn’t quite work for me. Partly it's having a dog as narrator; I didn’t really find Prince's voice convincing - and I certainly wasn't convinced by the family cat, either. If even Kipling couldn't pull off a book in a dog's voice (even this admirer of Kipling's writing would strongly advise avoiding Thy Servant A Dog) it must be very difficult indeed. Also, I somehow didn’t find the outsider's perspective on the family persuasive, although it's something that Haig does brilliantly in other books. Whatever it was, I found myself surprisingly unengaged.
There is a lot that is good about the book so it may well be worth a try if you like Matt Haig's work, but I can only give this a very qualified recommendation.
(My thanks to Canongate Books for an ARC via NetGalley.)
The book is narrated by Prince, a Labrador who lives by the Labrador Code of Duty Before Pleasure and protecting his (human) family at all costs. These tenets are challenged as other breeds undermine them and his family suffers emotional problems and comes under threat. It's a good idea, which is loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV plays, and Matt Haig's humanity, compassion and insight are all there as he explores ideas of duty, responsibility, sacrifice and how far we can rely on faith and received wisdom.
Given all this, I'm not exactly sure why the book didn’t quite work for me. Partly it's having a dog as narrator; I didn’t really find Prince's voice convincing - and I certainly wasn't convinced by the family cat, either. If even Kipling couldn't pull off a book in a dog's voice (even this admirer of Kipling's writing would strongly advise avoiding Thy Servant A Dog) it must be very difficult indeed. Also, I somehow didn’t find the outsider's perspective on the family persuasive, although it's something that Haig does brilliantly in other books. Whatever it was, I found myself surprisingly unengaged.
There is a lot that is good about the book so it may well be worth a try if you like Matt Haig's work, but I can only give this a very qualified recommendation.
(My thanks to Canongate Books for an ARC via NetGalley.)
February 1, 2022
The labrador pact is told from the point of view of a labrador named Prince, the purpose of this dog is to keep his family happy and safe. The story begins with Prince who is being taken to the vet to be put down to sleep for having a " moment of bad behavior", Prince begins to tell the story of his family and how he got to that point of behaving the way he did.
First of all, I love Matt Haig this is my fourth book by him and I love to recommend his books, this one, in particular, the author creates many questions about loyalty, faith, and doing what is right even if it's wrong.
Saying this, I do not recommend this book to anyone who has pets or has suffered the loss of one, the book is very depressing and it is horrible to relive what it feels like to lose one. In conclusion, animals should not pay for the acts of human beings.
Obviously, I love this author and I will read all of his books but I will never reread this one.
First of all, I love Matt Haig this is my fourth book by him and I love to recommend his books, this one, in particular, the author creates many questions about loyalty, faith, and doing what is right even if it's wrong.
Saying this, I do not recommend this book to anyone who has pets or has suffered the loss of one, the book is very depressing and it is horrible to relive what it feels like to lose one. In conclusion, animals should not pay for the acts of human beings.
Obviously, I love this author and I will read all of his books but I will never reread this one.
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January 7, 2021What. The. Fuckery.
The Humans is one of my favourite books and for the first 2/3's of this book it was sitting at a 3.5 or 4 star rating. Then towards the end so many things were clumsily forced into the ending and it just ruined it for me.
*spoilers*
Honestly, I loved so much about this book. I knew the suicide was coming and I felt like it gave dimension to the book as it was discussed and not just used for shock value. But that doggy style sex scene? nooo. The double murder? The affair? The baby from the affair? Then putting the dog down? Just too many things crammed into such a short space and far too late.
I truly have no idea how to rate this because part of it is a 4 and part of it is a 1.
The Humans is one of my favourite books and for the first 2/3's of this book it was sitting at a 3.5 or 4 star rating. Then towards the end so many things were clumsily forced into the ending and it just ruined it for me.
*spoilers*
Honestly, I loved so much about this book. I knew the suicide was coming and I felt like it gave dimension to the book as it was discussed and not just used for shock value. But that doggy style sex scene? nooo. The double murder? The affair? The baby from the affair? Then putting the dog down? Just too many things crammed into such a short space and far too late.
I truly have no idea how to rate this because part of it is a 4 and part of it is a 1.
August 8, 2023
Just No. I don't want to spoil this, but if you reaally love animals, you won't enjoy this book.
I really expected better from Matt Haig, and it doesn't mean that just because you want to include some lessons, you can do this. This novel had a strong start, I liked that we're seeing a normal family drama from the dog's perspective, especially a protective Labrador who follows what he calls "The Labradaor Pact" to protect his family. but then the events turned too bizarre, and that last chapter made me feel so sick.
I really expected better from Matt Haig, and it doesn't mean that just because you want to include some lessons, you can do this. This novel had a strong start, I liked that we're seeing a normal family drama from the dog's perspective, especially a protective Labrador who follows what he calls "The Labradaor Pact" to protect his family. but then the events turned too bizarre, and that last chapter made me feel so sick.
June 16, 2016
This book was so emotional! I loved it. It's about the unswerving loyalty of the main protagonist, Prince, a Labrador. It was great how comedy was mixed into the sadness, following the labrador pact and the different dog stereotypes. All a bit crazy but heart warming and enjoyable. This book does contain some upsetting topics though and it doesn't end hopefully, but Matt Haig's writing is entertaining and great and I loved it.
January 7, 2026
Downgrading this to 2 stars after thinking about it.
I read this because I enjoyed Humans by Matt Haig and thought I’d give his second adult novel a go.
Told from the narrative perspective of a family’s dog, this seemed like it was going to be a wholesome and interestingly nuanced look at family life in England.
What this actually turned into was a harrowing and traumatic look at family life, and literally everything possible horrendous that could be squeezed into a short novel.
Like seriously, things go from bad to worse and it left me just feeling deflated and like I’d lost hope with people.
The ending was horrible, and I found I had to force myself to keep reading at points. Every character is a shit.
Not a fan of “this makes me feel like crap” books.
Soz.
2.0/5.0
I read this because I enjoyed Humans by Matt Haig and thought I’d give his second adult novel a go.
Told from the narrative perspective of a family’s dog, this seemed like it was going to be a wholesome and interestingly nuanced look at family life in England.
What this actually turned into was a harrowing and traumatic look at family life, and literally everything possible horrendous that could be squeezed into a short novel.
Like seriously, things go from bad to worse and it left me just feeling deflated and like I’d lost hope with people.
The ending was horrible, and I found I had to force myself to keep reading at points. Every character is a shit.
Not a fan of “this makes me feel like crap” books.
Soz.
2.0/5.0
July 17, 2021
2.5/5
Volim ga, ali ovo nije bilo najbolje.
Volim ga, ali ovo nije bilo najbolje.
July 3, 2021
I initially struggled with this book because of the sensitive nature of it (no spoiler here, we are told on page three that the dog is going to die) until I realized that the entire story alludes to Shakespeare's history plays, especially Henry IV, which should have been obvious since the page after the dedication has a Shakespeare quote on it. So, before I can delve into the Shakespearean comparison, here is a brief plot summary: the main protagonist is a Labrador named Prince, who is the pet of Adam and his wife Kate and their two teenaged children, and the book is told from Prince's point of view. There is an ancient law of dogs that Prince follows, called the Labrador Pact, that essentially means the purpose of the dog is to protect the family from falling apart when struggles arise. This pact has been poo-pooed by most other breeds as nonsense, especially the Springer Spaniels of the world. Prince finds that his family is threatened by some new neighbors (Simon and Emily) and he winds up breaking the pact (by acting out in violence) to protect them which leads to his ultimate demise. Reading the book as this being the only story and point, I would have to pan it because it is heartbreaking, and the end gets weird and creepy, but when I realized what the author was doing, so I have to praise it because Matt Haig is brilliant.
So the dog Prince is Prince Harry in the Shakespearean play. Like Harry, he has two mentors: Henry, an older Labrador and his admitted mentor, who guides him in the most serious and proper ways of the pact; and Falstaff (yes named exactly like Falstaff in the play) a springer (pet to Simon and Emily), who is actually mentoring Prince though Prince won't take any of his advice. Falstaff is ever the rapscallion, running around like a knucklehead, distracting Prince with the allure of the "smell-heap" which sends all of his senses reeling and clouding his proper decision making, and being the basic comic relief. Prince is the conduit through which the reader passes through the drama of the human issues (infidelity, robbery, attempted suicide) and the comedy of the dog world of sniffing crotches and slipping leashes and running aimlessly.
The smell-heap that Falstaff (ever the drunkard in the tavern in the play) is sticking his nose in is 100% a metaphor for a human drug-induced fog, which runs parallel to Adam's teenaged son, Hal (which is Prince Harry's nickname) is convinced against his better judgment by a friend to partake in a drunken fiasco. The long running theme of this book as well as the play is one of honor. The Labrador Pact is an overarching set of guidelines of self sacrifice to protect the family, one that is seen played out in Prince's actions, Hal's actions, Adam's actions, and Kate's actions. This theme versus the theme of rebellion, as played out by Falstaff, Henry, and Simon and Emily. What are the consequences of keeping the pact; what are the consequences of rebelling against it? The readers can draw their own conclusions as the ending plays out in a makeshift Battle of Shrewsbury in the concluding chapters. There are other small tidbits that point to the Shakespearean references such as the Rottweiler named Lear, who is just as brutal as the play is; Emily is always consulting the skies for constellations and signs of what's to come; and Hal is always reading, quoting, and going to see Shakespeare. I know that there are probably lots of other things that I have missed, or maybe I have read too much into this book because after all, who can stand to read a book where the dog dies- let alone all the sensitive issues the humans endure?? I mean really, this Shakespearean dissection may all be just a defense mechanism on my part.
I don't know if you should read this book, I don't know how sensitive you are. But, I do know that it is interesting, it made me think, the characters are well done, and it is all well-written. I have read two other Matt Haig books and truly enjoyed them, and while I didn't necessarily enjoy this book, I certainly could not put it down either. My favorite quote comes on page 150 when Prince is explaining why he likes to dig and smell the smells that explain everything, that he would fantasize about digging "until I could fully understand. Until all the smells made sense. Because if you got far enough down, I thought, you would be able to smell the truth. And then I would have been able to stop. To stop digging holes." What a metaphor for human psychology.
So the dog Prince is Prince Harry in the Shakespearean play. Like Harry, he has two mentors: Henry, an older Labrador and his admitted mentor, who guides him in the most serious and proper ways of the pact; and Falstaff (yes named exactly like Falstaff in the play) a springer (pet to Simon and Emily), who is actually mentoring Prince though Prince won't take any of his advice. Falstaff is ever the rapscallion, running around like a knucklehead, distracting Prince with the allure of the "smell-heap" which sends all of his senses reeling and clouding his proper decision making, and being the basic comic relief. Prince is the conduit through which the reader passes through the drama of the human issues (infidelity, robbery, attempted suicide) and the comedy of the dog world of sniffing crotches and slipping leashes and running aimlessly.
The smell-heap that Falstaff (ever the drunkard in the tavern in the play) is sticking his nose in is 100% a metaphor for a human drug-induced fog, which runs parallel to Adam's teenaged son, Hal (which is Prince Harry's nickname) is convinced against his better judgment by a friend to partake in a drunken fiasco. The long running theme of this book as well as the play is one of honor. The Labrador Pact is an overarching set of guidelines of self sacrifice to protect the family, one that is seen played out in Prince's actions, Hal's actions, Adam's actions, and Kate's actions. This theme versus the theme of rebellion, as played out by Falstaff, Henry, and Simon and Emily. What are the consequences of keeping the pact; what are the consequences of rebelling against it? The readers can draw their own conclusions as the ending plays out in a makeshift Battle of Shrewsbury in the concluding chapters. There are other small tidbits that point to the Shakespearean references such as the Rottweiler named Lear, who is just as brutal as the play is; Emily is always consulting the skies for constellations and signs of what's to come; and Hal is always reading, quoting, and going to see Shakespeare. I know that there are probably lots of other things that I have missed, or maybe I have read too much into this book because after all, who can stand to read a book where the dog dies- let alone all the sensitive issues the humans endure?? I mean really, this Shakespearean dissection may all be just a defense mechanism on my part.
I don't know if you should read this book, I don't know how sensitive you are. But, I do know that it is interesting, it made me think, the characters are well done, and it is all well-written. I have read two other Matt Haig books and truly enjoyed them, and while I didn't necessarily enjoy this book, I certainly could not put it down either. My favorite quote comes on page 150 when Prince is explaining why he likes to dig and smell the smells that explain everything, that he would fantasize about digging "until I could fully understand. Until all the smells made sense. Because if you got far enough down, I thought, you would be able to smell the truth. And then I would have been able to stop. To stop digging holes." What a metaphor for human psychology.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2015
So far this year I've read books where the protagonist has been a chimp, a zombie and an alien. In this book, the protagonist is a dog - a Labrador. The entire book is narrated by Prince, pet dog of The Family. It tells the story of how Labradors must follow the Labrador Pact in order to protect the family who they serve. All dogs understand human language and are constantly trying to communicate this understanding with their masters. This book raises many questions about faith, loyalty and obedience. What are the lengths we will go to when driven by blind faith? Can an act that is so wrong be right if it is done for the right reasons? Is a life without a belief system, a meaningless, hedonistic one, and if so, is that ok? As with Matt Haig's previous book that I recently finished, The Humans, this book delves deeply into the human psyche and really makes me question how much we know about ourselves as a species. I liked it a lot but was not as moved by it as I was by 'The Humans' which I thought was just an exceptional book. I like Matt Haig's style of writing. You get a sense that he has thought a lot about human nature and what motivates people to act the way they do. He has an affection for we strange things called humans and expresses our vulnerabilities in a humorous and realistic way. I definitely want to read more of what he writes.
June 4, 2018
Sweet and sad. A must for dog owners.
April 15, 2021
Took a while to get into. Very weird book
March 2, 2021
Između 2 i 3.
Počeću tako što ću reći da je ovo jedan od najdepresivnijih krajeva koji sam čitala skoro. I to ne u nekom mazohistički-dobrom smislu. Ovaj kraj ostavlja onako ružan, pomalo odvratan osećaj.
Lomila sam se oko ocene. Nekako, tokom gotovo celog romana ja sam živela u iluziji da će se sve završiti kako treba. Međutim, hah, ne da nisam očekivala da će se ovoliko, pa, mogu slobodno reći odvratnih stvari nanizati jedna za drugom i da će se roman samo završiti. Bez obzira na to što bih početku romana dala neku četvorku i što se ta ocena vrlo naglo obrušila tek na samom kraju, zaista ne mogu da odagnam taj osećaj. Sve što sam pročitala do tad bilo je bukvalno ukaljano u tih 50ak stranica.
Nije da sam ja neko ko se toliko trigeruje na određene stvari, ali zaista nisam očekivala niti želela tako nešto. Naprotiv, ja sam ovde došla u uverenju da će ovo biti happy dog book. Pft. Čak ni neke stvari u vezi životinja koje ne bih želela da konzumiram u medijima nisu predstavljale toliki problem, jer mi je ovde prvenstveno iščašen prikaz životinja.
Elem, kolko god da sam se nadala da će biti jedna zabavna knjižica koja se brzo čita, ispada da je tačan samo taj drugi deo.
Možda je ocena i mogla biti veća zbog te prve trećine knjige. Ali jednostavno ne mogu oprostiti neke stvari.
Ukoliko pišete knjigu iz perspektive psa, molim vas, on mora biti GOOD BOY! Tačka.
Počeću tako što ću reći da je ovo jedan od najdepresivnijih krajeva koji sam čitala skoro. I to ne u nekom mazohistički-dobrom smislu. Ovaj kraj ostavlja onako ružan, pomalo odvratan osećaj.
Lomila sam se oko ocene. Nekako, tokom gotovo celog romana ja sam živela u iluziji da će se sve završiti kako treba. Međutim, hah, ne da nisam očekivala da će se ovoliko, pa, mogu slobodno reći odvratnih stvari nanizati jedna za drugom i da će se roman samo završiti. Bez obzira na to što bih početku romana dala neku četvorku i što se ta ocena vrlo naglo obrušila tek na samom kraju, zaista ne mogu da odagnam taj osećaj. Sve što sam pročitala do tad bilo je bukvalno ukaljano u tih 50ak stranica.
Nije da sam ja neko ko se toliko trigeruje na određene stvari, ali zaista nisam očekivala niti želela tako nešto. Naprotiv, ja sam ovde došla u uverenju da će ovo biti happy dog book. Pft. Čak ni neke stvari u vezi životinja koje ne bih želela da konzumiram u medijima nisu predstavljale toliki problem, jer mi je ovde prvenstveno iščašen prikaz životinja.
Elem, kolko god da sam se nadala da će biti jedna zabavna knjižica koja se brzo čita, ispada da je tačan samo taj drugi deo.
Možda je ocena i mogla biti veća zbog te prve trećine knjige. Ali jednostavno ne mogu oprostiti neke stvari.
Ukoliko pišete knjigu iz perspektive psa, molim vas, on mora biti GOOD BOY! Tačka.
September 20, 2025
I like Matt Haig but I'm giving this one THE CHOP. It's kind of a weird book for me; it's weird reading humans having sex from a dog's perspective, and it's really one of those books you can't easily recommend to someone, especially if you have a dog/a person who loves dog.
August 21, 2017
I really had no idea what to expect from this book, it was simply sitting with the returns at the library and looked vaguely interesting. Plus I follow Haig on twitter despite having read only one of his books, The Radleys. So I picked this up.
It is such a good book. But there is something in it that may put off some readers, I’ve even seen a review on Goodreads where someone rated it 1 stars because of this event, yet they didn’t read the whole book. But it is a spoiler, so I don’t want to give it away..
I loved it, even though it is terribly sad. You can get a good feel for it by reading the first few pages.
It is a story about one dog and his family, and the things he will do to keep them safe. For that is a Labrador’s purpose you see, to protect the family and as long as he lives up to his obligations, everything is in a Labrador’s control. He simply needs to find the correct way to help them. He has that power. But it is also a heavy responsibility, and one that Prince, our narrator, feels lies heavy on him. Especially since the new neighbours moved in and Adam, his owner, is soon spending more and more time with Emily.
It is such an unusual book. All about modern life and relationships, as well as families and how they manage to survive, sometimes how they break apart. But it also has a whodunnit mystery in the middle of it, as well as asking questions about what we expect of our dogs.
I also recognised the name Falstaff as being a Shakespeare reference, and one of the children is called Hal, but I never read or studied those plays so I’m afraid I have no frame of reference ((I’m “like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie”)) for whatever allusions Haig was making there.
As I may have said earlier, I really enjoyed this one, and I’d urge you to give it a go. I’m certainly going to read more by Haig, and soon.
It is such a good book. But there is something in it that may put off some readers, I’ve even seen a review on Goodreads where someone rated it 1 stars because of this event, yet they didn’t read the whole book. But it is a spoiler, so I don’t want to give it away..
I loved it, even though it is terribly sad. You can get a good feel for it by reading the first few pages.
It is a story about one dog and his family, and the things he will do to keep them safe. For that is a Labrador’s purpose you see, to protect the family and as long as he lives up to his obligations, everything is in a Labrador’s control. He simply needs to find the correct way to help them. He has that power. But it is also a heavy responsibility, and one that Prince, our narrator, feels lies heavy on him. Especially since the new neighbours moved in and Adam, his owner, is soon spending more and more time with Emily.
It is such an unusual book. All about modern life and relationships, as well as families and how they manage to survive, sometimes how they break apart. But it also has a whodunnit mystery in the middle of it, as well as asking questions about what we expect of our dogs.
I also recognised the name Falstaff as being a Shakespeare reference, and one of the children is called Hal, but I never read or studied those plays so I’m afraid I have no frame of reference ((I’m “like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie”)) for whatever allusions Haig was making there.
As I may have said earlier, I really enjoyed this one, and I’d urge you to give it a go. I’m certainly going to read more by Haig, and soon.
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