Dog War

by Anthony C. Winkler

In a new and highly original take on Jamaican life (on the island and in the United States), Anthony C. Winkler introduces the estimable Precious, a large-bottomed, meltingly juicy Christian Jamaican woman with unshakable ideas on the right and proper behavior for Christian Jamaican women, their husbands, and men and dogs in general.

Anthony Winkler was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1942. He is the author of four previous novels and has been regarded over the past twenty years as one of the country’s most talented voices. He has also written two movies, The Lunatic and The Annihilation of Fish. He now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Genres: Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2006

About the author

Anthony C. Winkler was a successful Jamaican novelist and popular contributor to many post-secondary English literary texts.

See Wikipedia

Reviews

[Tony]

I knew I would get around to reading more of Anthony C. Winkler after having just read his The Lunatic (you may have heard me gush), but I was pleasantly surprised to find this one in my otherwise predictably crappy bookstore.

There's the same considerable earthy humor in this novel. That I nevertheless found profundity in it may be delusional. This is a novel which asks the question: Who is Brutus? (Answer below.)

This is the story of Precious Higginson, a Jamaican woman widowed early on. She might be on the hefty side, or voluptuous in her thinking. And irresistible, too, she believes. Two men, anyhow, would agree, as does one licentious dog. This gets Precious into situations, which are funny the first time you read them. They get repetitive, though, and eventually become slapstick.

(Here's the answer, which will also give you the flavor: She only knew that at forty-seven, even after twenty-eight years of marriage, she would dead before she addressed a penis by a Christian name.)

[Jason Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winkler is still as funny as I remembered back in high school.

However this novel wasn't as good as The Lunatic (the latter being filled with smut and class conscious revolution).

I quite enjoyed Winkler's satire of the idle rich. The irony could not pass unnoticed given the striking contrast between their moral concerns and unjust wealth.

I didn't really care for the exaggerated stereotypes of a rural Jamaican seeing America for the first time -- as it gave the impression that the country is backward and undeveloped.

The emphasis on the protagonist's Christianity really didn't do much for me either -- as it rendered it far too unique for my tastes. After living in America for over 10 years, there are many parallels between southern baptists and rural Christian Jamaicans.

Worth reading. However, Winkler's previous novels are far superior.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winkler is, according to the cover of the book, Jamaica's Mark Twain. Fortunately, the comparison was not off the wall because the book was indeed funny and did indeed cast light on some of the workings of society by showing them from a contrary point of view, ie. Precious, the main character who begins and ends the story in Jamaica but spends some intervening time in Florida. There are several dogs in the story, but the most important one is the property of an American millionaire who hires precious as a "dog maid" to take care of her pampered pooch. The dog takes an immediate liking to Precious, which she finds distasteful, especially when the dogs intentions turn amorous. There's also a humorous Indian chauffer who is looking for his destined bride (name of Beulah) who will hate him and berate him constantly, which in turn will help his karma recover from stealing 5 camels several lifetimes ago. (This character is routinely referred to as a 'Coolie' by Precious, which may have different connotations in Jamaica, but is problematic here.) The arc of the plot is very strange, but was also more like a story someone was telling rather than a standard novel, so I enjoyed that part of it. (Because it stayed pretty interesting, I would have hated it if it got very boring or slow.) Read it if you want to learn some Jamaican colloquialisms (Batty = Butt) or you'd like to read a story told from the POV of a strong-willed, pious Jamaican woman who knows how she wants the world to run and will tell people if they're not running it right.

[Dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very funny book, it made me laugh n laugh. here you will learn about the "too too much man" (a white man trying too hard), a little dog named ricardo who has his own bedroom and leghumper tendancies. precious comes from jamaica to find a new life and instead she becomes the maid to a dog. her 'animal rights' boss insists that the dogs peeing on her foot is a sign of love and acceptance. precious tries to keep her job and her dignity at the same time. but things get to too scary when ricardo decides he has to have the leg of precious and no one else. a dog war ensues. i won't tell you who wins.

[Natalie Dorset · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read.

It is written by a Jamaican man, and the main character is a really vibrant, sassy Jamaican woman.

I would laugh out loud when I was reading it so much that strangers would ask what was I reading.

I don't want to say anything about the plot because the story is just such a refreshing change I'd like to keep it fresh.

Well written, smart, rude, funny as hell. I wish West Indian authors like this had a broader reader base. Yay to Akashic Books for trying to get it done.

[BookOfCinz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious book, a bit over the top at times but that is expected of Winkler. This guy really knows how to write for Caribbean national. Very funny

[Ilze Zelgalve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all A.Winkler’s books. The heartfelt depiction of Jamaica and Jamaicans is what draws me to his style.

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and very provocative, maybe even somewhat disturbing at times

[Kimberly Edwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as funny as the Lunatic, but it has its moments.

[Esa Blume · Rating 4 out of 5]

could not stop laughing at this, it was so entertaining

[Doug Frizzle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great, strange story by irrepressible Winkler.

[Mrs.]

Read this book in two sittings. Laugh out loud funny! I would like to meet Anthony C Winkler in person one day. Somehow I imagine him to be a very entertaining and interesting person lol I will be reading "Lunatic" in the very near future! He has easily won my heart with his writing and I'm a big fan after just two books hehe The man just knows how to write and make you laugh!

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny story in the sense of a story told at the old country store, so some jumping, some not so good transitions, so bawdy and questionable jokes and stereotypes, some morals. if you ever wanted to be scolded by a big, strong jamiacan woman who knows whats best for you and the whole damn world, this is for you. getting ready for winklers new one about spanish exploeres

[Hillingdon Libraries]

Find this book at Hillingdon Libraries

[Tanisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hilarious!Literally laugh out loud anywhere you are.

[Rebecca]

Mentioned in The New Yorker 8/27/07

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny. But some of it was over the top.

[Jscorse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny moments but pretty weak overall.

[Peta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious story about a woman and her dog. Winkler is so funny.

[Barbara Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously funny!

[Melissa Forehand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. Kind of funny. I liked that she started out as a conservative woman taking what other people said as right and then learning how she felt comfortable in the world.