What do you think?
Rate this book
Lucky Dog: A Novel
Dave Bartok is not having the best of years. His mother has just died, he is an addicted poker player, and (hugely in debt), his real estate business is sinking, and he doesn't really like his longtime girlfriend. When he gets saddled with an abandoned dog, he doesn't think things can get worse. And then Reg the dog starts talking --and only Dave can hear him.
At first Dave thinks he's gone crazy, but he soon realizes he's found his soul mate. Dave and Reg start off on a madcap adventure that will find them tangled up with the mob, involved in an illegal real estate deal, cleaning up at the poker table, and stumbling toward true love.
The wisdom of Reg the
On couches being chewable because they are actually sausages
"It's got a skin, it's got stuffing, what am I not getting here?"
On entering a dangerous establishment
"Actually, I've changed my mind. There's no atmosphere so menacing it can't be banished by a ham sandwich."
On Dave's awful girlfriend
"She wants so to be pack leader. She acts as if she's in control when you're there, you defer to her all the time. Would it not be better if she were allowed to go and form her own pack?"
On neckties
"Every time you put it on you end up going somewhere you don't want to. That's what I call a leash."
At first Dave thinks he's gone crazy, but he soon realizes he's found his soul mate. Dave and Reg start off on a madcap adventure that will find them tangled up with the mob, involved in an illegal real estate deal, cleaning up at the poker table, and stumbling toward true love.
The wisdom of Reg the
On couches being chewable because they are actually sausages
"It's got a skin, it's got stuffing, what am I not getting here?"
On entering a dangerous establishment
"Actually, I've changed my mind. There's no atmosphere so menacing it can't be banished by a ham sandwich."
On Dave's awful girlfriend
"She wants so to be pack leader. She acts as if she's in control when you're there, you defer to her all the time. Would it not be better if she were allowed to go and form her own pack?"
On neckties
"Every time you put it on you end up going somewhere you don't want to. That's what I call a leash."
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2006
5 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Mark Barrowcliffe
14 books25 followersAka M.D. Lachlan.
He grew up in Coventry and studied at the University of Sussex. He worked as a journalist and also as a stand-up comedian before he started writing his first novel, Girlfriend 44. He lives and writes in Brighton, England and South Cambridgeshire. Ron Howard secured the film rights for Girlfriend 44 and Infidelity for First Time Fathers is in development with 2929.
Barrowcliffe achieved early success in the late 1990s as part of the Lad Lit movement, although his writing has little in common with other writers who were bracketed under that heading. He is nearer to Terry Southern, Jonathan Coe and Martin Amis than he is to Nick Hornby or Mike Gayle.This is more than likely a matter of presentation, as most of the British versions of his novels have appeared in the candy-coloured covers favoured by lad and chick lit publishers.
Barrowcliffe's early work was noted for its cynicism and black humour, although Lucky Dog strikes a lighter tone, that of comedic magic realism.
At his best Barrowcliffe can be irreverent and very funny. Rugby, for instance, is described as 'a game invented by the English public schools in order to encourage homosexuality'. Of a woman who has had a tough time and put on weight, he says 'her life had hit the crash barriers and it looked as though an air bag had gone off inside her face'. He is also insightful. Lucky Dog, for instance, says a lot about how we cope with death, our own and those of the people we love.
Sometimes, though, particularly in his first novel Girlfriend 44, Barrowcliffe can be long winded in his comic diversions.
The Elfish Gene is a memoir of growing up uncool, confused, and obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons and other role-playing games.
Barrowcliffe is certainly one of Britain's more original and interesting new writers but it remains to be seen if he can survive being labelled as part of the Lad Lit fad.
He grew up in Coventry and studied at the University of Sussex. He worked as a journalist and also as a stand-up comedian before he started writing his first novel, Girlfriend 44. He lives and writes in Brighton, England and South Cambridgeshire. Ron Howard secured the film rights for Girlfriend 44 and Infidelity for First Time Fathers is in development with 2929.
Barrowcliffe achieved early success in the late 1990s as part of the Lad Lit movement, although his writing has little in common with other writers who were bracketed under that heading. He is nearer to Terry Southern, Jonathan Coe and Martin Amis than he is to Nick Hornby or Mike Gayle.This is more than likely a matter of presentation, as most of the British versions of his novels have appeared in the candy-coloured covers favoured by lad and chick lit publishers.
Barrowcliffe's early work was noted for its cynicism and black humour, although Lucky Dog strikes a lighter tone, that of comedic magic realism.
At his best Barrowcliffe can be irreverent and very funny. Rugby, for instance, is described as 'a game invented by the English public schools in order to encourage homosexuality'. Of a woman who has had a tough time and put on weight, he says 'her life had hit the crash barriers and it looked as though an air bag had gone off inside her face'. He is also insightful. Lucky Dog, for instance, says a lot about how we cope with death, our own and those of the people we love.
Sometimes, though, particularly in his first novel Girlfriend 44, Barrowcliffe can be long winded in his comic diversions.
The Elfish Gene is a memoir of growing up uncool, confused, and obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons and other role-playing games.
Barrowcliffe is certainly one of Britain's more original and interesting new writers but it remains to be seen if he can survive being labelled as part of the Lad Lit fad.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 30, 2009
Picked this up on a book exchange on a cruise, and spent a lot of time embarrassing myself by laughing out loud on airline flights. If you like Brit humor with a plot, or enjoy books like 'Skinny Dip' (Carl Hiaasen) I think you'll like it.
I learned that I want to read more by this author.
I learned that I want to read more by this author.
January 16, 2010
I love the idea of the talking dog Reg. Oh, how I wish I could have conversations with mine. sigh..........
Anyway, the book was good, however, it takes place in England and as I'm not as worldly as I'd like it was difficult to follow. I didn't understand alot of the jargon. I had to concentrate more to understand what was being said. Otherwise, good book.
Anyway, the book was good, however, it takes place in England and as I'm not as worldly as I'd like it was difficult to follow. I didn't understand alot of the jargon. I had to concentrate more to understand what was being said. Otherwise, good book.
December 21, 2015
My absolute favorite book... I highly recommend it, especially to dog lovers.
August 28, 2018
If you like humour and own a dog, this really is the book for you! From start to finish I had a smile on my face - no tongue hanging out or scratching my ears though. Reading this will make you laugh and see your dog in a different light - especially when you take them out in the car.
Putting this on here now makes me want to read it again...
Putting this on here now makes me want to read it again...
December 16, 2017
I liked it. The dog didn't die in the end. But it did carry on a bit long.
January 8, 2019
I read this first when I was a teenager and I’ve read it several times since and every single time I actually laugh out loud. It’s a hilarious and lighthearted book and it’s one of my favourites.
July 26, 2020
Talking dogs and British humor not my cup of tea.
December 19, 2012
I needed a bit of light relief after the last two, rather heavy books and I definately came to the right place.
Dave is in his thirties, fancies a girl at work - lucy, but is living with the harder nosed lydsey who bosses him about a bit. He is an estate agent and a poker player.
One day at work, he is nearly the victim of a swindle - but Dave is too nice to want to take advantage of other people so he doesnt fall for him. It involves a Dog, called Reg, who Dave realises that he can hear what it is saying.
This is the bit of the book that you are either going to accept and get on with it or think is utterly stupid and the book deserves no more of you attention.
It has to be said that some of the comments by Reg are hilarious and he talks in a rediculously posh voice that works really well.
Dave gets the dog when one of the crooks collapses in his office. There is also a purse, which he returns to its owner who wants him to sell her estate when she dies.
He gets involved with some dodgy poker players who want to rip off the old lady's estate by paying significantly under the odds for it. He is eventually forced into doing this by the pressure applied by lyndsey.
Things go well - he gets the dream house - his ability to talk to the dog helps him win poker games because he can use the dog to recognise when someone is bluffing - but you know that it is all going to come crashing down around his ears. This happens when the old ladies daughter, who happens to be a top property lawyer, comes back from Australia.
Anyway - the story is a bit of nonsense. You read to the book to make you smile and this works really well. There are funny episodes on every page and the conversations with the dog are laugh out loud funny.
Some nice relief from the last couple of serious books that I have read.
Dave is in his thirties, fancies a girl at work - lucy, but is living with the harder nosed lydsey who bosses him about a bit. He is an estate agent and a poker player.
One day at work, he is nearly the victim of a swindle - but Dave is too nice to want to take advantage of other people so he doesnt fall for him. It involves a Dog, called Reg, who Dave realises that he can hear what it is saying.
This is the bit of the book that you are either going to accept and get on with it or think is utterly stupid and the book deserves no more of you attention.
It has to be said that some of the comments by Reg are hilarious and he talks in a rediculously posh voice that works really well.
Dave gets the dog when one of the crooks collapses in his office. There is also a purse, which he returns to its owner who wants him to sell her estate when she dies.
He gets involved with some dodgy poker players who want to rip off the old lady's estate by paying significantly under the odds for it. He is eventually forced into doing this by the pressure applied by lyndsey.
Things go well - he gets the dream house - his ability to talk to the dog helps him win poker games because he can use the dog to recognise when someone is bluffing - but you know that it is all going to come crashing down around his ears. This happens when the old ladies daughter, who happens to be a top property lawyer, comes back from Australia.
Anyway - the story is a bit of nonsense. You read to the book to make you smile and this works really well. There are funny episodes on every page and the conversations with the dog are laugh out loud funny.
Some nice relief from the last couple of serious books that I have read.
June 15, 2013
I had such mixed feelings about this book when I first started reading it. I immediately loved the idea of it, a man being able to hear a dog talking to him, but at the beginning of the book I honestly could not stand the writing. I'm assuming it's because he's from England and some of their "slang" is just not what I'm used to hearing... But it took me some willpower to make sure I kept hanging on and trying to keep reading. Which, in all honesty, I'm very glad that I did. This book had so many hidden meanings beneath the humor of the talking dog, Reg. Dave, your main guy, has some issues. He's bored with his long time girlfriend, flirty with his office assistant, and a major poker addict. And not a very good poker addict, sadly. I'm not going to spoil anything, but one of the main themes I caught on to pretty quickly was that of how someone you're dating and you feel like has your best interests at heart, doesn't always. Dave's girlfriend literally expects him to give up everything he loves and desires to make her happy. And you know, she's not just changing his hobbies, she's trying to completely change who he is. It's just not right. If you're trying to change someone's hobbies a little, that's understandable. But completely making them change their ways is just unfair and unhealthy. You immediately fall in love with Reg and his "oldschool" way of talking to Dave. You also slowly start to like Dave.. It takes awhile to get completely into this book. But once you do, you can't put it down.
August 18, 2018
I read this 15 years ago, but by the time I added it to my Goodreads list, I couldn't really remember how much I enjoyed it. It was still on my bookshelf, rather than having been put in the bin so I gave it 4 stars, giving it the benefit of the doubt. Trying to reduce the books on my shelf, I thought I would give it a quick re-read before binning it.
It was okay I guess, though 3 stars at most rather than 4. The humour felt a bit forced this time around, and I don't remember feeling the main character was a bit of an idiot quite so much last time. This either means that the book has aged badly or that I have; I would put my money on the latter and the fact I'm just grumpier these days.
Also, they author talks about poker a lot in the book but doesn't have much of a clue. I play a lot and no-one is betting the house on trips, against a table full of people, especially when there is a pair on the board. Also, getting beaten by full-house all the time? really doesn't happen much; why not a straight or flush to make it more believable? Mmmm, getting wound up by the reality of the poker play in a book about a talking dog.... as I said, grumpy old man.
It was okay I guess, though 3 stars at most rather than 4. The humour felt a bit forced this time around, and I don't remember feeling the main character was a bit of an idiot quite so much last time. This either means that the book has aged badly or that I have; I would put my money on the latter and the fact I'm just grumpier these days.
Also, they author talks about poker a lot in the book but doesn't have much of a clue. I play a lot and no-one is betting the house on trips, against a table full of people, especially when there is a pair on the board. Also, getting beaten by full-house all the time? really doesn't happen much; why not a straight or flush to make it more believable? Mmmm, getting wound up by the reality of the poker play in a book about a talking dog.... as I said, grumpy old man.
July 12, 2019
I love, love, love this book. My only complaint is that Barrowcliffe hasn't written more like it. Or a sequel. Or something. I've read the book two or three times (something I NEVER do). Every time I pick it up to glance at a page, I'm stuck for an hour because I can't put it down. I read constantly, about a hundred a year, though I've never counted, and this is THE best. Someone said it's good for fans of Carl Hiassen...I totally agree with that. I've read all of his books Did I mention that I really like this book...not too subtle?
February 1, 2009
Great brit lit novel. I loved Reg. I think this would make an excellent movie, requisite happy ending and all.
I think it may have been hard for me to get into at first because of the male point of view. Most of the brit lit I've read to date (Shopaholic, Bridget Jones, etc) is all chick lit as well. But it was funny and fairly decently paced. Most enjoyable overall.
I think it may have been hard for me to get into at first because of the male point of view. Most of the brit lit I've read to date (Shopaholic, Bridget Jones, etc) is all chick lit as well. But it was funny and fairly decently paced. Most enjoyable overall.
June 13, 2009
Hesitant to read this at first after reading the blurb on the cover, but found it to be an entertaining read. Found the main character to be lacking in character but hopefully after all the mishaps and very poor decisions his future was brighter. Loved the talking dog. Would like to see a movie made of this story.
January 4, 2009
I was not as impressed with this book as I had hoped to be. There were actually a few times that I almost just stopped reading it, but I continued on.
I wasn't bad, I just found the main character kind of pathetic, with no other characters that I really liked either, other than Reg, the dog.
I wasn't bad, I just found the main character kind of pathetic, with no other characters that I really liked either, other than Reg, the dog.
July 13, 2015
A book about a talking dog? How ridiculous! But this is so entertaining that suspension of disbelief is a given as I reach for a new biscuit from the biscuit tin. I'll read this again every couple of years, and it never fails to amuse me. Now, if only I could find my own talking dog...
April 28, 2008
Took a bit to adjust to the off-beat writing style, but I was hooked about 100 pages in. Reg the dog definitely steals the show.
June 8, 2009
At times I got pretty annoyed at the main character because of his obviously bad decisions or lack of decisions. The dog was great.
August 31, 2009
The story actually was boring and uninteresting. Since it takes place in England, some of the vernacular was unknown to me. But the insights from the dog are hilarious, totally worth reading!
August 13, 2010
Cute fun read.
August 7, 2011
really cute, made me laugh out loud at parts! the dog is so funny!
January 7, 2015
When I first started to read this book I thought that it would be interesting but once I started to read it I lost interest really fast.
June 28, 2015
A cute and humorous story that gives a whole new perspective on dogs as man's best friend.
Read
October 24, 2016I stopped at page 9....this book was boring.
August 29, 2008
Fun read for dog lovers.
Read
December 18, 2012Very British but somewhat amusing. Too much focus on poker for my liking.
Read
November 1, 2018Best Book I Ever Read. Loved it so much I bought the book
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews