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Pup
This is not the story of a hero. So begins the story of one of the most distinctive heroes you'll ever meet. Drafted into a war he barely comprehends with no taste for combat, Pup will find himself thrust into the very center of the conflict. How he affects that conflict, and how this changes him and everyone around him, is the soul of this utterly unique war story.
MP3 CD
First published June 16, 2015
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252 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Slater
28 books3 followersBorn and raised in Tennessee, I've been politely referred to as "imaginative" all of my life. It always depended on who was saying that as to whether or not it was meant as a complement. I was always very talkative, and that usually got me into some trouble at school. It took a while before I learned to pipe down. It isn't that I stopped thinking about all of the things I wanted to say, I just learned to stop saying them. Most of the time.
I started reading a lot of novels in middle school. Some of the first novels that I read were required reading for one of my classes. These included classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Outsiders, and Fahrenheit 451. All of those books had a big impact on me. I still have the copy of The Outsiders that I read in 7th grade. Yes, they had paperback books back then, not stone tablets. The first novel that I chose to read on my own was Day of the Cheetah by Dale Brown. I don't remember how I came across that particular novel, but it was pure action and excitement from beginning to end, and I was hooked. I spent the next few years reading any novel that fell into my area of interest. Unfortunately, that area of interest tended to be rather narrow and consisted of combat aircraft and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Still, there was plenty to read and I went after a lot of it.
Poor eyesight meant that I wouldn't be able to try and fly A-10s like I wanted to, so I made my plans for college. My Freshman English professor was the first to ever compliment my creative writing. He said that I should take whatever opportunities I could to improve on my creativity. College gave me several more opportunities, though rarely as part of a class. Instead, I found myself writing short stories in one notebook while taking notes in another. I still don't understand how I kept that organized. I had some friends that would critique what I was doing, and I fed off of it. It was rather addictive.
Being a husband, father, and teacher takes up most of my time now, and I love it. I wouldn't change it. However, I still try to create as much free time as I can to split amongst my past-times. Those past-times are reenacting and airsoft. No, writing isn't a past-time. It is a part of everything that I do. I write as a teacher. I write as a husband and father. I even write as a reenactor and airsoft player. I stopped talking as much (believe it or not!) so now it gets written instead. A glimpse inside my writing is a glimpse inside my mind. Now tell me that isn't spooky!
I started reading a lot of novels in middle school. Some of the first novels that I read were required reading for one of my classes. These included classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Outsiders, and Fahrenheit 451. All of those books had a big impact on me. I still have the copy of The Outsiders that I read in 7th grade. Yes, they had paperback books back then, not stone tablets. The first novel that I chose to read on my own was Day of the Cheetah by Dale Brown. I don't remember how I came across that particular novel, but it was pure action and excitement from beginning to end, and I was hooked. I spent the next few years reading any novel that fell into my area of interest. Unfortunately, that area of interest tended to be rather narrow and consisted of combat aircraft and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Still, there was plenty to read and I went after a lot of it.
Poor eyesight meant that I wouldn't be able to try and fly A-10s like I wanted to, so I made my plans for college. My Freshman English professor was the first to ever compliment my creative writing. He said that I should take whatever opportunities I could to improve on my creativity. College gave me several more opportunities, though rarely as part of a class. Instead, I found myself writing short stories in one notebook while taking notes in another. I still don't understand how I kept that organized. I had some friends that would critique what I was doing, and I fed off of it. It was rather addictive.
Being a husband, father, and teacher takes up most of my time now, and I love it. I wouldn't change it. However, I still try to create as much free time as I can to split amongst my past-times. Those past-times are reenacting and airsoft. No, writing isn't a past-time. It is a part of everything that I do. I write as a teacher. I write as a husband and father. I even write as a reenactor and airsoft player. I stopped talking as much (believe it or not!) so now it gets written instead. A glimpse inside my writing is a glimpse inside my mind. Now tell me that isn't spooky!
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 17, 2015
Ever read so many books that you lose track?
About a month ago, I saw Christopher Slater's debut novel, Pup, on my Kindle and I started reading it. It grabbed me immediately, but I also had zero recollection of having requested it from NetGalley. It turns out that I didn't request it. I had requested a different book published by The Story Plant, but there was a mix-up with the downloads on Netgalley. I wrote to both NetGalley and The Story Plant to resolve the issue.
I received a very kind email response from Lou Aronica (President and Publisher of The Story Plant), who not only sent me a copy of the story that I should have received, but who approved my request to officially review Pup, since I was already enjoying it so much. It was a happy mix-up. Thanks Lou!
PLOT - Pup is narrated in first person by John Z. Pupulowinazowski (Pup), a college-aged kid who is drafted to fight in the second Korean War, which presumably occurs in our near future. Pup retells his war adventure to his children in a style that's a bit like the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. This is a story of unlikely heroism, dumb luck and unexpected romance.
LIKE- The strongest element of Slater's story is Pup's voice. He is a hilarious commentator of the world around him. It's never explicitly stated, but it's inferred that Pup might be mildly autistic. He is task oriented and lacks the ability to read the social cues of others. His situational "dumb luck" is reminiscent of Forrest Gump. Pup is constantly getting himself into a pickle that he manages to escape in the most unlikely way. It's not realistic, but it works in the realm of this story world.
I enjoyed the transformation of the fellow soldiers, who went from picking on Pup, to valuing his friendship. Pup is such a darn likeable and innocent character ( I mean his nickname is Pup for goodness sakes, who doesn't like puppies?) that the likeablity drives the story. I kept wanting to read to make sure that he would be okay. He has a sweet romance with a Japanese woman named Mayumi, who is only slightly less of a disaster than Pup. It's a perfect match.
DISLIKE- I would have liked more context for the war. There is some background information, when Pup is put on the spot in front of the troops and is asked to explain why he thinks that they're fighting. Still though, I didn't feel like it was enough to satisfy my curiosity. This is a minor complaint in an otherwise wonderful debut.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Pup is such a fun read and I look forward to Slater's next novel. Give this strong debut a spot on your bookshelf.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
About a month ago, I saw Christopher Slater's debut novel, Pup, on my Kindle and I started reading it. It grabbed me immediately, but I also had zero recollection of having requested it from NetGalley. It turns out that I didn't request it. I had requested a different book published by The Story Plant, but there was a mix-up with the downloads on Netgalley. I wrote to both NetGalley and The Story Plant to resolve the issue.
I received a very kind email response from Lou Aronica (President and Publisher of The Story Plant), who not only sent me a copy of the story that I should have received, but who approved my request to officially review Pup, since I was already enjoying it so much. It was a happy mix-up. Thanks Lou!
PLOT - Pup is narrated in first person by John Z. Pupulowinazowski (Pup), a college-aged kid who is drafted to fight in the second Korean War, which presumably occurs in our near future. Pup retells his war adventure to his children in a style that's a bit like the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. This is a story of unlikely heroism, dumb luck and unexpected romance.
LIKE- The strongest element of Slater's story is Pup's voice. He is a hilarious commentator of the world around him. It's never explicitly stated, but it's inferred that Pup might be mildly autistic. He is task oriented and lacks the ability to read the social cues of others. His situational "dumb luck" is reminiscent of Forrest Gump. Pup is constantly getting himself into a pickle that he manages to escape in the most unlikely way. It's not realistic, but it works in the realm of this story world.
I enjoyed the transformation of the fellow soldiers, who went from picking on Pup, to valuing his friendship. Pup is such a darn likeable and innocent character ( I mean his nickname is Pup for goodness sakes, who doesn't like puppies?) that the likeablity drives the story. I kept wanting to read to make sure that he would be okay. He has a sweet romance with a Japanese woman named Mayumi, who is only slightly less of a disaster than Pup. It's a perfect match.
DISLIKE- I would have liked more context for the war. There is some background information, when Pup is put on the spot in front of the troops and is asked to explain why he thinks that they're fighting. Still though, I didn't feel like it was enough to satisfy my curiosity. This is a minor complaint in an otherwise wonderful debut.
RECOMMEND- Yes! Pup is such a fun read and I look forward to Slater's next novel. Give this strong debut a spot on your bookshelf.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
December 6, 2023
This is probably one of the best hidden gems of a book I've ever read. I read it a few years ago, and I always think back to it. I have no idea how I happened upon it, because since then, it's so hard to find it even when specially searching for it. Always recommend this book. It's a good palette cleanser, mix it up, or just easy read. I loved it.
January 22, 2022
Prepare for a light, fun listen about a down on his luck, pessimistic soldier on his first tour in Korea. The inferiority complex causes him to make stupid mistakes, making him appear to others as a bumbling “cherry”. They called him Pup. His self-effacing demeanor and humor were honest and polite. The story chronicles this mild-mannered man coming to terms with the camaraderie, panic, and horror of war. It’s a wonderful story. At times you laugh, at others, you contemplate what Pup is going through, and sympathize. The addition of Mayumi is a bright light in the darkness and pain of war. The characters are amazing, all of them likable. The narration by Brian Hutchison is spot on. Highly recommend.
January 27, 2022
OMGGGGGGGGG CANT BELIVE MY TEACHER IS A AUTHER HEHE..... YES YES VERY GOOD,"WHERE DA PROBLEM AT SPINNING OFF THESE PERKS LIKE A LUNDRY MAT" SAID BY MR. SLATER aka DADDDDDDDDYYY SLATER <3
April 28, 2023
Good at first, but it started to get old fast. What else could the guy mess up? Reminded me of the movie meet the parents crossed with forest gump.
December 26, 2024
Love this book! Would love to read more from this author!
April 27, 2015
Sometimes a great novel can be summed by the extraordinary gift of storytelling by a talented writer. One that simply makes you forget your reading a book, but makes you feel like you stepped into real life. For me, that is simply, Christopher Slater and his novel, PUP: A Novel of Accidental Heroism. He was the winner of the authors first novel contest and after reading this book, you'll know with certainty why it was chosen.
I can say it almost feels like a Forrest Gump story, of a young man PUP who has just graduated high school and has his future set on college. Knowing the Second Korean War has begun along with the draft he feels confident that he will not see combat based on his ability to have someone take one look at him for a likely candidate to be drafted and simply look the other way. But that is not what happens. In fact, PUP finds himself heading toward the South Sea along with many other soldiers who have begun to join the fight, but for the life of him, can't understand why he has been chosen, while many of the others have been chosen based on their ability to bench press most of the weights in a gym, PUP resembles the bar alone. Not to mention that he is prone to motion sickness, and takes just about everything on the market for it. He didn't plan on it making him nauseous and gains him an immediate dislike by a muscle bound soldier who insist that if PUP is going to throw up, he is going to rip off his nose and eat it. He later learns that this man is his squad leader with the nickname Hannibal. Wonder why?
The novel follows the coming of age that PUP will have to endure as he finds himself the FNG on the squad and will have to find ways to make himself useful to those who are on their second and third tours. Thinking he will be assigned to completing paperwork and requisitions, he is assigned infantry duty and soon learns the true meaning of pain when he heads out, fully loaded with no idea of how he will handle what war requires for someone like him. This one is a true trial by fire story of what so many of our young men had to endure on their first enlistments into fighting a war no one wanted to be a part of.
I received PUP: A Novel of Accidental Heroism by Christopher Slater by The Story Plant Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is such a great novel because I feel it has a sense of realism to it that is lacking in many military novels. Like I stated above it feels like a Forrest Gump story of how one unlikely soldier suddenly finds himself an unlikely hero and learns the meaning of what it is to lay down one life for another. There is humor, humility and a sense of growing up too soon when war comes calling that must be experienced by reading this book. For me, it is a 5 out of 5 stars and one I would LOVE to see brought to the big screen. It's the story of one man being in the wrong place at the right time to make a difference in the lives of those he serves with!
I can say it almost feels like a Forrest Gump story, of a young man PUP who has just graduated high school and has his future set on college. Knowing the Second Korean War has begun along with the draft he feels confident that he will not see combat based on his ability to have someone take one look at him for a likely candidate to be drafted and simply look the other way. But that is not what happens. In fact, PUP finds himself heading toward the South Sea along with many other soldiers who have begun to join the fight, but for the life of him, can't understand why he has been chosen, while many of the others have been chosen based on their ability to bench press most of the weights in a gym, PUP resembles the bar alone. Not to mention that he is prone to motion sickness, and takes just about everything on the market for it. He didn't plan on it making him nauseous and gains him an immediate dislike by a muscle bound soldier who insist that if PUP is going to throw up, he is going to rip off his nose and eat it. He later learns that this man is his squad leader with the nickname Hannibal. Wonder why?
The novel follows the coming of age that PUP will have to endure as he finds himself the FNG on the squad and will have to find ways to make himself useful to those who are on their second and third tours. Thinking he will be assigned to completing paperwork and requisitions, he is assigned infantry duty and soon learns the true meaning of pain when he heads out, fully loaded with no idea of how he will handle what war requires for someone like him. This one is a true trial by fire story of what so many of our young men had to endure on their first enlistments into fighting a war no one wanted to be a part of.
I received PUP: A Novel of Accidental Heroism by Christopher Slater by The Story Plant Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is such a great novel because I feel it has a sense of realism to it that is lacking in many military novels. Like I stated above it feels like a Forrest Gump story of how one unlikely soldier suddenly finds himself an unlikely hero and learns the meaning of what it is to lay down one life for another. There is humor, humility and a sense of growing up too soon when war comes calling that must be experienced by reading this book. For me, it is a 5 out of 5 stars and one I would LOVE to see brought to the big screen. It's the story of one man being in the wrong place at the right time to make a difference in the lives of those he serves with!
May 4, 2015
Adorable puppy of a protagonist - naive, clumsy yet smart as a whippet!
In a world where the Second Korean War is a reality, Pup is drafted to the infantry. He may be of serviceable age, but he's not quite what the army is looking for... Witness what happens when he leaves his car keys in his pocket when being transported overseas... Giggle at the method he uses to dispose of a photograph... And just don't try his chat-up lines...
This is a narrator that you instantly connect with - a little like Don Tillman in The Rosie Project, Pup (the nickname he gains on joining the army) is both incredibly intelligent but also insanely, frustratingly incapable. He may have the causes of the War down pat, but can he go five minutes without a mishap occurring? Think again.
Pup talks to us, or rather, his family through his story, so we know from the start he will survive the war. He relates his drafting, training and then his tour of duty. As the new guy, his unit hardly know what to make of him, though as the New Guy, he gets the treatment you would expect from Hollywood movies. His unique skill-set may provide him with a way of coping with and even excelling in certain elements of warfare.
I really don't want to spoil anything by giving details, it's just too funny to read knowing what's going to happen. And while it's funny, there are of course, injuries and deaths - it is war after all. There are some scenes that reminded me of Forrest Gump (and indeed Pup himself has traits that hark back to this famous fictional hero).
Pup makes a superbly entertaining narrator. He KNOWS he's not the average soldier, he KNOWS he can't behave the way others do, but he is also just himself.
His language is endearing. In one scene he tells us about an incident back in school with unselfconscious humour:
"I had just wanted to make certain that my chemistry teacher wasn't exaggerating about how some chemicals reacted with each other... It took a month for my eyebrows to grow back. The chemistry teacher's toupee didn't make it."
He's just brilliant. Even when showing his emotions, his natural charm and humour shines through. On joining the army:
"Not since the time I had gotten lost in the mall had I ever felt so alone. At least at the mall I didn't have people trying to kill me. Not that I knew."
We also get some nicely-rounded characters in Pup's unit, both male and female, and get a glimpse at 'modern' warfare in the contemporary world where this imaginary war (though possibly based on real ones) is taking place. There's even a.. wait for it... love interest!
This may not be a Catch-22 war story, or even the darkly humorous Fobbit, but if you want a Rosie Project meets Forrest Gump, this could be the book you're looking for. Run Pup, run!!
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
In a world where the Second Korean War is a reality, Pup is drafted to the infantry. He may be of serviceable age, but he's not quite what the army is looking for... Witness what happens when he leaves his car keys in his pocket when being transported overseas... Giggle at the method he uses to dispose of a photograph... And just don't try his chat-up lines...
This is a narrator that you instantly connect with - a little like Don Tillman in The Rosie Project, Pup (the nickname he gains on joining the army) is both incredibly intelligent but also insanely, frustratingly incapable. He may have the causes of the War down pat, but can he go five minutes without a mishap occurring? Think again.
Pup talks to us, or rather, his family through his story, so we know from the start he will survive the war. He relates his drafting, training and then his tour of duty. As the new guy, his unit hardly know what to make of him, though as the New Guy, he gets the treatment you would expect from Hollywood movies. His unique skill-set may provide him with a way of coping with and even excelling in certain elements of warfare.
I really don't want to spoil anything by giving details, it's just too funny to read knowing what's going to happen. And while it's funny, there are of course, injuries and deaths - it is war after all. There are some scenes that reminded me of Forrest Gump (and indeed Pup himself has traits that hark back to this famous fictional hero).
Pup makes a superbly entertaining narrator. He KNOWS he's not the average soldier, he KNOWS he can't behave the way others do, but he is also just himself.
His language is endearing. In one scene he tells us about an incident back in school with unselfconscious humour:
"I had just wanted to make certain that my chemistry teacher wasn't exaggerating about how some chemicals reacted with each other... It took a month for my eyebrows to grow back. The chemistry teacher's toupee didn't make it."
He's just brilliant. Even when showing his emotions, his natural charm and humour shines through. On joining the army:
"Not since the time I had gotten lost in the mall had I ever felt so alone. At least at the mall I didn't have people trying to kill me. Not that I knew."
We also get some nicely-rounded characters in Pup's unit, both male and female, and get a glimpse at 'modern' warfare in the contemporary world where this imaginary war (though possibly based on real ones) is taking place. There's even a.. wait for it... love interest!
This may not be a Catch-22 war story, or even the darkly humorous Fobbit, but if you want a Rosie Project meets Forrest Gump, this could be the book you're looking for. Run Pup, run!!
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
June 18, 2015
Pup is a great read written like a comedy movie that would have you laughing for the entire show.
Pros: Pup is written in a way that invites you into his life as a guest you may not understand why he does what he does (and sometimes Pup doesn’t either) but he does his best to make you understand. The book develops the characters well from Pup himself to the mysterious Boom, you will see how they grow throughout the story to become friends who would risk life and limb for each other. The author mixes military action with comedy, romance and even more comedy to make for a good read that you will enjoy throughout.
Cons: My first con with the book was the font, it was written in a font I was not familiar with and it was a little hard for me to read until I got used to it but after a while it got easier. I would actually take off a half star just for the font if this was an option it was so distracting to me when I began the book. The only “writing” con I could find was that some of the comedy is pretty “slap stick” and is like reading an old Chevy Chase routine. Not that it isn’t funny but you have to realize Pup isn’t a normal person so some of the things that happen to him are just a little too crazy sometimes.
All in all I would say Pup is a great read that would be enjoyed by anyone who likes a book about someone who is in over his head every day of his life and still manages to get by. It may even make you feel better about your day, I mean hey, at least you are not Pup.
Pros: Pup is written in a way that invites you into his life as a guest you may not understand why he does what he does (and sometimes Pup doesn’t either) but he does his best to make you understand. The book develops the characters well from Pup himself to the mysterious Boom, you will see how they grow throughout the story to become friends who would risk life and limb for each other. The author mixes military action with comedy, romance and even more comedy to make for a good read that you will enjoy throughout.
Cons: My first con with the book was the font, it was written in a font I was not familiar with and it was a little hard for me to read until I got used to it but after a while it got easier. I would actually take off a half star just for the font if this was an option it was so distracting to me when I began the book. The only “writing” con I could find was that some of the comedy is pretty “slap stick” and is like reading an old Chevy Chase routine. Not that it isn’t funny but you have to realize Pup isn’t a normal person so some of the things that happen to him are just a little too crazy sometimes.
All in all I would say Pup is a great read that would be enjoyed by anyone who likes a book about someone who is in over his head every day of his life and still manages to get by. It may even make you feel better about your day, I mean hey, at least you are not Pup.
October 25, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Pup. It was clever, unique, hilarious and sorrowful! I thought Pup might remind of Gomer Pyle, but it never did. Rather I found myself feeling like his mother, saddened by a fact that he would no longer be my boy, but a man when he returned home.
I loved that the writing seemed self depricating and very tongue in cheek. My favorite part was the airport scene when he first left for Korea. The author depicted a gangly, awkward teenager who seemed to do everything incorrectly and embarrass himself in so doing. However this young man also realized his clumsiness and acjnowledged it. You know the saying, "It is what it is?" This fits a description of this story to a T.
Slater often speaks to Pups children as they are reading this book and I found that to be endearing and all a part of Pup's wonderful personna!
If you like war stories and if you like to laugh out loud while reading, this just might be the book for you to read. I know I'm getting my grandson Noah a copy and I know he will love it as well. After reading Pup, I can thoroughly agree, it earned the win in the AUTHORS FIRST NOVEL CONTEST! Well done Christopher Slater!
I loved that the writing seemed self depricating and very tongue in cheek. My favorite part was the airport scene when he first left for Korea. The author depicted a gangly, awkward teenager who seemed to do everything incorrectly and embarrass himself in so doing. However this young man also realized his clumsiness and acjnowledged it. You know the saying, "It is what it is?" This fits a description of this story to a T.
Slater often speaks to Pups children as they are reading this book and I found that to be endearing and all a part of Pup's wonderful personna!
If you like war stories and if you like to laugh out loud while reading, this just might be the book for you to read. I know I'm getting my grandson Noah a copy and I know he will love it as well. After reading Pup, I can thoroughly agree, it earned the win in the AUTHORS FIRST NOVEL CONTEST! Well done Christopher Slater!
December 13, 2015
I thought that the humour was a bit juvenile at first and I was missing being captivated by a story until halfway through
Then I was gripped and found some real laugh out loud moments.
Pup is a self depreciating character that reminds me of Forest Gump in lots of ways
If you like trying a different type of book then I highly recommend Pup
Then I was gripped and found some real laugh out loud moments.
Pup is a self depreciating character that reminds me of Forest Gump in lots of ways
If you like trying a different type of book then I highly recommend Pup
June 16, 2016
Sorry, did not like it. Was this for teens?
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews