2018 School Spending Survey Report
Spill Simmer Falter Wither
Houghton Harcourt. Mar. 2016. 288p. ISBN 9780544716193. $23; ebk. ISBN 9780544716223. F
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A chance sighting of a flyer in a shop window in an Irish village leads a solitary man to a connection—probably the first one of his life—with a dog at the local pound. The nameless narrator leads a lonely life, isolated by his disabilities and his late father's indifference. Now in his 50s and still alone, he is struck by the picture of a dog missing an eye. Adopting the canine now named "One Eye," the man begins to step outside the narrow confines of his life, taking long walks and drives with his new companion. On one of these outings, a brief, accidental encounter with another dog and owner propels the two friends on a long meandering odyssey around the country as the man finally realizes the depths of his feelings for his first and only true friend.
VERDICT This haunting debut novel by an award-winning Irish short story writer will appeal to readers who don't mind a little darkness in their dog stories. The detailed and almost poetic descriptions of the natural world as the seasons change add an element of enchantment to this lovely story. [See Prepub Alert, 9/28/15; this title was longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award 2015.—Ed.]
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