Fifteen Dogs | 
so-soHonestly, should have known as soon as I realized the gods placing the bet were Olympians/of the Ancient Greek pantheon, that this would have a tragic tone. As much as one might expect introducing a human-analogue consciousness into the minds of dogs would at least make things complicated, I think this was the bleakest possible interpretation of the premise. 1/2
Those willows... suspicious. 🤨
Part exculpation from world-building, part segue. Nicely done! 👍🏻
Current reads colour way:
Something about the pairing of black and warm reddy-browns that adds a more solemn touch. Appropriate considering the tone of Fifteen Dogs and the subject matter of The Ghost Script.
That feeling when you get excited about a book review on a Facebook group, and go to add the book to your Want To Read list in Goodreads, only to find that you already added that book to your Want to Read list…in 2015. In my defense, I gave birth to my second child that year, so I was pretty busy.
pickThis is a pretty quick read but there's a lot to think about in this book -- Apollo & Hermes grant human consciousness to a group of dogs and bet on whether they will be more or less happy than humans. It's told from the changing point of view of a few of the dogs and follows what happens from the time they are changed until each of their death.
I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr
Day 59 (Audible edition)
so-soThis book was pretty devastating. It's profound and philosophical but also miserable. At the start it seemed like Battle Royale for Dogs. They might as well have called it 15 dogs die in horrible ways.
So, I would give this one a miss if you love dogs. It's still a 4 star read, full of existential commentary.
Don't let the cute cover fool you though... it hurts more than that episode of Futurama.
I'm about half way through (just under) and so far this is shaping up to be a bit like Battle Royale for dogs!
Would NOT recommend to animal lovers, but is certainly a philosophical work.
I'm determined to finish it even though I'm finding it difficult.
#popsugarreadingchallenge - a book set in a country beginning with C (Canada)
Also #readaroundtheworld for Canada
Not sure what to expect here - the concept is that Apollo and Hermes have a bet on whether a bunch of dogs could be happy after being given human intelligence for a year. Should be interesting, but I am anticipating emotions / existential questions...
#Two4Tuesday
1. Not having any books out on display in your home. I don't know, I just don't get it. How can anyone have NO BOOKS lying around?!
2. The only one I can remember reading is Fifteen Dogs, which I reflect on often. It was brilliantly written and had good, plausible perspective. Anyone with Recs?
Let's get @speljamr @jovy @brittanythebookdragon to join in the game!
@TheSpineView
pickFifteen dogs are given human level awareness and intelligence when 2 gods bet on whether animals could live happily with that level of knowledge.
I found this profound in many ways, and thought provoking. The book follows all 15 through their lives and deaths. I was fond of some of the dogs, others were mean spirited.
An unusual perspective of human nature from the minds of canines.
I love that one of the dogs was a poet.
pickHermes and Apollo grant human consciousness to 15 dogs in this curious and philosophical apologue. It is brutal, with a feel of Lord of the Flies but was certainly an interesting look at the importance of language and awareness. Note there are gruesome dog deaths depicted within. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2020/04/review-fifteen-dogs-by-andre-alexis.htm...
Finally back on track with reading this month. I was mostly concerned with some #readharder2019 catch up. Fifteen Dogs was easily the unexpected winner of my month, but I loved Invisible Women too. Closing the month with a great #indiebuddyreads is a delight as always.
pickThis book gave me Animal Farm, and Lord of the Flies vibes, while remaining something that felt original. the lives of these 15 dogs are brutal and harrowing in both human and animal ways. Alexis is unwavering in his exploration of the weight of human consciousness. This novel asks big questions about the impact of this consciousness on our interpersonal relationships, our notions of happiness and unhappiness, and the pursuit of meaning in life.
A book in which an inanimate object or animal is a point of view character #readharder2019
pickThis is a terrific meditation on being. Alexis does a fantastic job navigating some heady ground yet never straying too far from the canine headspace- or at least the human imaginings of what that headspace might be. Don‘t need to be a dog lover for this one, but it would sure help if you‘re picking it up.
so-soI was lukewarm on this book until about 4/5 of the way in, when I got so touching I actually cried, which doesn‘t happen often for me! It was a slow-burn, but also a fairly short read. It was also quite different from anything I‘ve read before.
pickWhat if fifteen dogs were given human intelligence by the Greek gods Hermes and Apollo?
Interesting idea, though the book contains a lot of vulgarity, meant to replicate the usual concerns of dogs; I don‘t think it was necessary to mention those things so often. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story. It is a short read that leaves you with reflections that last much longer.
Holy crow, I had no idea that this book I picked up at a library book sale was actually a signed copy.
Up next on deck, book 4 of the year. Mikey-Cat wouldn‘t be sleeping so peacefully if he knew what was beside him!
A hot cuppa tea and a good book are #GoodTogether 😁 What's your favourite Sunday morning pairing?
#SeptemberDanes @Cinfhen @Kalalalatja
1. My boys 😁
2. Two at the moment! Tagged, and Heir of Fire.
3. Candy Cupboard, Pick of the Crop, and the Green Bean. None of them exist anymore, but @Melissa_J might know what I'm talking about!
4. Nope. I'm just trying not to buy so many books! Working at the library helps with that 😁
5. Give me all the books!!! What's the use of winning $1M if you can't spend at least some of it on books?
#HumpDayPost @MinDea
My mini bookmail happy Birthday to me arrived while I was out of town for the weekend 😊. I‘m looking forward to all of these. Welcome to my TBR new books 📚😜
Next up! Who‘s read this one?
One of my local book pushers convinced me that my next read should be a book about a wager between Apollo and Hermes that leads to fifteen dogs being granted human intelligence. Wonderful cover design and the book is great so far.
@Blueberry I live-streamed Day Three before work. Holy cats this year is not going how I expected.
pickAn unusual story of 15 dogs given human thinking abilities to evaluate their ultimate happiness or unhappiness. Taking place in Toronto, and knowing the city, it was nice to "follow" the dogs' travels. I listened to this in an audio book and it was narrated by the author which was delightful.
In this novel that I‘ve recently read, the author explores what dogs would be like, if they had the power of human thoughts. And so, fifteen dogs were given human intelligence and consciousness, all started from a bet between two immortal gods, Apollo and Hermes.
#nuyear #calloutthedogs
pickQuite unlike any other I‘ve read. A bet made between two Greek gods on whether human intelligence being granted on animals leads to happiness or misery. Andre tells the story of fifteen dogs with this new-found gift. It‘s interesting to see how some struggle to suppress, others adapt to their newfound ability-communicative power and human consciousness. The story is interspersed with poems composed by one of the dogs! (Cont. ⬇️)
Found another quote for #wonder from my #currentread
A bet between two Greek gods on whether #animals would be happier if given human consciousness. A book with a bold and unusual premise.
#reindeerreads
I went on a bit of a book buying binge this week ?
In my defense, the most expensive book I bought cost $8. And it's signed, and was part of my library's Snowflake Sale. AND some are gifts for fellow Littens.
And in case you're thinking "that's not too big of a pile" - not pictured is the Book Outlet order that is on its way to me. So you can double this stack. ?
? #Emojinov @RealLifeReading
Gods, dogs, and a Giller Prize win - how have I not bought/read this one yet?!?!?!
FIFTEEN
#NovemberbytheNumbers
@Tiffy_Reads @JoeStalksBeck
The premise fascinates me. Has anyone read this? #15 #novemberbythenumbers @JoeStalksBeck @Tiffy_Reads
pickThis was such an interesting concept for a book. I've been meaning to read it ever since it won the Giller Prize in Canada. Darby approves too. #dogsoflitsy
Sitting in a cafe where they have a little library to enjoy while you're having a coffee.
Has anyone read this book? It sounds quite clever.
#andrealexis #fifteendogs
#read #wordsarepowerful #imagine #escape #bibliophile #bookworm #books
so-soTwo gods are in a TO bar. They make a wager. Something about poems humans and intelligent canines could understand. Strange.
pickVery interesting and often emotional read that answers a question we've all asked: what would happen if dogs had human intelligence?
pickIt took a while to get into it, and it was a little violent at times, but I ended up crying about two dogs and well, here we are. Also I'm a day behind on #riotgrams so this is also how I read now that we're in the month of June. Ebook or paperback, I don't discriminate, I love them all.
⚠️animal cruelty/abuse, animal death, SA 10mo