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Grey Dog
Grey Dog | Elliott Gish
4 posts | 2 read | 7 to read
A subversive literary horror novel that disrupts the tropes of women's historical fiction with delusions, wild beasts, and the uncontainable power of female rage The year is 1901, and Ada Byrd -- spinster, schoolmarm, amateur naturalist -- accepts a teaching post in isolated Lowry Bridge, grateful for the chance to re-establish herself where no one knows her secrets. She develops friendships with her neighbors, explores the woods with her students, and begins to see a future in this tiny farming community. Her past -- riddled with grief and shame -- has never seemed so far away. But then, Ada begins to witness strange and grisly phenomena: a swarm of dying crickets, a self-mutilating rabbit, a malformed faun. She soon believes that something old and beastly -- which she calls Grey Dog -- is behind these visceral offerings, which both beckon and repel her. As her confusion deepens, her grip on what is real, what is delusion, and what is traumatic memory loosens, and Ada takes on the wildness of the woods, behaving erratically and pushing her newfound friends away. In the end, she is left with one question: What is the real horror? The Grey Dog, the uncontainable power of female rage, or Ada herself?
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review
Anna40
Grey Dog | Elliott Gish
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Mehso-so

1901-1902:Ada is an unmarried woman in her late 20s.She starts teaching in a small remote town after she was removed from her previous school because of an incident.The first half is about Ada settling in&finding a friend/love interest in Agatha.There‘s some back story-her sister,her father,the incident-before things start to get weird.This is marketed as feminist horror.I‘m not sure what it is&what to think which is why I rated it so-so:it‘s gory

Anna40 &disgusting but not really scary.I don‘t really see any feminist liberation from patriarchy in the story… it‘s just really gross. Having said that it is unusual&well written but I have NO clue what to make of the story … (edited) 1mo
32 likes1 comment
blurb
Ruthiella
Grey Dog | Elliott Gish
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#ToBWaiting

Here‘s my six guesses for the 2025 Longlist. I‘ve only picked books that I have not read which are eligible and might make the cut. 🤞

BarbaraBB I read four of those and they are all ToB worthy! I am off now to check out the other two! Thanks for joining! 2mo
Ruthiella @BarbaraBB I would love it if Lennon made the shortlist again. I need an excuse to read more from him! 2mo
BarbaraBB You know I love Lennon and I‘ve read and loved a lot of his backlist these past months but I have read Hard Girls too and was a bit underwhelmed 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2mo
See All 12 Comments
Ruthiella @BarbaraBB I will temper my expectations accordingly! 2mo
BarbaraBB It‘s good but it‘s the most ordinary book I‘ve read by him, if I express myself right. It is a good yet straightforward story. 2mo
squirrelbrain Great choices! I‘ve read 3 of them, but haven‘t heard of Grey Dog…off to investigate! 2mo
Ruthiella @squirrelbrain it was recommended here by @CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian 😀 2mo
squirrelbrain Sounds sufficiently weird / feminist / horror ish for the Tournament! I just posted my list too - see what you think! 2mo
Bookwormjillk Great list. My Friend was one of my most anticipated summer reads but I still have to get to it. 2mo
Ruthiella @Bookwormjillk So many books, so little time! It‘s been on my radar since it was longlisted for the Booker. 2mo
Megabooks So many of these I don‘t know. I think Safekeep has a great shot, and I loved it! 2mo
Ruthiella @Megabooks It‘s the reported Sarah Waters‘ vibes that really make me curious about it! 2mo
48 likes12 comments
review
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
Grey Dog | Elliott Gish
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Pickpick

Ahhh WTF!! This is a very slow-burn queer feminist historical (set in 1901) horror that escalates so smoothly and subtly you don't realize you're in too deep to climb out until it's too late. In the middle of a Venn diagram of Anne of Green Gables fans, raging feminists, queers with lots of longing, and lovers of creepy woodsy nature horror is this book's perfect reader.
(Excuse the dinosaur stickers my kid put on the cover of this book)

32 likes5 stack adds
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CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
Grey Dog | Elliott Gish
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This slow-burn queer feminist historical horror is kind of like a grownup Anne of Green Gables meets The Witch film. Very atmospheric, spooky, full of female rage at patriarchal control and the stifling of women's potential. The writing is great too!

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