Three Wild Dogs (and the truth)* by Markus Zusak
The first thing you need to know is that this is a memoir. The second thing you need to know is that it’s the first book I’ve read by Markus Zusak (and it won’t be the last). The third thing you need to know is it’s packed with the kind of beautiful, insightful prose you’d expect in the best novel.
It made me nod my head, laugh out loud, and bawl like a baby.
If you’ve ever owned, loved and lost a pet, this book is for you. Especially dogs (but also cats). Especially big dogs. Especially big, unruly dogs. And, especially, if you’re a novelist who has had big, unruly dogs (which I am).
Zusak loved his big, wild dogs despite (and because of) the chaos they brought to his life – a life of raising two children with his wife, of also owning two fierce cats, of working for 13 years to bring his novel Bridge of Clay to market. He acknowledges that novel isn’t for everyone. And neither are unruly dogs. One line in particular resonated with me…
“… it bears reminding that books, like dogs, owe us nothing. It’s worth it for having done it.”
Read this one. Have your tissue box at the ready. It will be worth it.
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