Tender and satiric, hilarious and humane, Dogwalker plunks readers down in a land of misfits and the circumstantially strange–where on...
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Oct 16, 2010
Fusako
rated it: 
この短編集のどれをとっても、とりとめのない話なんだけど、なぜか惹かれる。なんだろ、この感じは。
Dogs が特によかった。同じようなことを昔々まじめに書いたのが、「南総里見八犬伝」で、ふざけて書くとこんなになる、みたいな。どっちもエンターテイメントだけど。
たとえば、久しぶりに遠方の友人に会ったとする。枕を並べて語り合おうということになって、やがてお互い近況を話しつくして、もう寝ようとしても頭が冴えて眠れない。じゃあなんか話してよ、作り話でいいからさ――それで始まったのがこれらの話。
悪意のない、おもしろうて、やがて哀しき、ヨタ話。
ますます頭が冴えて眠れない。友人がそれらを語りつくしたころには、夜がしらじらと明けている。
おもしろかったよ、アーサーくん。 More...
Dogs が特によかった。同じようなことを昔々まじめに書いたのが、「南総里見八犬伝」で、ふざけて書くとこんなになる、みたいな。どっちもエンターテイメントだけど。
たとえば、久しぶりに遠方の友人に会ったとする。枕を並べて語り合おうということになって、やがてお互い近況を話しつくして、もう寝ようとしても頭が冴えて眠れない。じゃあなんか話してよ、作り話でいいからさ――それで始まったのがこれらの話。
悪意のない、おもしろうて、やがて哀しき、ヨタ話。
ますます頭が冴えて眠れない。友人がそれらを語りつくしたころには、夜がしらじらと明けている。
おもしろかったよ、アーサーくん。 More...
Jul 01, 2010
Lindsay
rated it: 
The short stories in this collection are so weird and surreal that I couldn't help but fall completely in love with them. Most, but not all, involve dogs in some way, whether deformed, half human, talking, or whatnot. A lot of the stories don't seem to have any obvious point, but the detail, dialogue, and quirky plots more than make up for that fact. Some of my favorite stories include "Mollusks," about a man who finds a giant slug and thinks it will bring him great fortune, "The
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Mar 27, 2011
Noah
rated it:
Just reread this - really liked it. I ended up reading the whole thing in a day; I think the stories are best when together as a whole piece. I'd like to spend some more time thinking about the narrator...not sure what it is that I like so much about it, but there's something, beneath all the weirdness, that's really yearning and tender. There's a certain amoral quality to the narrator - though maybe that's not right, but there's a certain removed observance of things that anyone else would have
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Dec 31, 2010
Allan
rated it:
Due to some fault within myself, I was predisposed to not enjoy Dogwalker. Maybe whimsy in grown men seems embarrassing to me. For whatever reason, Arthur Bradford was forced to win over my skepticism, and it happened. I was pleased to meet him through his stories; these deceptively light narratives beguiled my intellect with their discipline and tightness. My emotional life, however, remained mostly untouched. Emotional life may be overrated.
Apr 24, 2009
Brad
rated it:
This is the one book I would recommend to someone who wants to know what I like about books.
This is a collection of stories that have pieces of normal life splashed with aspects of the bizarre, the exceptionally unlikely, and the completely impossible. Throughout it, the narrative is clever and crisp, never full of itself.
What if you had sex with your dog and the puppies were sort of half human? For instance. Fun, funny, and odd.
This is a collection of stories that have pieces of normal life splashed with aspects of the bizarre, the exceptionally unlikely, and the completely impossible. Throughout it, the narrative is clever and crisp, never full of itself.
What if you had sex with your dog and the puppies were sort of half human? For instance. Fun, funny, and odd.
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Dec 11, 2009
Ann
rated it:
I read this book six years ago. The story "Catface" and the one called, simply, "Dogs," about a tiny singing muskrat-esque lovechild, still resonate with me.
Comparisons to Tom Waits and David Lynch are apt, but Bradford's stories bring Barry Yourgrau and Stefanie Freele to mind, too. If you have a secret inner freak, and we all have one at least, you'll appreciate how Bradford harnesses his and gets them to play nice on paper.
Comparisons to Tom Waits and David Lynch are apt, but Bradford's stories bring Barry Yourgrau and Stefanie Freele to mind, too. If you have a secret inner freak, and we all have one at least, you'll appreciate how Bradford harnesses his and gets them to play nice on paper.
Oct 14, 2011
Maya
rated it: 
This was the most bizarre collection of stories. Some were pointless and others just didn't make sense. I used this book for a Literature project and one of the questions was "What does the main character contribute to the story?" In all honesty, he was there solely to narrate the story. He was boring and dull and offered no emotion at all. I am keeping this book only because it was signed by the author.
Sep 16, 2007
Ivy
rated it:
Written in unpretentious prose that sometimes verges on childishness, Dogwalker captures a hidden universe in the imagination that is at once delightful and tragic. The stories themselves range from the real to the fantastic, but all are powered by a true-to-life depiction of the human heart and the attempts that people make to connect with others despite past failed attempts. Arthur Bradford's imagination is expansive and completely unique. If your idea of a good book is one that stretches your
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Sep 03, 2010
Roderick
rated it: 
Thoroughly weird, but really very enjoyable cycle of loosely related stories. Sometimes (OK, most of the time) it feels like he's being weird on purpose, but these are still fun. Detected some vague Christian allegory here and there, with hints at the 12 apostles and Moses in the bullrushes. Not quite sure what to do with that.
Jan 07, 2012
Roisin
rated it:
I met Arthur Bradford recently because I intern at a reading series he took part in. His piece was incredible and I bought his book and finished it that night. Great read. I really admire the way his words flow and the fact that he takes things past the limit in such a way that it's believable. I have no complains.
Aug 10, 2009
Patty
rated it:
One of the books that I got from the Dorkapalooza '09 book exchange. At first I didn't like it much. The writing reminded me a little of Charles Portis. But as I continued to read, it got weirder and weirder and I liked it more and more. I had dreams about some of the stories. The creepiness really did creep in. Thanks to whoever gave this to me!
Aug 26, 2011
Jaime
rated it:
Bizarre and wonderful. I admire the clear, concise, forward-moving prose. These stories are quick and addictive and even at their weirdest (and believe me, they get weird) they're charming and true. Definitely worth a read. The candy of literature, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Sep 28, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
I hate dogs, just felt the need to say that after finishing this book. My main issue with Dogwalker is that the narrator is the same damn person in every story, always behaving in an apathetic, reaction-less way regardless of what's happening around him. Like the author wanted all the perks of writing in third person but while technically still having his "character" do the narration. He conveys only facts and almost no feelings, a perfect stoic, but I'm still supposed to feel somethin
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May 20, 2011
Mike
rated it:
The stories in this book are mostly disturbing views of people, not that they seem inaccurate. The author is a talented writer, if he wrote science fiction I would read them, but otherwise I don't want my view of human nature to be jaundiced.
May 07, 2010
Lydia
rated it:
Reminiscent of fairy tales, these twelve stories center around such unusual subjects as mutation, deformity, and dogs. But in the world of DogWalker, nothing is unusual.
Feb 16, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
absolutely loved this shit. made me laugh out loud plus comforting w/ the regaling abt small-town fuck-ups-- a theme & realm near & dear to my heart.
May 28, 2010
Eric
rated it:
strange book of short stories. I skipped a few of them because they were a bit boring but overall its a very well written novel
Aug 14, 2009
Darin
rated it:
One of my all-time favorites. I reread it often and have given it to friends as gifts. Arthur Bradford is brilliant.
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Feb 03, 2012
why is it a lot of the books recommended to me are about dogs, my least favourite animal? (I'm a cat man).
Feb 12, 2010
Phong
rated it:
Quick, quirky book of short stories replete with bizarre happenings and dogs. Makes me want a cat.
Jul 15, 2007
Lee
rated it:
This one goes firmly in that category of beach reads for those who don't go to the beach, or books you can read when you're too tired to read but don't feel like watching television, or books to read if you haven't read anything for a while and need to be reminded as an adult what it was like to read (in the best possible way) when you were young. Fans of Etgar Keret might love this book, too. Also, fans of fables. Also, fans of people with cat faces, and fans of stories where people become anim
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Nov 03, 2010
Kevin
rated it:
I've never read a book that talked about such strange things in such a sweet way.
Jul 16, 2011
Les
rated it:
Mattresses falling off pickups, bad love, sex with dogs. Great collection.
Jun 08, 2008
Judy
rated it:
The narrator plays the role of straight man to friends and acquaintances who act like lunatics and to phenomena that stretch the fabric of reality.
But it all seems possible somehow. You might find a ten pound slug in the glove compartment of an abandoned vehicle. Heck, if a baby in India can be born with 2 perfectly distinct faces maybe a man can impregnate a dog and get a tiny man offspring that sings beautifully and matures quickly. Who knows what is possible in natur More...
