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74th out of 615 books
—
943 voters
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be
by
Farley Mowat
Farely Mowat's best loved book tells the splendidly entertaining story of his boyhood on the Canadian prairies.Mutt's pedigree was uncertain, but his madness was indisputable.He climbed tress and ladders, rode passenger in an open car wearing goggles and displaying hunting skills that bordered on sheer genius.He was a marvelous dog, worthy of an unusual boy growing up a ra
...morePaperback, 0 pages
Published
June 28th 1980
by Jove Books
(first published 1957)
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Oct 06, 2010
J
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bios-and-memoirs,
animal-studies
I’ve heard The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be described as perhaps Mowat’s best work. I’m not sure if that’s true but it’s a great read.
Mowat had an amazing childhood full of experiences with wildlife in the great outdoors. Mutt the dog was Mowat’s companion as a kid, among a great menagerie that included owls, snakes, gophers and more. Mutt argued with the family, wore goggles in the car and couldn’t seem to leave a skunk alone. He was certainly a dog worth writing a book about. Mowat’s bemused language a...more
Mowat had an amazing childhood full of experiences with wildlife in the great outdoors. Mutt the dog was Mowat’s companion as a kid, among a great menagerie that included owls, snakes, gophers and more. Mutt argued with the family, wore goggles in the car and couldn’t seem to leave a skunk alone. He was certainly a dog worth writing a book about. Mowat’s bemused language a...more
If you haven't made the acquaintance of the Canadian author Farley Mowat, you are now in for a treat. Perhaps best known for his book "Never Cry Wolf", he is at his best when describing wildlife in the Canadian prairies where he grew up in the 1920s-1930s. At the height of the dust bowl/depression years, Farley's father, a librarian, moved the family from Ontario to the remote prairie town of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. At the very edge of town, the untamed natural life of the prairie beckoned. As...more
This is a light-hearted book by Farley Mowat, a writer with whom we normally associate more serious texts. Yet Mowat is just as fun-loving as the next person and it comes out in this collection of stories about his youth in Ontario and Manitoba. Mutt, the dog of the book's title, is a dog who very reasonably refuses to act like one. So he won't hunt ducks properly or do much else that is reckoned too dog-like, at least while anyone's watching. Mutt was Mowat's constant companion throughout many...more
Apr 05, 2011
Katie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-listened-with-kids
It took a long time to get through this book with Tessa and Wyatt because the vocabulary was hard and the sentence structure was complex... but they loved it and so did I. It was the childhood memories of Farley Mowatt growing up in the Saskatchewan plains with his odd dog, Mutt. Mutt enters into his book about his pet owls in “Owls in the Family,” but this is Mutt’s story. “Owls in the Family” is much more accessible to read to kids, but I was surprised by the kids’ patience and their desire to...more
A wonderful story taking place in Canada in 1929. A little boy comes to a home and asks the lady of the house if she would like to buy a duck. She tells the little boy that she has no place to keep a duck, but asks about the little dog the boy has by his side. He tells her the dog was dumped off at his folks farm and then asks the lady if she would like to buy the dog for the cost of one nickel. She buys the dog and gives the dog to her eight year old son. He names the dog, "Mutt" The story goes...more
The Dog Who Wouldn't be was a great book. The genre of this book is non fiction. This book takes place in Saskatoon, a city in Saskatchowan, Canada. In the book Mutt the dog does some pretty amazing things. He walks on fences, climbs trees, chases cows, rides in boats, plays with owls and several other unusual un-dog like things. I have read Owls in the Family which is another good book by Farley Mowat. My Dad is the one who introduced me to the author Farley Mowat when he shared with me the boo...more
A heart-warming biographical of a boy and his remarkable dog. One of the charms of this book is the view into a bygone era for boys and dogs. We did this as a family read-aloud and enjoyed it. Whenever I do a read-aloud, I am also an inline editor. I had to skip a thing or two in this one, but overall a good story.
I am not generally in for the "heart-warming" reads. I don't think it will really be spoiling anything to warn you ahead of time that nothing lasts forever. As a boy and his dog progr...more
I am not generally in for the "heart-warming" reads. I don't think it will really be spoiling anything to warn you ahead of time that nothing lasts forever. As a boy and his dog progr...more
I found this book quite charming insomuch as it is a story of the authors growing up with his dog Mutt in Canada during the 1920's.His father, a librarian moves his family from the Toronto area to the prairies of Saskatchewan and Alberta where adventures for a boy and his dog are many.
I did feel that the story of the boat building and that of the owls could have been shortened as Mutt had little to do with the first one and only a small part in the second that I mention. Nevertheless a nice litt...more
I did feel that the story of the boat building and that of the owls could have been shortened as Mutt had little to do with the first one and only a small part in the second that I mention. Nevertheless a nice litt...more
Farley Mowat, according to some sources, doesn't let the truth get in the way of a good story. Readers of his book, The Dog Who Wouldn't Be, have probably figured that out. But who cares? The story of Mutt is worth reading despite the fact that some of it involved a little truth stretching. Mutt came into Mowat's life as a puppy at the same time his parents moved from Ontario to Saskatoon during the depression. Mowat was a kid and was happy to have a dog. His father, who had been searching for a...more
Warning:
Mutt dies at the end and it's very sad. However, Farley Mowat wrote one of the most moving sentences sentences I've ever read about his death: "And so the pact of timelessness between us was broken and I went from him into the darkening tunnel of the years."
Like James Herriott, Farley Mowatt may tailor the truth for the sake of storytelling, but Mutt's tale--sorry--is funny and rewarding. Just know you'll probably cry.
Mutt dies at the end and it's very sad. However, Farley Mowat wrote one of the most moving sentences sentences I've ever read about his death: "And so the pact of timelessness between us was broken and I went from him into the darkening tunnel of the years."
Like James Herriott, Farley Mowatt may tailor the truth for the sake of storytelling, but Mutt's tale--sorry--is funny and rewarding. Just know you'll probably cry.
1 like · like · see review
I love this one as much for the environment -- Saskatchewan in the 1920s and '30s -- as for the dog. I could so relate to the long car trips as a child. I suspect some of his tales here are about as close to reality as Never Cry World (i.e., not very), but I loved them as a child and still enjoy most of them as an adult. I told my cat loving daughter to skip chapter 8.
I remember thinking this was such a very fun book. I was totally enthralled at the idea of the back seat opening out of the back of the car - outside and subject to all the wind and dust of the road - this, of course, is where the boy and his dog sat. Somehow, this description remains the most vivid in my imagination of all the other great ones in the book.
In addition to some heart-warming dog tales, this book provided some interesting glimpses into life in a small Candian prairie town during the Great Depression. I was pleasantly surprised by occasional phrases used by Mowat to summarize the outcomes of events. I learned of this book from a tribute to Mowat's birthday (05/12/1963) on Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac and Nancy Pearl's Book Lust reading lsit "Candian Fiction".
I read this to my ten year old daughter who loves dogs and animals. There are some hilarious scenes, it is very much like what Garrison Keillor would write. One of the best is when the family is camping near a lake and two old lady bird watchers are commenting on the dog, how disgusting and smelly and the owner should be fined, etc. The family are all in a tent and can only hear the conversation. Finally the dad gets so mad he shouts out that that dog is his and he'll fight anyone who tries to...more
I enjoyed this book as a young person and would love to read it again
through the eyes of an adult. After having pets of all kinds with quirky personalities and seemingly human capabilities, I can appreciate even more deeply the relationship between this particular boy and his canine companion.
through the eyes of an adult. After having pets of all kinds with quirky personalities and seemingly human capabilities, I can appreciate even more deeply the relationship between this particular boy and his canine companion.
I will say that it is a well written book. I cant say that it was personally an easy read but i had to persevere. If you are into a book that tells the story of a dogs life and a boys experiences with that dog as an event by event book then you will enjoy this book. If not then you will struggle as I did.
I found this book on a bookshelf of the family home and realized that a friend had loaned it to me more than 30 years ago. Maybe I'll return it to her. David remembered it from his childhood and we read parts together. Some of it was VERY funny, other parts less interesting
I was not sure what to expect from this book, but my boyfriend said I would love it. And I did. Farley Mowat has a pretty vivid writing style, and a great sense of humour. I loved following the adventures of this unique dog. I was rather taken back by the abrupt ending tho.
Fast-paced, engaging, hilarious (until the last two pages). That is to say, the parts about the boat were desperately dry and I found myself skimming those pages, but Mutt and other assorted critters - especially the the owls! - had me smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.
I enjoyed this story but I kept thinking.....oh, come on, really? I am not sure why it hit me as so unbelievable. I think it was intended for pure enjoyment. Perhaps I read it during the series stage of my life. I would still recommend it for fun reading.
I loved this book. I think the reason I enjoyed it so much was the humorous stories about this dog and his human family. It is also captures a time in Canada mostly in the Saskatoon area describing life during the 1930s. Great read for children to seniors.
One of the smartest dogs I've ever read about! And seemed to have a very good sense of humor, and athletic skills I could not even see myself doing!
Still love this story, even though it's been years since I first read it.
Still love this story, even though it's been years since I first read it.
I read this book because my mother starts raving about how amazing it is every time Farley Mowat's name is mentioned. I have to agree with her, the book is fabulous. I love the chapters with the owls - I will definitely be reading Owls in the Family next. Highly recommend!
This is a very cute book about Farley Mowat's adventures as a child with his quirky dog, Mutt. Being a dog lover, it's very easy to picture the different scenarios and mischief being described. It definitely made me smile.
Farley Mowat is the best story teller that I have read in a long time. I can just visualize him sitting in a room and mesmerizing his audience with the tales of his dog, Mutt, and the adventures of his family.
A classic from Farley Mowat. Many of the episodes read like "tall tales" and yet who knows? A good read for the kids, which also provides a little bit of social history (another depression, another drought).
May 10, 2010
Marianne
added it
This book is one of the most heart warming, funny, wonderfully written books I have ever read, and I have read a LOT of books.
A must read for anybody who reads.
Mowat is an amazing writer.
A must read for anybody who reads.
Mowat is an amazing writer.
if you loved marley you need to read this book. Farley Mowat paints a picture of a wonderful dog that is clearly a mutt, with all the ecentricities and intelligence that come with.
This book still cracks me up from start to finish. Farley Mowat books are an essential part of my childhood. (I have no idea when I read it first-- might have been earlier than 10 (1998).)
This was such a fun book. Lots of laugh out loud moments. There wasn't really a plot, just a lot of humorous stories about the authors dog and family during his childhood. Read it!
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Farley McGill Mowat is a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.
Many of his most popular works have been memoirs of his childhood, his war service, and his work as a naturalist. His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books.
Mowat studied biology at the University of Toronto. During a field trip to the Arctic, Mowat became outrage...more
More about Farley Mowat...
Many of his most popular works have been memoirs of his childhood, his war service, and his work as a naturalist. His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books.
Mowat studied biology at the University of Toronto. During a field trip to the Arctic, Mowat became outrage...more
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Grade A+
Jun 09, 2011 11:56am