Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Red Dog

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 1,235 ratings · 157 reviews

'In early 1998 I went to Perth in Western Australia in order to attend the literature festival, and part of the arrangement was that I should go to Karratha to do their first ever literary dinner. Karratha is a mining town a long way further north. The landscape is extraordinary, being composed of vast heaps of dark red earth and rock poking out of the never-ending bush. I...more

Paperback, 128 pages

Published October 3rd 2002 by Vintage (first published February 1st 1999)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Great "Dog" Books

109th out of 441 books — 973 voters

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The dog dies...a cautionary list.

25th out of 79 books — 89 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,838)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 28, 2011 Suncan Stone rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Seems like a slow start, in which you think that it is just a collection of stories about a semi wild dog in the Australian outback. And well, this could be the case. But as you move along it starts to grow on you. The style is convincing and you slowly forget you are reading a book. Didn't really think I will like it when I started off, but by the end I started thinking I need to read something else by Louis. Or maybe that is just my love for animals and my deeply buried faith in human goodness...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 21, 2013 ·Karen· rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mttbr-2013, australia-nz

Plain tales, simply told, based on true stories of a dog who lived in the Pilbara area of Western Australia in the 1970s. Red Dog obviously touches a chord with the iron ore mining community among whom he lives: defiant, self-sufficient, obstinate, and thoroughly undomesticated, he embodies the pioneer spirit, the mongrel mentality, the sense of independence of that far-flung community. It's funny what heroes we memorialize with statuary:

Oh, and there was a film too:

Funny, too, what will keep ou...more

14 likes · like · see review

Jan 16, 2013 S'hi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography

A slim volume which captures the Australian style with a similar flavour to the stories of Henry Lawson. That these episodes are travellers tales, draw a range of characters together through their relationship with the central character, even though it is ‘only a dog’, and that it touches the heart of any reader with its common thread of challenge to authority yet deeper conviction to the immediate personal choice which underlies all authority, shows the independence and mutual respect that reso...more A slim volume which captures the Australian style with a similar flavour to the stories of Henry Lawson. That these episodes are travellers tales, draw a range of characters together through their relationship with the central character, even though it is ‘only a dog’, and that it touches the heart of any reader with its common thread of challenge to authority yet deeper conviction to the immediate personal choice which underlies all authority, shows the independence and mutual respect that resonates across this country.

There is no else to turn to for support of decisions into action. All the consequences are your own. If you don’t own them, why worry? Move on.

That a dog can teach this so eloquently and so easily gain attention, respect and affection from so many diverse people says a lot for what we do not speak about or openly share with each other as humans. Perhaps Aesop had a conversation with a Red Dog of his own before he composed his simply philosophy through his famous animal fables. Perhaps the indigenous peoples’ stories from the Dreamtime told through the lives of animals and their relationships holds a lot more than most ‘westerners’ would give credit.

But when Red Dog shows up to your door there is no time for your contemplation and philosophy to teach you anything. There is only the action in the moment that says you will laugh at yourself and let this dog have his own way, because as far as he is concerned there is no other way.

Heart-warming and delightful. No wonder it made it into the local papers, a epitaph out on some distant highway, and then an internationally acclaimed film. There is a challenge for all of us here. Will we feed the Red Dog?

p.s. and a lovely touch with the book is the images in the corner of each page which swing back to animations kids used to draw in their text books to amuse themselves when class was too boring - yet another movement across the mindscape of life that won’t let us settle down. Enjoy the journey.
(less)

like · see review

Aug 27, 2012 Jack Pringle rated it 3 of 5 stars

I chose to read this book as it was a suggestion from my sister and i had also just seen the new movie on Red Dog. This book fits under the 'book that has been made into a film' section on the wide reading bingo board.

My favourite quote from this book is "get him out before he demolishes the whole place. I found this to be a relevant quote to Red Dogs character as he was a wild, free and messy dog. I also found this quote interesting because I can relate to the the messy nature of a dog because...more

like · see review

Oct 02, 2011 Sally rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bush, four-handkerchiefs, i-own-this, own-uplands, australian, animals-dogs

Quite randomly grabbed this in the bookswap, and I'm very glad I did now! Although with this book, Beth has now witnessed just how much I really can sob my heart out over a book... jeez, this easily got me as bad as Thunderwith did - twice over! I was crying so hard by the time Bill was unable to put Red Dog down that I couldn't see anymore. When I managed to return to the book, I barely made it through the next (and last) like, six pages before once more being blinded. It makes it worse that th...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 16, 2011 Gwyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

If this author didn't have a bestseller or five already under his belt, I'd like to have heard him try and pitch this book to a publisher- "Well, it's a collection of true stories about a flatulent red dog in Western Australia, and, along the way, we all learn something about human nature, the immigrant experience and the incipient stirrings of a new culture in the Southern hemisphere." Luckily, Louis DeBernieres has enough money to do whatever he pleases these days and as a result we have this...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 12, 2009 bookczuk rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography-autobiography-or-memoir, read-on-recommendation, satisfying

I read this book in essentially one sitting, put it down, and heaved a huge sigh of contentment. I have two other books by this author on my "to be read" pile, but picked this one up because it was sent to me by quinnsmom. (Did you know today is her birthday? Happy, happy, chica!)

Anyhow, though this is simply told, I got very involved in the characters. I could relate to dogs that pass gas, cats that hiss, people that live life fully and all sorts of thing. What I didn't expect was the full rang...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 30, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, australia, dog

This is a piquant fictional account of a real dog in Western Australia who achieved a vibrant independent life and captured the hearts of a broad community of people. Red Dog was a kelpie (medium-sized herding breed) who abandoned his first owner for the pleasures of multiple “homes” and travel. He learned to catch rides by car and bus and expanded his range until he became known and supported over a large region.

Red Dog’s adventures are recounted in a short book that makes you want more. The t...more

7 likes · like · see review

May 01, 2012 bookowl rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am at a loss to describe why I love this book and Red Dog so much... I will try and explain though.

Split into two parts it tells a tale of how a disrespected dog escapes his annoying owners to roam free. He goes to a place where all the neighbours are very friendly and kind to each other. Red dog also forms a connection with the bus driver John who is also SO endearing for some reason, he is also kind, thoughtful and sweet.

Both parts are full of tales of Red Dog for the highs and lows, sort o...more

like · see review

Jun 07, 2011 Monica rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

Not a bad book, not a great book. The author collected stories from people connected to Red Dog and wove them together into his life story. The main issue I had with this book is that it didn't say when this happened, was it the 1940's? The 1990's? I had to look it up on Wikipedia. I was confused by this missing time on several occasions. Otherwise, a cute story of a flatulent dog who was a well-known character in Western Australia. He traveled with people by car, bus, and train. He had one spec...more

like · see review

Aug 30, 2012 Booknblues rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you don’t like dogs, don’t read this book, because Red Dog by Louis De Bernieres is all about the dog. And such a dog he is, for dog lovers he will truly captivate your heart.

Red Dog is a red cloud kelpie who began his life named Tally Ho from Western Australia who lived in and around the town of Dampier, but his spirit was too independent to be owned by any one person. Red Dog did however choose a best friend who he chose to live with between his wanderings, John Stazzonelli, a bus driver. I...more

like · see review

Sep 26, 2011 Mozette rated it 4 of 5 stars

I firstly went to see the movie - as it was out on the big screen and I didn't know it was a book before a movie. Then, I went out to look at how much the book was and found it was far too expensive to purchase it for myself; however that afternoon, Mum bought it for me! How's that for fate! I was supposed to read this book!

I loved Red Dog. His character is strong in this book. I laughed out loud to the stories in this book; no matter how far-fetched they seem. But, it looks like you have to be...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 27, 2011 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

As both a dog-lover (understatement) and an Aussie, how could I not love this short little tale of a dog with such character and personality (and wind)? It's incredible that the author never met this dog, the way he writes about the mischief and adventures is so genuine and feels so real, like it could be your own dog or you neighbour's dog he's describing. John was also a fantastic character, the kind of guy you'd love to be able to count amongst your close friends.
The rural Australian slang w...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 05, 2013 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie, realistic-fiction, animals, read-in-2013

Red Dog, Louis de Bernières
Started: 1 January 2013
Finished: 2 January 2013
Rating: 3/5

Ah, a nice little book based on a true Australian story, how refreshingly...familiar. It's quite a pleasant experience to read such an engaging piece set in your own home, so to speak. As such, Red Dog was a very comfortable read. It was nice to ring in the new year with something that I could relate to on so many levels, being setting ('Straya, mate), characters (everyone from a little country town knows someon...more Red Dog, Louis de Bernières
Started: 1 January 2013
Finished: 2 January 2013
Rating: 3/5

Ah, a nice little book based on a true Australian story, how refreshingly...familiar. It's quite a pleasant experience to read such an engaging piece set in your own home, so to speak. As such, Red Dog was a very comfortable read. It was nice to ring in the new year with something that I could relate to on so many levels, being setting ('Straya, mate), characters (everyone from a little country town knows someone like John, Nancy, Jocko and the rest, and maybe even a couple of characters like Red Dog), language and, on a more personal level, some elements of the plot. It was also a very easy read, as de Bernières uses very simplistic language that is widely accessible to the book's predominantly Australian audience.

Setting and characterisation where well written throughout the vast majority of the book. Human characterisation was only explored minimally, allowing the reader to become familiar with, but not particularly close to the characters. Some of the characters were quite stereotypical, but most were very believable and easy to relate to, despite the lack of detailed development. In the context of the story of Red Dog, de Bernières' choice to keep human character development to a minimum seems like a bold choice, something rather unlikely to succeed given the level of significance we tend to put on creating and developing realistic characters in great detail, but it worked incredibly well. Red Dog's development was comparatively much more detailed and complex, and the author described this information through the dog's actions, thoughts, and the views and behaviour of other characters throughout the book, which made the incredibly human-like canine seem more believable.

Unlike character development, which was given in small portions and spaced out well throughout the entirety of the book, setting was often described in such a way that screamed "info-dump". This was disappointing, as some of the descriptive phrasing was fantastic, but there was often far too much of it in one place in the text. One thing that stood out for me was that, in some cases, de Bernières went so far as to provide six or seven, if not more, examples where one or two would have been much more appropriate and much easier to digest. (For well written descriptions of Australian settings, try Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden, Wake in Fright by Kenneth Cook, The Mary Smokes Boys by Patrick Holland, and Fly Away Peter by David Malouf.)

Although the book is based on a series of true stories, some of the fictional renditions of the personal anecdotes relayed to de Bernières seemed almost too outrageous to be real. This was actually a highly enjoyable feature of the book, as it was very real, sincere and stirring, as well as outlandish and amusing. Essentially, that's a rather decent summary of Australia, so to have that conveyed so simply and subtly in such a short book is quite incredible.

This book could be enjoyed by people of all ages due to the author's use of simplistic language, and the inclusion of a glossary of Australian slang opens the book up to international audiences, though I doubt that the appeal of a collection of the adventures of a free-spirited, flatulent kelpie in the harsh Australian outback would reach very far overseas. Due to some of the themes at the conclusion of each of the two major parts of the story, and also the very heart-warming and even inspiring tales held within, Red Dog would be an excellent book for a parent and child to read together.

Red Dog is entertaining and surprisingly emotional, and somewhere in the very brief 120 pages of delicately balanced absurdity and insight into human nature, you may find yourself as another one of Red Dog's many friends.

(less)

like · see review

Aug 24, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a very lighthearted read that you can get through in pretty much one sitting.

It's an interesting account of life back when everyone was friendly and a local dog could be known by a whole town and cared for by anyone. It makes you kind of sad when you think about how strict we have all become nowadays in relation to our dogs and where they can walk, where they can be off leash, etc, etc, and made me feel a bit of a longing for a time like that portrayed in this book again.

It's nice...more

like · see review

Mar 17, 2011 Bonny rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a remarkable story about a dog who has friends all over Western Australia. He is a free spirit and roams where he pleases making friends wherever he goes.

If you have a dog, if you like dogs or even if you want to read a story about dogs and their human friends, you have to read this book.

Seriously, this is arguably the best dog story I have ever read. It's a bit unusual because it's not a cute, feel good fiction story but the book is a memoir to a real dog. a dog who knew how to enjoy li...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Martin Pepe rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Stacy

Shelves: favorites, non-fiction, fiction

A short tale of a dog's life and the people he meets as he wanders Western Australia. He is loved by all who cross his path and seems to be known everywhere he goes. It's told in vignettes with the common thread being how this dog, who is everyone's and no one's, touches these people's lives. Written by Louis de Bernières, who's masterwork, Corelli's Mandolin, is one of my favorite books but is a truly epic novel, this can be finished in a few hours. Red Dog has all the love and heart ache of Co...more

like · see review

Oct 13, 2010 Jessie Blackwood rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved it. A short book, but a tale based on reality, a fine illustration of human and animal relationships, a dog's eye view and vividly brought to life against the backdrop of Australia. I loved Red and his zest for life and total disregard for anyone else's censure. Yet his attachments were loyal although his life was short. This story proves even tough guys can feel, although like most men, the neither want to admit it nor show it. Human beings have unique relationships with animals and this...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 15, 2012 notgettingenough rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: haven-t-read-but

Haven't read, but seen the movie, upon a high recommendation. (Noela, you have a lot of making up to do.)

I see that in the book the dog's only 'master' is half-Maori. In the movie they have made him American, played by an actor of some note, presumably because Americans don't watch movies that don't have an American connection. Cringe. I do wish Australians and English movie-makers would stop doing that. For me it spoilt the movie, if it had been made for an Australian market, as most of those...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 16, 2013 Richard Wright rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

The slight (and mostly true) story of Red Dog, a wandering hound who became a local celebrity due to his wanderings across Western Australia's Pilbara region. The story is written in a simplistic manner, almost as you'd find in a children's book, but that adds considerably to its personality. There's not a great deal more to it - Red Dog's independent spirit reflects the region, and through him we meet several characters along the way, but there isn't a great deal of character exploration, and R...more

like · see review

Dec 22, 2012 Britt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: novella, contemporary-fiction

Louis de Bernières (author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin) wrote the book Red Dog following a visit to Western Australia in 1998.

Each chapter in the book tells a different story or anecdote from the real Red Dog’s life, and we’re told in the Author’s Note that these tales about Red Dog are based in fact but that all of the characters (apart from the character of John) are fictional. Throughout the book you find out about each of Red Dog’s adventures as he travels around Western Australia making...more

like · see review

Jun 08, 2013 Vorbis rated it 3 of 5 stars

Audiobook, very short. A nice tale of mateship and a community coming together and bonding over a dog who liked to travel. Feels more like an extended newspaper feel-good article than a novel. Also it really seemed like he'd interviewed the people and written their stories up which was nice and made me grant the book more leeway for not always being fascinating, because it was true - but in the author's note it says none of the characters are real except the dog himself and one character who die...more

like · see review

Dec 08, 2012 Emily Randall rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookcrossing

This book was a gift, given to me years ago because of my close relationship with my dog Megan. I thought it was a very touching read, I loved the fact that it wasn't really sentimental as it is based on a harsh life in Australia, despite the harshness of the surroundings the residents all had their lives touched by Red Dog or Bluey there were some amusing points in the book where people tried to conceal their strong emotions about the dog but basically this dog won their hearts like it or not!!...more

like · see review

Sep 15, 2012 Tanja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1990s, read-in-2012, something-else, memoirs-bios

A very nice little book.
It’s based on a true story of the Red Dog who lived in the 70s in Australia. The only characters in the book who are real are John and the Red Dog.
I don’t remember the last time I read a book with an animal as the main character. The first three chapters were a bit slow, but then the dog’s adventures started and it became a lot more interesting. I loved reading about the people he met.
Some of them couldn’t stand him at first, but, despite his flaws, he won them over. Ther...more

like · see review

Aug 15, 2012 Jackie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Red Dog is a very endearing character: Creator of unbearable smells, eater of anything and everything and in complete mastery of (almost) every human he meets.

This book made me grin and gave me a lovely warm feeling. Even when addressing unhappy situations, it remained light, warm and engaging. And the simple illustrations are gorgeous (besides, I've always loved the way red works with black & white)

If you don't already love dogs and Australia when you start this book, you will certainly fe...more

like · see review

Jan 16, 2012 Allan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Louis de Bernieres is such a good story teller. This is a charming little book comprising a few short tales of the life of "Red Dog" based in Western Australia- a dog that belongs to no-one, yet everyone loves him (apart from the Cribbages!)- and looks out for him. Evokes the relative harshness of the landscape and the way of life in the region- but captures a sense of a contented and supportive community of people. There's no particular plot here and in the end there's perhaps only so many stor...more

like · see review

Sep 14, 2012 Julie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Just 'cause I love my dog doesn't mean I'll love a dog book!
A picaresque novel

A short read. And I am sure I read it in the Women's Weekly when it first came out .. and that is where it belongs.

If I were good old Louis I would be hanging my head in shame about the money that the book is likely to be making from the film version. I can only hope that the published anecdotes by Nancy Gillespie (Red Dog) and Beverly Duckett (Red Dog : the Pilbara Wanderer) that were used by de Bernieres get a bit of...more

like · see review

Apr 15, 2012 Sophia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Red Dog was a dog with a fiercely independent streak who had such a zest for life and curiosity about the world around him that he eventually became acquainted with whole towns full of people - a bit like an Australian "Littlest Hobo".He would hitch rides with his human friends, ride the buses, and always seemed to be around whenever something interesting was going on in his area. He became such a fixture that people everywhere knew and loved him, and they even erected a statue of him after his...more

like · see review

Apr 26, 2008 Nancy Oakes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: australia

Red Dog actually existed; the author notes in the author's note that the stories he tells in the book are all based in reality, and that all he invented were the characters. He first came across mention of Red Dog in 1998 when he went to Perth to attend a literature festival; part of the program was that the author would make his way to Karratha, a mining town to the north. There he came across a bronze statue of Red Dog, and wanted to find out more. To write the book, he later returned to the a...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 11, 2010 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-authors

A very enjoyable book. It tells the life story of a famous West Australian character, Red Dog. A dog who lives his own life, lives with people and loves them but is not owned by them. A lovable rogue.

What impressed me was LdB's ability, as a non Australian, to write so effectively in the Australian voice. There's a little glossary in the back of the book for those who don't know what a "swag" is etc. The Aussie lingo was used appropriately and rang true throughout.

I could easily have read more.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 61 62 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (4)

More editions...

Genres

Cultural > Australia

10 users

Animals

9 users

Animals > Dogs

7 users

Childrens > Juvenile

4 users

Contemporary

4 users

Fantasy > Mythology

3 users

Folk Tales > Fables

3 users

Anthologies

3 users

Literature

3 users

Historical Fiction

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Louis de Bernières

Novelist Louis de Bernières was born in London in 1954. He joined the army at 18 but left after spending four months at Sandhurst. After graduating from the Victoria University of Manchester, he took a postgraduate certificate in Education at Leicester Polytechnic and obtained his MA at the University of London.

Before writing full-time, he held many varied jobs including landscape gardener, motor...more Novelist Louis de Bernières was born in London in 1954. He joined the army at 18 but left after spending four months at Sandhurst. After graduating from the Victoria University of Manchester, he took a postgraduate certificate in Education at Leicester Polytechnic and obtained his MA at the University of London.

Before writing full-time, he held many varied jobs including landscape gardener, motorcycle messenger and car mechanic. He also taught English in Colombia, an experience which determined the style and setting of his first three novels, The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts (1990), Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord (1991) and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman (1992), each of which was heavily influenced by South American literature, particularly 'magic realism'.

In 1993, he was selected as one of the 20 'Best of Young British Novelists 2' promotion in Granta magazine. His fourth novel, Corelli's Mandolin, was published in the following year, winning the Commonwealth Writers Prize (Best Book). It was also shortlisted for the Sunday Express Book of the Year. Set on the Greek island of Cephalonia during the Second World War, the novel tells the story of a love affair between the daughter of a local doctor and an Italian soldier. It has become a worldwide bestseller and has now been translated into over 30 languages. A film adaptation of the novel was released in 2001, and the novel has also been adapted for the stage. In 2001, Red Dog was published - a collection of stories inspired by a statue of a dog encountered on a trip to a writers' festival in Australia in 1998.

Prizes and awards
1991 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Eurasia Region, Best First Book) The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts
1992 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Eurasia Region, Best Book) Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord
1994 Sunday Express Book of the Year (shortlist) Corelli's Mandolin
1995 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Overall Winner, Best Book) Corelli's Mandolin
1995 Lannan Literary Award (Fiction)
1997 British Book Awards Author of the Year
2004 Whitbread Novel Award (shortlist) Birds Without Wings
2005 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Eurasia Region, Best Book) (shortlist) Birds Without Wings

.
Top of page
(less)

More about Louis de Bernières...

Books by Louis de Bernières

The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Red Dog

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Red Dog
avg rating	preview: Red Dog Goodreads rating: 3.72 (1235 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3396.Red_Dog?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1163452189l/3396.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3396.Red_Dog?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Red Dog by Louis de Bernières[/url]

Red Dog

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website