The Dog's Last Walk:

by Howard Jacobson

_______________'[An] acutely observed collection of occasional pieces that pick at absurdist life and reveal him to be a quiz, a cultural critic gifted with precise comic timing' - The Times'The author's prose is always a delight … a book that manages the high-wire act of being genuinely funny while dispensing genuine wisdom' - Times Literary Supplement'Jacobson is one of the great sentence-builders of our time. I feel I have to raise my game, even just to praise ... In short, he is one of the great guardians of language and culture - all of it. Long may he flourish' - Nicholas Lezard, Guardian_______________Week after week, for eighteen years, the Booker Prize-winning novelist Howard Jacobson wrote a weekly column for the Independent, reflecting in inimitable style on the sacred and the profane in turn, the frivolous and the serious, the deeply personal and the most universal.The shame and humiliation inherent in death is explored with frank astuteness. Matisse, darts and the power of love are celebrated; while cyclists are very much censured. And meanwhile, a beloved old Labrador walks his last walk as life elsewhere hurtles on and away…The Dog's Last Walk is a collection of wisdom and iconoclasm for our uncertain times, and one that reveals one of our greatest writers in all his humanity._______________'Sharp and playful, surreal and thoughtful, and occasionally … rather moving' - New Statesman'Yes, Jacobson is an entertainer ... And he does indeed entertain, but in a way that stimulates rather than simply amuses' - Sunday Telegraph'His columns were always one of the best things in [the Independent] – funny, argumentative, contrary and stuffed with ideas as well as a big, sympathetic personality' - Philip Hensher, Spectator

Genres: Nonfiction, Short Stories

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2017

About the author

Howard Jacobson was born in Manchester, England, and educated at Cambridge. His many novels include The Mighty Walzer (winner of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize), Who’s Sorry Now? and Kalooki Nights (both longlisted for the Man Booker Prize), and, most recently, The Act of Love. Jacobson is also a respected critic and broadcaster, and writes a weekly column for the Independent. He lives in London.

Profile of Howard Jacobson in The New York Times.

“The book's appeal to Jewish readers is obvious, but like all great Jewish art — the paintings of Marc Chagall, the books of Saul Bellow, the films of Woody Allen — it is Jacobson's use of the Jewish experience to explain the greater human one that sets it apart. Who among us is so certain of our identity? Who hasn't been asked, "What's your background" and hesitated, even for a split second, to answer their inquisitor? Howard Jacobson's The Finkler Question forces us to ask that of ourselves, and that's why it's a must read, no matter what your background.”—-David Sax, NPR.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Late in this book, Jacobson writes: ‘Out there at this very moment, in lofts, basements, lean-tos and neglected gardens, a thousand otherwise genial-tempered hacks are rubbing the lamp of intemperate opinion to coax out a view ˗ immoderately enthusiastic or grossly derogatory, it hardly matters which, and the distinction probably won’t be noticed anyway ˗ on celebrity chefs, wayward footballers, twerking pop stars, tattooed nobodies and any one of a thousand comedians whose routine is indistinguishable from the others ˗ a judgement I no sooner make than I withdraw lest you think I have a view on the matter.”

Having been one of those ‘hacks’ ˗ a columnist for a local newspaper ˗ back in the 90s, I appreciate Jacobson’s feelings about what it is to write a column: sometimes a grind, sometimes inspired, sometimes finding an idea that takes you places you never meant to go.

In the last column published here he writes about seeing each piece as a little novel...’essays into rather than about, dramatic pieces in which I didn’t have to say what I believed, because I didn’t know, or didn’t want to know, or hoped that in the interactive play of images and ideas a way of looking at the world would emerge that wasn’t trite, that might surprise and energise, and would give pleasure.’

Certainly these columns give pleasure: they remain immensely readable, full of satire, wit, humour, deep seriousness (often disguised under one or more of the three previous categories), good sound commonsense, and a great deal of self-deprecation. Not that this is really Howard Jacobson we’re reading about, anyway; he tells us that no columnist actually presents himself as he actually is. Something else I can affirm.

He covers a wide range of topics, but other people’s anti-Zionist ideologies, the bad behaviour of cyclists, Australia, and not believing/believing in God appear most often. I’ve never read a book of columns where I just went straight from one to another without any sense of obligation. Jacobson’s writing is endearing and vital, sometimes spitting tacks, sometimes sentimental.

These columns are so entertaining and (frequently) wise, that they bear repeated readings. That’s quite outstanding for writings that first appeared in a newspaper.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this story and the narration was really good.
Loved the book but found I could only listen in short segments or my attention wandered.
All in all not a bad book and even though It took me some time to finish the book I did enjoy the story in the end.

[Hester · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a problem with publishing a collection of pieces produced to the weekly demands of a newspaper deadline.

Such copy, even shaped by the razor sharp wit and critical analysis of Howard Jacobson, has the tendency to default to a predictable pattern. That's not to say any one piece isn't worth spending the obligatory five minutes with , it's just a law of diminishing returns . Like watching endless replays of Kevin de Bruyne sliding assists to any number of grateful goal scorers (Messers Sane, Sterling and Harland I'm looking at you) Tends to deaden the impact of genius.

That said you could do worse than spend a few moments a morning savouring the sharp insights that Jacobsen brings to the preoccupations of the day. He is incredibly funny. Certainly better for the soul than mindless chanting or walking in diminishing circles along a labyrinth. And a much better companion to share private time in the bathroom with than, say , My Big Books of Bucket Lists , 1000 Ways to Cook Broccoli or The Tao of Pooh. He skewers politicians and their absurd posturing with elan, reflects on the ridiculous of day to day life with equal sardonic pleasure and does both in opinion pieces designed to sparkle between the crossword ( get it?) and the leader column. Brilliant.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. Wonderful writing!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read none of Jacobson's novels and have absolutely no desire to given the highbrow literature label that they seem to have. But this collection of his columns for The Independent newspaper are short doses that absolutely hit the mark. I find very, very few books these days that it's even worth noting a sentence or an observation from, but with Jacobson there's something that makes you pause for thought on every other page. And he's funny with it, even if you feel that some of the jokes are a bit above your head. Well, he can be an unashamed intellectual and I can be an unashamed thicko but it doesn't mean that what he's going on about won't strike a chord or make me laugh out loud. I read a previous collection of earlier columns which I remember with affection, and this book has inspired me to go back and read them again. In fact, if The Independent newspaper hadn't folded I might have subscribed just to get his contribution on a regular basis. It's that good.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An easy to read, witty book of over ninety, three page column articles written by Jacobson during the period 2010 to 2016 for the Independent newspaper. If you enjoy Jacobson's writing style, his wit and would like to know more about him, you should enjoy this book. Amongst other things I found out that Jacobson likes D.H. Lawrence and Shakespeare, is not happy with bike riders, believes in freedom of speech.

Here are some quotes I liked:

"A generation has grown up that - online, at least - is deaf to tone, impervious to irony, incapable of grasping that thought can be tentative and argument exploratory."

"There are no bad men in the world when we flutter in each other's embrace. And that is why love matters: it's our last illusion."

"Reading is a two-way activity: some books fail us, but it happens just as frequently that we fail them. There's silly, sloppy writing out there, but there's silly, sloppy reading too."

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to begin this review by acknowledging that I have never read any work by Howard Jacobson before and am not familiar with "The Independent" from which these op-ed (?) columns were drawn. Rther, I mistook this for a collection of short stories when the arresting cover and title took my fancy.

My error has been fortuitous because I have thoroughly enjoyed the precision with which Jacobson has expressed his thoughts and opinions, so can understand why he was a columnist for almost twenty years. For others like me, unfamiliar with the newspaper, there are some now dated pieces and a few whose subject I was unfamiliar with; however, overwhelmingly the columns are erudite, interesting or just entertaining (I might have to check out championship darts sometime!).

[Kate Parr · Rating 3 out of 5]

To begin with I enjoyed this one, lots of short essays on different topics from an intelligent, cultured writer. But after a few I started to get a tone, a bit of snark and an old-guy habit of bemoaning people caring about anything, getting annoyed at people taking offence. I'm all for discursive argument but this kind of contraryism is just depressing and tiring. I def don't think I'd read any more.

[Caitilin Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something a little different. Newspaper columns from the Independent. Everything from love to politics, Jacobson is pretty unforgiving with his opinion pieces. Have to admit, some chapters were inaccessible as many of the political/cultural references went straight over the head of this young Australian.Very thought-provoking though.

[Aronz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of Howard Jacobson and to my mind, he has written some truly great books. Whilst this collection has some moments, I found the subjects disjointed and lacking in flow. This might sound obvious since this is a collection of articles published in a newspaper. It might also just be that Mr. Jacobson is a better author than he is journalist.

[Hubcon · Rating 3 out of 5]

listened as audio book, read by the author. I liked the comments on society and his story telling of his experiences. I am just not as well read, and sadly lacking the knowledge of every word in the English language.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty much a snooze, for me anyway.

[Kent Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacobson on darts, cyclists, writing, and being his entertaining self.

[Leroy Bheki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly spectacular book 😅 Exactly my type of humor & the author really put some thought into a lot of the concepts and views expressed in this book 🤔

[El_philippa]

Иногда полезно послушать едкое брюзжание о жизни. За тем к Джэйкобсону и хожу.

[Mam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first experience of this work was listening to the words narrated by the author. His voice and inflections were the perfect interpretation of his words. My next experience of this work will be on the written pages, because there is such a diversity of topics and opinions and such richness of expression that I will want to underline and highlight my favorite phrases. Well done, Howard!

[Vivek Gopal]

Old white man whines.