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A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World
July 2023: Adventure
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A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher - 5 stars
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Barbara M wrote: "The author narrated this audio and did a wonderful job! This was one of the best author-narrated books I've ever listened to. I loved this book when I didn't really expect to but chose it because o..."Wonderful review! I’m glad you loved it too. Thanks for reminding me of so many things I loved about this book. A lot happens, but it’s the quieter moments that really moved me. His exploration of the empty city was so beautifully written, I was filled with a sense of bittersweet awe. The relationship between the boy and his dog was wonderful. This is a book I want to reread.
I so enjoyed this book so was happy to see such a good and thoughtful review, Barbara.
I had just finished a book with a young, unreliable, narrator and found it difficult going, this was the opposite. This narrator is the boy of the title, his narration feels reliable and well-stated. He is the youngest in his family in a world with very few people left in it. He has a good grasp on things, perhaps because he's an avid reader and this story comes from the journal he writes. If this is an apocalyptic world, it was slow coming. The boy, Griz, lives with his family on an island (the author later acknowledges the Outer Hebrides) and he explains here and there what he understands happened to people. It's been 100 years since the population slowly died out and most buildings have disappeared along with power/electricity, machinery, medications, etc. Some books remain in homes and buildings made of stone if they haven't been invaded by dampness, etc.
One day, a sailing ship arrives on the island. The family is hesitant and reserved but the man with the red beard comes across as friendly. They exchange information, he has traveled far and they haven't. There is one other family on the island and the man has traded with them, he brings things on his boat to trade and barter with. He tells them stories of what he knows of other people, there aren't many. In the morning, he has taken something of great value to Gris. He sees the thief leave and goes quickly to his boat, takes his dog, and decided to chase him down. The rest of his family are sleeping off or just coming around sick from a drugging they'd received from the thief so
Gris is on his own.
This is quite an adventure for Gris, who, for the first time ever, travels across a vast land mass determined to get back what is his. He encounters many things like large buildings and trees and he faces danger. This is a young adult story but it does not talk down to the reader and I'm quite sure most adults would enjoy this too. I wanted to listen constantly. It is not a long book, but I'm not usually a fast reader or even listener (though I have more time to listen than to read) and I finished it in a matter of days. I recommend it highly and it will be a favorite of mine even if only for the wonderful audio narration. And the surprises along the way.