Bought for the European Roundabout of Booker books. This book was on the longlist for the Man Booker Prize 2008.

"Michelle de Kretser is the fastest rising star in Australia's literary firmament... stunningly beautiful." Metro (Australia).

"Michelle de Kretser is one of those rare writers whose work balances substance with style. Her writing is very witty, but it also goes deep, informed at every point by a benign and far-reaching intelligence." Kerryn Goldsworthy, Sydney Morning Herald.

"A wonderful tale of obsession, art, death, loss, human failure, and past and present loves. One of Australia's best contemporary writers." Harpers Bazaar (Australia).

Tom Loxley, an Indian-Australian professor, is less concerned with finishing his book on Henry James than with finding his dog, who is lost in the bush. Joining his daily hunt is Nelly Zhang, an artist whose husband disappeared mysteriously years before Tom met her. Although Nelly helps him search for his beloved pet, Tom isn't sure if he should trust this new friend. She is indirect on some important matters and withholds affection, but she is also entertaining and generous with her time.
Tom has preoccupations other than his book and Nelly and his missing dog, mainly concerning his mother, who is suffering from the various indignities of old age. He is constantly drawn from the cerebral to the primitive - by his mother's infirmities, as well as by Nelly's attractions. The Lost Dog makes brilliant use of the conventions of suspense and atmosphere while leading us to see anew the conflicts between our bodies and our minds, the present and the past, the primal and the civilized. This remarkable novel is bursting with life on several planes - and keeps us thinking until its rewarding close."

I'm really curious about it. It looks really nice, good quality and the first pages are stirring my curiosity. It will have to wait until I've finished another book, though.

After I've read it, I will send it on it's way in the roundabout:
franaloe Netherlands
Xeyra Portugal *skipped*
Sternschnuppe28 Germany
iliotropio BE *accidentally skipped*
katrinat UK
Cross-Patch UK
After it finishes the roundabout it continues as a ring (EU only, closed):
lucy-lemon UK *skipped*
Lizzy-stardust UK
iliotropio BE (Booker Roundabout)
Xeyra PT (Booker Roundabout)
Icila FR <-- now here!
Guinni, NL
(Maite?) NL
And back to me.

Some rules:
1. When you receive the book please ensure that you journal it.
2. Read it as soon as you can, if you take longer than 1 month, please keep us all informed by posting a new entry or sending me a PM to inform me (either way I get an e-mail and I know what's up with the book).
3. When you've finished reading it, make a journal entry and contact the next person on the list.
4. If no response is received after two attempts, contact me and then next person on the list.
5. When you send the book on please make a journal entry.

I'm only halfway, but I've grown really very fond of this book. It's a beautiful book, with a beautiful cover, but most of all the story is amazing. I completely get Time's quote on the cover: "The bewitching story of a man's search for his dog and a woman's mysterious connection to her husband's disappearance, by a writer whose "sentences sparkle like precious things". It is truly amazing.

I am definitely going to reread this one, because right now I feel that a lot of the beauty is wasted on me as a non native. In rereading I'll probably get more of it.

A few quotes from the book I really liked:
"When Osman closed his eyes, the curve of the ball was prominent under the lid. Cancer had made him thin-skinned. His face was in the process of being replaced by a skull, an ancestor stepping forward to claim him. Yet his ability to bring ease into a room remained." page 72

" 'My dog ran off into the bush. I went looking for him.'
Vernon considered this briefly, testing it like a loose tooth. 'I am very fond of animals,' he announced. 'I intend to eat many, many more before I die.' " page 77

"Art exists because there are realities that exceed words." page 141

"The dog was with them that night, clicking along the pavement. From feathery plots of wild fennel by the railway line, he emerged odorous with aniseed. He cocked his leg at every opportunity, writing his chronicles in urine." Page 199

"Nelly drew a length of knitted wool from her pocket, folded it, placed it about her throat, passed the ends through the loop. It was the first time Tom had noticed this way of tying a scarf, although it was much in evidence that year." Page 200 (I really like this bit, probably because it is the exact way I always wear scarves.)

Oh, and just the other day I realised I've been using a bookmark about Australia, saying: 'Experience Australia's wilderness', I guess it should go with the book. I hope to finish reading within a week and pass it on quickly.

January 4: The last half of the book was really gripping, I think I just really needed to get caught in the story. It is really nice and I like the end. Almost can't wait to reread it, but it's off in the bookring first. I've asked franaloe for her address, so it should be on its way within a week.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Put in the mailbox, on its way to Franaloe. Have a safe trip!

Check, it's here!


edit 12.02.09: This book is taking me forever! I'm around page 100, and just can't get through. I don't get the story. I'll keep trying a little longer because of Laui's positive comments, but the book might stay at my place somewhat longer than a month.

I am really sorry, but I'm affraid I'll have to give up on this one. Don't know what it is, but I just can't get into this story. I'll ask Xeyra if she's ready for this one.

I'll skip Xeyra for the moment, as she is not responing to PMs and apparently has a lot of rings to be read, and will send the book to Sternschnuppe28 in Germany. Save travels!

just received today - thanks!

I didn't realise this was a booker read, looking forward to this, as I'm really enjoying A Fraction of a Whole at the mo. I have 1 and a half books in front of it and a big exam this week so may take a few weeks to get to, but will easily be moved on within the month time frame

I'm really not enjoying this so I'm going to give up so I don't hold it here too long. I have started the next Booker book which seems better so far, hopefully I will have that finished at the weekend and be able to send both off to the next person.

I am currently half way through A Fraction of the Whole, good but slow work, when 2 more turn up on my door-step. Thank you very much but I'll never complete them in the time frame, but I will do my best.

I agree there was some lovely prose, but I spent most of my reading time in confusion. I am glad to ave had the chance to exerience ths novel, but it is not one of my better reads for 2009. Sorry.

Lucy-lemon has asked to be skipped and I am waiting to hear from Lizzy-stardust. I shall pass the book on as soon as I can.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Lizzy-Stardust. Enjoy.

Received this book in today's post. Though I can't wait to read it, I'm afraid it will have to wait until at least the 6th of September before I start, as I am going to America for my brother's wedding and would hate to risk leaving it there. Really looking forward to reading this though and will start it as soon as I am back in the UK!

I started this book, but struggled a bit, finding it maybe a bit too pretentious, so rather than let myself keep it longer when there others who want to read it, I posted yesterday to the next person on this bookring.

The Lost Dog has reached its next stop, Brussels.
Many thaks to Lizzy-stardust for sending it :0)

I´ve finally given up on this novel; my apologies Laui.
Waiting for Xeyra´s address.
Xeyra seems to be particularly busy at the moment, so I´m moving on to Icila...

On its way to Icila. Happy reading!

Back from holiday in Spain the book was waiting safely at home among 3 other rings.
I do my best to read it fast.

Merci Iliotropio. J'ai vu que tu avais un tarif postal vraiment trop cher. En France c'est très peu couteux pour expédier n'importe où dans le monde et ça arrive très vite mais c'est au moins 3 fois plus cher pour envoyer dans le reste de la France...

I'm very sorry but i can get into and I give up too.
Thanks for sharing.

PMing the next.


05/14 : on its way to Holland.

The book arrived at my sister's last week. So it will eventually find it's way back to my book shelves. Thanks all for participating and keeping the book on the move. I'm sorry not many of you actually finished it or enjoyed it as much as I did. I might have to reread it to see if I really liked it.