Meet your unforgettable protagonist: God, who, as it turns out, is a 19-year-old boy living in the present-day and sharing an apartment with his long-suffering fifty-something personal assistant. Unfortunately for the planet, God is lazy and, frankly, hopeless. He created all of the world's species in six days because he couldn't summon the energy to work for longer. He gets Africa and America mixed up. And his beleagured assistant has his work cut out for him when God creates a near-apolcalyptic flood, having fallen asleep without turning the bath off. There is No Dog is a darkly funny novel from one of our most delightfully unpredictable writers. goodreads
Review:
This is such a fun, whimsical story that unfortunately never quite fully delivers on it’s premise.
God is really a 19 year old boy named Bob who basically got the job because no one else wanted it. Bob's a horny boy that falls in love on a whim and creates floods, famine and general world destruction when it doesn't work out the way he wants. Every girl is "THE" girl…..until the next girl.
Despite creating all of the Earth's wonders in six days, it's really Bob's assistant Mr. B that keeps things in order. Mr. B pours through the files, deciding which prayers to answer, which conflicts to interfere in. He tries to direct Bob to do the right thing and take care of all the creatures he has created. That's hard work when Bob confuses Africa with America and instead of stopping a drought in the former, creates biblical floods in the latter.
The pressures are piling up for Bob. He's now in love with a zookeeper named Lucy but doesn't know how to get her to have sex with him without using his Godly sway. No one is helping him anymore and his mom lost his pet Eck gambling. Now the the Goddess Estelle is annoying him while she tries to save Eck.
So far so good right?
There Is No Dog is written in alternating POV's but I felt like I was being told what happened rather than getting lost in the story. The reading experience felt more observational than immersive. The book asks the big questions about God and life but never attempts to make us think any further than if Bob gets the girl and hoping that someone finally smacks that brat upside the head.
Each individual character is interesting, especially poor Eck, a penguin like creature that is the last of his kind (and supposedly quite delicious when cooked - EEP! Poor Eck). I just can't say I was too invested in what happened to anyone.
Rating: 2 out of 4 I didn't dislike the book and I was happy I read it but I can't say it made too much of an impact on me. Which is fine I guess but with the subject matter, satirical elements and the promise of a “darkly funny novel” I guess I was looking for more.
Author: website
Source: Review copy received at ALA from G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Young Readers Group)
Buy the book! There is No Dog
I thought the plot looked good. Too bad:(
ReplyDeleteIt was still cute so I would still check it out. I was expecting more though. On the goodreads page the ratings are either a 5 or a 2 lol so I think it's one of those books that some people get and some don't (like me)
ReplyDeleteEep, telling vs. showing. I have this book in my TBR pile, but maybe I'll wait a bit longer to read it.
ReplyDeleteIt's still worth reading - just not what I was expecting.
DeleteEven if it did not rock your world I have to read it as I liked another book of hers
ReplyDeleteI liked it enough that I would try something else by the author. A few people mentioned on goodreads that this book was quite different than her usually books but I had nothing to compare it to.
DeleteIt was cute/funny - just not as deep as I was hoping for.
Aw, I thought this book sounded like a fun premise but I'm sad to hear it falls flat. Telling vs. showing is a pet peeves and it's unfortunate that this book falls under that category! Although I probably won't start this book anytime soon, I think I'll pick it up if I need something quick to read. Fantastic review, Karen!
ReplyDeleteOMG. We always name things Bob! So funny! Great premise, but when something is narrated to you or told like someone relaying a story it's not so compelling.
ReplyDeleteI just felt like I was following everyone around - or looking down from above but the story was funny. I think if you go into it with different expectations it's a cute read.
DeleteSuch a shame that the story didn't quite deliver. I'm not a fan of that feeling of just being a casual observer rather than becoming part of the story. And, Poor Eck, indeed.
ReplyDeletehmmm, i always thought this sounded ok, but doesn't sound like it's for me.
ReplyDeleteIt's cute and a fast read - just not what I was hoping for.
DeleteYeah, from the synopsis it does sound like it would be a blow-you-away saracastic, funny, sharp novel. I like the premise (super-powerful yet immature immortal guy dramatically falling for girl after girl sounds like Keenan in the Wicked Lovely series...), but it's too bad there wasn't any serious impact.
ReplyDeleteI adored this book, it's a different narration style but I didn't feel it was telling me anything. Funny, unusual and really perceptive I thought There is no Dog was a great addition to the YA genre. I think more people would be surprised by it if they gave it a chance.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Fantastic review. I always like getting into the story of a book.
ReplyDelete