Tuesday 30 August 2011

There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff


Pages - 243

Published by Penguin in September 2011

Opening lines
Oh glorious, most glorious glorious! And yet again glorious!
The sun spreads warm and golden on Lucy's face and arms. Pale new leaves unfurl so fast she can almost hear the little sighs they make as they open. Birds tweet and twitter their social networks, like city workers seeking potential mates.  A few tipsy clouds punctuate the sweet blue sky. The world reels,drunk with happiness. 


Goodreads summary 
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. 
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Meg Rosoff is definitely a one of kind author, her books are always quirky, refreshing and original. There Is No Dog is no exception. Her books are not to everyone's taste, but personally I have grown to enjoy them and this one is definitely my favourite. Meg Rosoff is definitely an acquired taste, but this book is one I will treasure and read again. 

I would never have imagined God as a hormonal sex crazed teenager whose emotions actually affect the climate of the world, but that is exactly what Bob/God is in this book. He couldn't care less what state the world is in and leaves the running of it to his overworked and extremely patient yet long suffering side kick Mr B.  You feel like you want to sit Bob/God down and give him a good talking to  You could almost see the reality of the situation, as you watch one world disaster after another and wonder if  God does exist and has he taken his eye off the ball. 

When we get to meet Mona, his drunken gambling mother, you instantly think of a trailer trash mum and not the goddess you would expect to be God's mum. Especially when you discover that she won the right to be God in a poker game. 

This book is absolutely hilarious and just so well written. The characters are brought to life with vigour and enthusiasm. I dare you not to fall instantly in love with Eck, Bob's unusual pet that reminded me of a dodo. He is warm and loving. Definitely a creature I want as a pet. Estelle is the voice of reason throughout the book and hopefully the one who will eventually make the world a better place. 

I found myself smiling and giggling all the way through the book. I really didn't like Bob/God at all and I am pretty sure he was still too self obsessed to learn anything by the end of the book. Thankfully Estelle and Mr B can see him for his true nature and deal with him accordingly.

If you like something completely different  from the normal YA book, then this book is definitely for you.  A  quick read that may have you questioning who actually controls the world. 

7 comments:

  1. So glad you enjoyed this, Vivienne! My favourite is still What I Was, but she can do no wrong in my eyes.

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  2. Nice review! I have a note to order this for my library, and I'm looking forward to reading it. :)

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  3. Boy have you made this one sound interesting! It's going on my wish list.

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  4. What a fantastic idea! I really want to read this.

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  5. Nymeth - have you read it yet?

    Jo - thank you - I hope you love it too.

    Bermudaonion - it is rather brilliant. I hope you get to read it.

    A.J. Mullarky - you will love it.

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  6. This really sounds so quirky and unique, I'm really looking forward to reading it.

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