Customer Reviews

City Dog

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This funny, touching page turner is one of those books you try to force yourself to read more slowly because you don't want the ride to end. Pace's gift for storytelling, her deeply charming characters and her witty dialogue are on full display in this novel, and I didn't want to put the thing down until I learned what happened to Amy, the book's winning protagonist and her spirited dog, Carlie. (Though it wasn't the ending I expected, the character made a great and admirable choice--how refreshing!)

The author excels at creating characters who feel like friends. They're people you'd want to hang out with, people you root for. Who doesn't know the woman who runs into her crush just after her dog has vomited on her shirt? (Or who isn't that person herself?) Still, Pace's characters aren't caricatures. They're funnier than most folks I know, yes, but she keeps them grounded in the wonderful and flawed details of real life.

I loved CITY DOG. I think it's a book for fans of romantic comedy, for fans of dogs and "dog people," and for fans of great writing. It's a fun, fast read that will keep you laughing and smiling throughout.

In short, buy it!

What a great book! City Dog combines a compelling story, endearing characters and a creative writing style that makes it a unique, fun, and fast paced read. There are 3 narrators in the book, one of whom is the City Dog herself! In a stroke of brilliance, Pace enters into the mind of the pup and brings her to life with such enthusiasm and humor you just have to keep reading. The book tackles some difficult topics as the main character seeks purpose in her life, but it's done in a way that inspires rather than depresses.
I've read and loved all of Pace's novels, but this one takes her to a new level. If you're looking for a great weekend read, definitely buy this book!

A writer in New York City deals with her pooch's success and her own disappointments. I enjoyed City Dog so much, from start to finish. This story of a woman and her dog making their way through life in New York City was funny and light-hearted but also dealt with some more serious issues, too like figuring out the life you are supposed to lead. The story was told from the point of view of three narrators: the writer, her famous dog, and one of the writer's fictional characters. I thought it was done really well, and each voice was distinct. I loved the chapters narrated by the Westie, Carlie. They were so adorable. I recommend this book to dog-lovers and lovers of thoughtful romantic comedies and charming fiction.

After leaving her ex-husband Jonathan, Amy Dodge thought she'd write the Next Big American Novel. Instead she's the author of the highly popular children's series Run, Carlie, Run starring her very own West Highland Terrier Carlie and the fictional Robert Maguire. When Carlie is offered her own TV show, Amy starts to feel a stranger in her own life. Can Amy claw her way back into Carlie's life and can she start to re-love New York City again?

The book opens with Amy on a date, a date which doesn't work out due to the man's use of a verb (you have to read it to get it). Amy then tells us all about how she met her now-ex-husband Jonathan. Then, as Amy's date finally ends, we meet Carlie. Cue point of view change to Carlie, West Highland Terrier extraordinaire. From then on the book changes points of view intermittently as Carlie becomes a TV star in the making. The book is all told in the first person and we have three narratives: Amy (human), Carlie (Westie) and Robert Maguire (fictional Scottish hero).

You may be slightly confused and wondering why on Earth a dog and a fictional hero would be narrating a novel, but trust me, it works. In fact Carlie's insights made the book for me. I have a Westie and could imagine my dog, Suki, thinking everything Carlie thinks and says. Robert Maguire didn't really work for me, I thought that was a stretch too far, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book. Amy was the more prominent of the three narratives but for me it was Carlie who stole the show. The relationship between Amy and Carlie was wholly believeable - if you have a dog, you'll know - and that's the kind of relationship we have with our two dogs.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed City Dog I just felt as if there was something stopping me from loving it completely. As I mentioned earlier, it was a strange feeling, not being able to connect fully with a book or its main characters. Alison Pace's writing is fantastic and she manages to capture the love between humans and animals perfectly. Even if I wasn't already aware Alison had a dog I'd have guesed it from her writing. Carlie was such a fantastic little character to have in the book and my love of dogs helped no end. I probably wouldn't recommend this to someone who isn't a fan of animals and in particular dogs as I'm sure a lot of people will find this quite an unbelievable story. For me though, I really enjoyed it and look forward to trying to get my hands on Alison's other novels.

Who wouldn't love a novel that is centered on a cute and funny White Terrier? My neighbors have two and they have such wonderful personalities but, back to Alison's wonderful novel, "City Dog." This novel is very unique in that Alison uses various view points to relay her messages throughout the novel. Even Carlie (the main character, Amy's Terrier) has her turn at telling the story. These individual and unique viewpoints pulled me through Amy and Carlie's experiences as I was interested in what each individual character thought about the events in the novel.

Our main character Amy, works through many real-life situations as she struggles with independence and finding herself and her direction in life. Amy is a very relatable character in which a young woman would easily share the very same interpersonal struggles. It takes Amy quite a while with many different experiences to gain self esteem and realize that she is a strong independent woman. At the conclusion of the novel, Amy is a confident young woman who has finally found her life direction and acts on her self-discoveries.

I truly enjoyed experiencing and working through Amy and Carlie's situations, but was especially happy that Amy had found inner peace at the end of this novel.

As a side note for Alison - I hope the "Carlie" children's books are in the works because I know for a fact my kids would love to read the adventures of Carlie and Robert Maguire!

As a dog lover, I was unable to resist a novel that is narrated (in part) by a dog and CITY DOG did not disappoint! I loved how easily Alison Pace got into the the head of Carlie and found the dog insights witty and charming. Amy Dodge, Carlie's hapless owner, was so easy to relate to and quite lovable and I was pleasantly surprised by the novel's ending. A very good read!

This is such a fun read...the chapters alternate between Carly (the dog) narrating and her owner...it is so fun to "hear" what Carly is thinking...even if you aren't a dog owner it is still a lot of fun to follow along on her journey to stardom and all that comes with it on that ride...it makes one realize there are perspectives other than our own in any given situation and those other perspectives can be hilarious!

it's a mildly pleasant read but a little slow. not a book I couldn't put down. I put it down quite a few times before I finished. the best chapters by far were the ones actually narrated by the dog. at this pace excels.

CITY DOG tells the story of Amy, a recently divorced woman who's on the way to writing the Great American Novel. In the meantime, though, she's the author of the bestselling children's books, RUN, CARLIE, RUN!, based on the imagined adventures of her dog, Carlie. When Carlie gets offered a starring role in a cable show, Amy begins to question the direction her life is going, and what she truly wants out of life.

You don't have to be a dog lover to fall in love with CITY DOG. Told by alternating narrators, I found the story so relatable--who hasn't questioned the path their life is on? Alison's writing truly shines in this charming tale of a woman finding her way. CITY DOG is funny, wistful, and touching.

I would highly recommend CITY DOG.

I've been a big fan of Alison Pace's writing ever since If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend, which is one of my all-time favorite books. Of all her books, City Dog reminds me the most of that. City Dog is a warm-hearted, fun and funny story with moments of genuine hilarity and also some very thoughtful parts, too. This story of a writer (and her dog) coming to terms with career, love, and life in the big city was an absolute pleasure to read. The book was narrated in alternating chapters by the writer, Amy, her dog, Carlie, and one of her fictional characters. I thought the Carlie chapters were amazing, hands down my favorite, and the chapters narrated by the fictional character were original and intriguing. Bonus points too for the 80s music references which happily brought me back. Loved this book and highly recommend.