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The Dog Boy Paperback – January 20, 2014

by
Noel Anenberg (Author)
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Noel Anenberg (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 28 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 290 pages
  • Publisher: Button Willow Press (January 20, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0615827217
  • ISBN-13: 978-0615827216
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,919,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsWonderful read!
By Amazon Customer on November 30, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
The Dog Boy is an emotionally entertaining novel set just at the end of WWII in Los Angeles. It follows Phosie, an African-American maid who moves to Los Angeles to be with her son who was wounded in the war and is in the hospital recovering. She works as a maid for Lucille Goldberg as a means to making a living during her son’s recovery and encounters Jakie, Lucille’s brother, and Lucille’s son who believes he is a dog and acts and lives like one at all times, thus the title of the book. Racial issues are at the forefront of this book as care for Phosie’s son is not what it should be due to his color. Also explored quite beautifully is the relationship Phosie has with Lucille to whom she becomes somewhat of a mother figure, albeit one who knows her place. The key relationship is between Phosie and the little dog boy to whom she also becomes somewhat of a mother as well. The author does a brilliant job of exploring the life of an African-American maid during this time in post war Los Angeles without making it the main point of the book. Instead, the focal point is Phosie herself, a strong woman who only wants the best for her son. I really enjoyed this book and found myself completely taken in by the story. I read this on my ereader which formatted it to digital form perfectly and the cover was intriguing as to how it correlated to the book title. This is definitely worth the read.
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5.0 out of 5 starsWhen Phosie Eaton received the letter stating her son, Will, had been wounded in action, and was in a California hospital, she r
By Julie Baswell on December 18, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
When Phosie Eaton received the letter stating her son, Will, had been wounded in action, and was in a California hospital, she rushed there to see him. Once there, she was appalled to find out the substandard treatment he was being given, with him being of color. Phosie finds a job where she can live and clean the household. As dysfunctional as the household is, what with the lady of the house screaming and bringing home drunks, the next-door-neighbor-brother is shell-shocked and a bit creepy, and the small son acts like a dog and bites, this is her only choice if she wants to stay near Will. With every day, a new challenge comes along. Phosie begins to wonder if she will survive this wild family long enough to get Will the help he needs.

This story’s plot takes place during a seven-month period but feels like so much longer. Phosie was so well developed and likeable, as were several other characters. I could feel all her despair and my heart went out to her. The author did an amazing job of depicting that time period accurately. I loved the way this story kept me laughing all the way through.
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3.0 out of 5 starsWhat a dialogue!
By Elizabeth Barbarick (Stuffed Shelves) on December 3, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
The first thing I must mention about this book is the difference in dialogue from Phosie's narrative voice and her internal dialogue. Her internal dialogue with herself is in a language different then what she speaks, which makes sense, but it is very confusing at some points, especially with the spelling errors. Were they on purpose, showing her educational level? But then again, there were typos elsewhere in the book. I'm sure this book will be going through another editing process, since there seemed to be quite a few errors.

There was a big difference between her internal dialogue and what she actually says in conversation. It's almost as if she thinks one conversation, but speaks on another. I guess we all do this every day on auto pilot but I had a hard time keeping up with it. She speaks in a lot of clichés and some of them aren't appropriate, so it shows she is either ignorant or ballsy.

It made it challenging to get through, but not in a bad way. I was determined to figure her out and take out all confusion. By the end of the book, some of it was wrapped up, while others were left with mystery. I mean, a tragedy happens in her hometown, and she doesn't drop what she's doing to attend to it. Something I found odd. I don't want to give too much away and spoil the book, so I'll just generalize it by saying her behavior doesn't always match reality.

As I read this book, I kept hoping it was going to get better, but it continued to stay mediocre. Which isn't always a bad thing, and is not in this particular case. It just had a lot of dead ends, open questions, and surprising moments. Overall I would give this book a 3/5.
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4.0 out of 5 starsJourney of Heart Touching and Opening in THE DOG BOY
By buddhasrus on June 21, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
The warm characters are love in different expressions; the sad and shameful secrets of post WWII times can open hearts to how far we have grown as human beings since then (although Life continues to change and require still more growth as we step into our futures). It is a story and characters that tug at the hair in the back of your head...pulling you back to look or remember how rich these seemingly homey characters actually are and they touch us with their honor, humor, humble dignity and their life wisdom. Thank you for this telescope and microscope story into 1946 and for touching my heart too.

PS This was 1st time I used Kindle and now I love it. Thank you Amazon because you made it easy and do-able.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Brilliant Debut by a Wonderful New Writing Talent!
By BookBiz on May 16, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
Apparently inspired by the author's own life, this story of a toddler, raised in the `40s by two violent, alcoholic parents with only the saving grace of a loving, African American maid to protect him, had me in tears one moment and laughing out loud the next. The young boy, who does not speak but imitates the only thing he has ever loved (a puppy abruptly taken away from him; hence "Dog" boy), is nurtured by the one maid who will stay longer than a month to protect and defend the child in this dysfunctional household.

Phosie Mae Eaton, narrator of THE DOG BOY, arrives in Los Angeles from Galveston to be near her wounded son in the segregated military hospital where he lies dying for lack of penicillin and "colored" needles to administer it. In order to find shelter and earn money to help her son, Phosie gets placed in the Goldberg's run-down shack of a home by a questionable employment agency madam who laments the fact that she doesn't look more like Aunt Jemima. Phosie Mae then takes over the role of mother, hand maiden, cook, butler/waitress, cleaning lady, seamstress, washer woman, healer and protector as she juggles the personalities in this household --- Dog boy's mother, Lucille and her stream of questionable boyfriends, Leo, the alcoholic ex-husband who comes over to alternately woo and lash out at Lucille plus Jake, Lucille's deadbeat brother who lives next door but expects dinner at Dog Boy's. Interspersed with visits to the military hospital and desperate attempts to get the needles and medication her son needs to survive, Phosie Mae spends time with her brother, Babe and his whale-sized wife, "Sis" Pearl, who give their animated take on all things surrounding the situation.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsHats off to Mr. Anenberg

It seems that Mr. Anenberg has a time machine at his disposal. And, in addition to that, has the ability to make himself invisible -- how else could he have achieved the clarity... Read more

Published 13 months ago by J. James
4.0 out of 5 starsAn unusual, but thought provoking novel!

I read "The Dog Boy" by Noel Anenberg in paperback form while visiting a friend overnight and must say, it was enticing enough to keep me awake almost all night. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Chloe
4.0 out of 5 stars... abt ww11 and the 1940and 1950 's is very great story about history...

This book by Noel Annenberg is a very unusual dialog abt ww11 and the 1940and 1950 's is very great story about history and different character's in each part of the dialog. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Lisa breiterman
4.0 out of 5 starsLA & Racial Prejudice

I received a free copy of this book to review from the author with the expectation of an honest reaction/review of the work. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Free2Read
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Interesting historically for us LA residents and beautiful portrayals of characters and relationships.

Published 15 months ago by Beth
4.0 out of 5 starsA unique story

I wasn't too sure about this book at the beginning. I wondered what I could possibly find in common with a black house servant in the 1940's. But the story really drew me in. Read more

Published 15 months ago by Jewel Shine (Gamer and Pegasister
5.0 out of 5 starsTwo Damaged Sons

Noel Anenberg's novel The Dog Boy is beautifully written and heavy-laden with heart-felt and gut-felt emotion, and remarkably short on cheap and easy sentimentality. Read more

Published 15 months ago by not a natural
4.0 out of 5 starsWas a very interesting story - sad though in a way

Was a very interesting story - sad though in a way. To think these things could possibly happen makes me really sad. Read the book - is quick and easy.

Published 16 months ago by paula j mintz
4.0 out of 5 starsGlad I read it

Very interesting story about a Black woman coming to Los Angeles in the 40’s to see her injured son, recently returned from the war, and recuperating in a “colored” hospital. Read more

Published 16 months ago by Sue Nevens
5.0 out of 5 starsAnenberg wasn't afraid to clearly show the way the black Americans of...

"The Dog Boy" is a well-written book about a widowed black woman from south Texas and the life she led after receiving a telegram from the war department telling her her... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Tracy Jillard

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