The Dog Who Wouldn't Be (Farley Mowat)

The Dog Who Wouldn't Be is a humorous memoir about a boy and his dog growing up in Dustbowl-era Saskatchewan (1930s).

Mutt is a unique dog. Bought for four cents off a boy trying to sell ducks, this unorthodox canine had an intriguing life in the Mowat household. His misadventures could infuriate the family (and the locals), but he would grow to be a tremendous (if quirky) hunting dog, much beloved by the boy and parents.

This book is a lot of fun. Mowat is a master of writing—the tales are amusing enough, but the delivery (his words and phrases are nigh-poetic) increases the enjoyment tenfold. It's more than humorous, though; it is a poignant look at a bygone era, when boyhood meant exploration and adventure, traipsing around with a dog (or an owl . . .) before modernity's technology and limitations. It also offered glimpses into the all-too-familiar (and often hilarious) relational dynamics between husband and wife, parent and son. Highly recommended.

Rating: A