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jazin95's review against another edition
5.0
After watching the film, I felt it was only right to read the book. The honesty of Australia in the story is excellent. I love the quote, '... but Sydney isn't Australia;' that made me laugh. The whole story is told through the eyes of a child who has lost his father and dealing with a mentally ill mother. The themes of dealing with mental health are placed delicately and with kind and understanding words.
Thought I might include the fun Aussie slang in the story:
Bum nuts
Moo Juice
Cackle berries
Thought I might include the fun Aussie slang in the story:
Bum nuts
Moo Juice
Cackle berries
donastcolumb's review against another edition
4.0
As anyone who knows me will attest I am a bona-fide Louis de Bernieres fan so was very excited when I discovered this new little gem. I enjoyed it immensely although I was questioning whether I was having a particularly emotional reaction (my default to LdB) and then Disgrace happened and until the end of the book I just couldn't speak.
I love his little quip at the end that the book is written for 12 year olds but will mostly be read by adults and getting his own back on the film industry. Having met him I could really 'hear' his voice.
I love his little quip at the end that the book is written for 12 year olds but will mostly be read by adults and getting his own back on the film industry. Having met him I could really 'hear' his voice.
anna_eli's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
anelisa's review against another edition
4.0
Mooi, zorgvuldig en rustig verteld verhaal over een jongen, zijn ouwe grootvader en het diepe Australië.
clarajp5's review against another edition
3.0
This was a nice read, but I preferred 'Red Dog'. It perhaps verged on being dull, but even so it was enjoyable.
ladyjane95's review against another edition
5.0
After watching the film, I felt it was only right to read the book. The honesty of Australia in the story is excellent. I love the quote, '... but Sydney isn't Australia;' that made me laugh. The whole story is told through the eyes of a child who has lost his father and dealing with a mentally ill mother. The themes of dealing with mental health are placed delicately and with kind and understanding words.
Thought I might include the fun Aussie slang in the story:
Bum nuts
Moo Juice
Cackle berries
Thought I might include the fun Aussie slang in the story:
Bum nuts
Moo Juice
Cackle berries
oxfinite's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bianca89279's review
4.0
'Blue Dog' is a sweet coming-of-age story, set in the Western Australian outback.
The story was cute and somewhat familiar. When city boy Mick finds himself on his paternal grandfather's farm, he doesn't really know what to do with himself. He's very sad, as his father recently passed away and his mum is suffering a mental breakdown that makes her unable to care for him.
His grandad is a typical Aussie farmer, hardened by life in the outback. His house is quite isolated and Mick doesn't have much company. He takes to exploring the farm. On his 12th birthday, he received his father's old motorcycle, which Mick and Taylor Pete, the aboriginal resident who was helping around the farm, start taking apart and putting together. That opens up new opportunities for Mick.
Mick gets lots of skills while on the farm. He survives cyclones and storms. After a cyclone, he finds a red kelpie puppy stuck in a tree. The dog will be named Blue. The two are inseparable, as only a boy and a dog can be.
Sorry, I've given away too much.
It's a short novella, worth reading. I was impressed with the author's grasp of the Australian vernacular and with his knowledge of the life in the Australian bush. I had no idea that Louis de Bernieres wrote 'Red Dog' which was made into a great movie.
At the end of this novella, de Bernieres tells us that he was asked to write the novella, based on the script for the movie 'Blue Dog', an unusual reversal of roles.
I've received this novella via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to publishers for the opportunity to read and review it.
Cover 4.5 stars
The story was cute and somewhat familiar. When city boy Mick finds himself on his paternal grandfather's farm, he doesn't really know what to do with himself. He's very sad, as his father recently passed away and his mum is suffering a mental breakdown that makes her unable to care for him.
His grandad is a typical Aussie farmer, hardened by life in the outback. His house is quite isolated and Mick doesn't have much company. He takes to exploring the farm. On his 12th birthday, he received his father's old motorcycle, which Mick and Taylor Pete, the aboriginal resident who was helping around the farm, start taking apart and putting together. That opens up new opportunities for Mick.
Mick gets lots of skills while on the farm. He survives cyclones and storms. After a cyclone, he finds a red kelpie puppy stuck in a tree. The dog will be named Blue. The two are inseparable, as only a boy and a dog can be.
Sorry, I've given away too much.
It's a short novella, worth reading. I was impressed with the author's grasp of the Australian vernacular and with his knowledge of the life in the Australian bush. I had no idea that Louis de Bernieres wrote 'Red Dog' which was made into a great movie.
At the end of this novella, de Bernieres tells us that he was asked to write the novella, based on the script for the movie 'Blue Dog', an unusual reversal of roles.
I've received this novella via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to publishers for the opportunity to read and review it.
Cover 4.5 stars
zefrog's review
3.0
A prequel to Bernères' Red Dog, Blue Dog is a children/YA book guaranteed to also charm the adults. It's a simple and at times moving story of coming of age in the outback of Western Australia.
There is much Australian slang peppered throughout but that doesn't distract too much. My only real gripe is with the few mentions of "sissies" and what "real men" should or shouldn't do.
Very enjoyable on the whole, though.
The illustrations are lovely.
There is much Australian slang peppered throughout but that doesn't distract too much. My only real gripe is with the few mentions of "sissies" and what "real men" should or shouldn't do.
Very enjoyable on the whole, though.
The illustrations are lovely.
charlieb's review
3.0
It was alright, my life was not enriched by reading it. The pacing was slow and in all honesty I didn't care much for the characters. As it was adapted from a screenplay I got the sense that the story wasn't really the author's and it showed. The only upside is that it was short. In the afterword the author mentioned that it written for 12 year-old's, but nothing of this was mentioned elsewhere.