Helpful Score: 5
I read this book in a couple of sittings and actually rather enjoyed it. Looking at homelessness from a dog's-eye view was really quite profound and unique. The story of Mr. Bones and his burnt-out owner, Willy G. Christmas kind of sucks you into the novel and holds your interest. After Willy collapses and is carried off to the hospital, I wasn't sure how the story would progress, but Mr. Bones adventures kept me interested. His fear of ending up as a meal in a Chinese restaurant and eventually ending up in suburbia makes you think how fickle life for both dogs and humans can be. I don't know if Auster was trying to impart wisdom or just tell an interesting story but in any event (even though I'm not really a dog lover) this tale of Mr. Bones/Cal/Sparky/Sparkatus was enchanting.
Helpful Score: 3
This book gets confusing in parts trying to keep up with the imaginary "friends" and the real encounters. Told from the Dog-Mr. Bones perspective it gets sometimes flighty in occurences, and the ending shocked me and it will you too.
Aside that it really left you feeling sad and disheartened, but yet I couldn't put it down.
A good Book-Yeah, A GREAT book-No, not in my honest opinion but read it and then you decide.
Either way it was worth reading in spite of everything.
Aside that it really left you feeling sad and disheartened, but yet I couldn't put it down.
A good Book-Yeah, A GREAT book-No, not in my honest opinion but read it and then you decide.
Either way it was worth reading in spite of everything.
Helpful Score: 2
an interesting view of life from a dog's perspective...a life of living on the streets with a mentally unstable master and of watching him get sick and die. Mr Bones then has to learn a whole new way to survive and he can't forget his master. Even when he finally finds a nice family, he still longs for his old life with his master and finally finds a way to join him in.....Timbuktu.
This book was interesting as to the viewpoint, a little stiff reading to begin with and I really felt it would be much a more lighthearted read than it was.
This book was interesting as to the viewpoint, a little stiff reading to begin with and I really felt it would be much a more lighthearted read than it was.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a gorgeous, haunting piece of fiction told through the eyes of a wise dog.
Helpful Score: 1
This is an interesting read, told from the dog's perspective, but it was a bit sad to me. I enjoyed the story, but kept wanting a happier turn of events. There were some happier turns, but it is really left open for interpretation. I think some people would not find it sad because they might interpret it differently.
Helpful Score: 1
I read this book in a couple of sittings and actually rather enjoyed it. Looking at homelessness from a dog's-eye view was really quite profound and unique. The story of Mr. Bones and his burnt-out owner, Willy G. Christmas kind of sucks you into the novel and holds your interest. After Willy collapses and is carried off to the hospital, I wasn't sure how the story would progress, but Mr. Bones adventures kept me interested. His fear of ending up as a meal in a Chinese restaurant and eventually ending up in suburbia makes you think how fickle life for both dogs and humans can be. I don't know if Auster was trying to impart wisdom or just tell an interesting story but in any event (even though I'm not really a dog lover) this tale of Mr. Bones/Cal/Sparky/Sparkatus was enchanting.
Well-written story from a dog's point of view.
A wonderful story and commentary about relationships told from a dog's point of view.
Heart-wrenching.
I stumbled on this book after hearing about it on NPR about dog themed tales. The narrator of this story is Mr. Bones, a mutt belonging to a homeless man, Willy Christmas. I don't think you have to be a dog lover to enjoy Timbuktu. It's a departure from the typical story. You see the world from the point of view of a dog. At times the narrative is a bit confusing but I've read books that are far more difficult to follow. At the end of the story, I wished I could take Mr. Bones home with me.
Oh, this was such a good book. All told through a dog's perspective - and it reminded me so much of my poor, poor Buns... the way the dog told the story was very nicely done. And the picture looks so much like Buns too... I just miss him so much. But it was a happy story too...
I loved this book even though it was sad and I felt so sorry for Mr. Bones -
the dog voice in this story. A quick read - but well worth it.
the dog voice in this story. A quick read - but well worth it.
While this was a good story, it's heartbreaking and haunting. It was a book I could not put out of my mind for a long time and I found it so incredibly sad that it was one of the few I was sorry I'd read. I was sorry because I couldn't get the sadness and heartbreak out of my mind. I wish it could have had a happier ending, but then it wouldn't be the same story or have the same impact. If you love dogs you'll have a hard time reading this book.
I really loved this book. Somehow the dog as narrator was very important in evaluating the human condition and its many deficiencies.
