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Title details for The Dog of the North by Elizabeth McKenzie - Available

The Dog of the North

A Novel

by Elizabeth McKenzie
Katherine Littrell
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
* Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize * A New Yorker Best Book of the Year * A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice * Nominated for the Women’s Prize for Fiction *

“I’m in love with a grieving misfit driving around with a donkey-shaped piñata in an old van held together by duct tape…the great miracle of McKenzie’s writing… is how she manages to transform misery into gentle humor…darkly hilarious.” —The Washington Post

“An addictive read with an ultimately hopeful core that recalls Haruki Murakami, Sayaka Murata, Richard Brautigan, and Miranda July” – Sanjena Sathian, author of Gold Diggers
Penny Rush has problems. Her marriage is over; she’s quit her job. Her mother and stepfather went missing in the Australian outback five years ago; her mentally unbalanced father provokes her; her grandmother Dr. Pincer keeps experiments in the refrigerator and something worse in the woodshed. But Penny is a virtuoso at what’s possible when all else fails.
 
Elizabeth McKenzie, the National Book Award–nominated author of The Portable Veblen, follows Penny on her quest for a fresh start. There will be a road trip in the Dog of the North, an old van with gingham curtains, a piñata, and stiff brakes. There will be injury and peril. There will be a dog named Kweecoats and two brothers who may share a toupee. There will be questions: Why is a detective investigating her grandmother. What is “the Scintillator”? And can Penny recognize a good thing when it finally comes her way?
 
This slyly humorous, thoroughly winsome novel finds the purpose in life’s curveballs, insisting that even when we are painfully warped by those we love most, we can be brought closer to our truest selves.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    March 14, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593671290
      • File size: 261985 KB
      • Duration: 09:05:48

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      January 16, 2023
      A grieving woman navigates a series of misadventures in the endearing and quirky latest from McKenzie (The Portable Veblen). Five years earlier, Penny Rush’s mother and stepfather disappeared while traveling in the Australian outback. When Penny Rush learns her grandmother, known mainly as Dr. Pincer, has threatened her Meals on Wheels delivery person with a gun at her Santa Barbara house, Penny quits her dead-end job and takes the train from Santa Cruz to help keep Pincer safe from the prying eyes at Adult Protective Services. She’s also relieved to have something to get her mind off her missing mother. There, she befriends Pincer’s kooky accountant, Burt Lampey. As Penny arranges for a cleaning crew to fix up Pincer’s house, she gets a call from her grandfather Arlo’s much-younger wife, who complains Arlo is “too old to be of use.” Along the way, Penny gets help from Burt, who drives a van named the Dog of the North and has a Pomeranian called Kweecoats (“like Quick Oats, but with a French accent,” Burt explains). There’s also a trip to Australia, unexpected visits from Penny’s biological father, and the discovery of a skeleton. With the anxious and well-meaning Penny at the helm, McKenzie brings sincerity to the otherwise zany proceedings. This whirlwind tale has heart to spare. Agent: Emily Forland, Brandt & Hochman Literary.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Katherine Littrell hits every comedic and dramatic note in her narration of this family saga. Penny Rush's marriage is crumbling, and she's close to being penniless when she's summoned to her grandmother Pincer's home by Pincer's accountant, Burt Lampey. Pincer has dementia and a hoarding streak. A plan to clean the home leads to a wild adventure involving road trips from California to Australia, mysteries from the past, and just maybe a new direction in life. Littrell voices Penny in a world-weary "What now?" tone; Pincer with an unapologetic, commanding voice; and Burt with a charm and grace that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Littrell paints clear and beautiful pictures as her American, Southern, and Australian accents add to the appeal of the story. L.M.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      June 10, 2024

      Penny Rush has quit her job and ended her marriage; her mother and stepfather went missing in Australia years ago, her father hits all her triggers, and her grandmother is performing medical experiments in her house. But even with all that going on, Penny remains staunchly optimistic and tackles all the awkward situations head-on. A road trip, faulty brakes, actual skeletons in the closet, and the possibility of love all help Penny find her way. McKenzie's (The Portable Veblen) is an over-the-top road trip, full of laugh-out-loud moments balanced with heavier experiences that propel Penny's growth forward. Katherine Littrell narrates an overwhelmed woman as she continually strives to see only the best in each moment but is faced with one obstacle after another. Penny's commitment to helping family is admirable despite dead bodies, infected injuries, too many toupees, and a small dog with a questionable name. VERDICT While listeners may find themselves occasionally rolling their eyes at the sheer number of ridiculous events, they will also be rooting for this endearing heroine. A quirky yet heartfelt road trip novel.--Elyssa Everling

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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