#39: The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

"Why don't we have a word for the utterance between laughing and crying?"

My first book of 2021 just so happened to be a post-apocalyptic story told from the perspective of a guy who survived a deadly flu pandemic that wiped out 99% of humanity. If it sounds a little too close to home, it is! It affected me in a profound way to be reading about the aftermath of a deadly pandemic while living through one. I couldn't help but put myself in the shoes of Hig, our main character, and ask myself if I would do the same things and have the same thoughts. He loves his dog, the outdoors, flying and fishing. He is uncomfortable with killing and has a neighbor, just one, who isn't. He wants more from life than just the constant struggle of survival.

This book reads like poetry. If you decide to read it, I recommend you take it with you up to the mountains or your favorite place in nature. It conjures up imagery and emotion that quietly and patiently sit with you, lacking any sense of urgency...

...right up until you're assaulted by scenes of marauders and the tone shifts to "kill or be killed." Talk about stark dichotomies! There are moments of pure bliss and gut wrenching agony, tenderness and violence, peace and anxiety. It is both light hearted and at the same time quite dark. Heller does great work shifting tones and building tension and I was thrilled by several scenes. He also paints a very tranquil picture that was relaxing and serene.

I really liked it, but it did take over 100 pages to get invested. It has so much depth that I want to read essays about it as I'm sure there was a lot that I missed. There are ideas about survival and the type of person you have to turn into to survive. There is commentary on the value of desperately trying to hold on to your humanity. Heller also explores how tenuous life is and how vulnerable we all really are. Loneliness, companionship, hope...this book has a lot going for it. The evolution of the relationship between Hig and his one neighbor, Bangley, is masterful.

If are looking for something beautifully written and evocative, if you love the outdoors, and if you enjoy reading about people desperately fighting for survival, this one is for you.

What mountains of literature are you climbing?
Kyle