Issue Date: November 16, 2008

Books with animal characters for adults

Five novels reveal the thoughts of dogs, ferrets, a horse and more!

By Jenny Rough

When the pigs Snowball and Napoleon led the revolt against humans in "Animal Farm," George Orwell was reviving a novel idea: Write a book from an animal's perspective -- but for adults.

In a recent "Oprah" book-club pick, David Wroblewski's "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," Edgar is a mute boy whose dog, Almondine, narrates some chapters. "In Life of Pi," author Yann Martel tells the story of shipwreck, with readers left to determine whether the talking Bengal tiger stranded with Pi is the true narrator after all. And in Dave Eggers' short story "After I was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned," the main character, a dog, shares his tragic but inspiring account (interrupted with commentary from a gang of squirrels) of his short life. Here, five more novels from the animal kingdom:

The Art of Racing in the Rain
by Garth Stein (HarperCollins, $23.95)
Enzo is one intelligent dog. He's capable of abstract reasoning. He philosophizes about reincarnation. And he can detect cancer (by smell). Enzo shares the story of his life and, in doing so, tells the story of his master Denny's life as Denny struggles with losing his wife to a brain tumor and then faces a legal battle with his in-laws over custody of his daughter. Reading from a dog's perspective feels natural, and the book isn't sappy in the least, but you'll still need some Kleenex.

The Book of the Dun Cow
by Walter Wangerin Jr. (HarperCollins, $13.95)
There's a talking donkey and a prattling snake in the Old Testament, but even before biblical times -- when the world wasn't yet inhabited by humans -- Chauntecleer the Rooster ruled over his land. In this religious fable, a group of animals band together to protect the world God gave them and to fight Wyrm, an evil creature that lives underground. With questions of hope and faith at its core, the book tackles important topics, but the animals' flawed personalities and humorous relationships with each other are what's truly moving.

Sweet William
by John Hawkes (Penguin, $15)
Sweet William is only 22 days old when his mother dies, and the years that follow show that a horse's life isn't always green pastures and warm stables. But from his days as a racehorse to the days he spends fighting the cruel tactics of his different owners (one tries to "accidentally" kill him to collect insurance money), the feisty thoroughbred pushes on. Then he finds Master, a kind man who brings Sweet William to a ranch where, in his last years, the horse recounts memories of his life.

Curious Lives
by Richard Bach (Hampton Roads, $15.95)
Best known for "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," Richard Bach moves from coastal birds to inquisitive ferrets in this five-book series combined here into one novel. Whether reading about Budgeron and Danielle, two ferrets striving to get their manuscripts published while supporting each other in their relationship, or about Bethany, who has wanted to be a Rescue Ferret (the animal version of a Coast Guard officer) since she was a young kit, you'll be inspired by the fearless ways in which these little rascals pursue their dreams.

You are a Dog
by Terry Bain (Harmony, $16)
Explaining the reasons to chew a shoe, offering tips for sneaking up on the sofa, and listing the pros and cons of drinking from the toilet bowl, this dog shares the inner workings of her brain. Instead of referring to people by their human names, she dubs them as she sees fit. Take the baby, for example, known as She Who Randomly Flings Food from the Table. Though her IQ may be lower than that of "Art of Racing's" Enzo, this "Everyman's" dog will make you laugh out loud.

Jenny Rough last wrote about the DVD release of Wall-E for USA WEEKEND Magazine.