Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Fifteen Dogs
- Narrated by: André Alexis
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Fifteen Dogs
Buy Now for £14.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
"I wonder," said Hermes, "what it would be like if animals had human intelligence."
"I'll wager a year's servitude," answered Apollo, "that animals - any animal you like - would be even more unhappy than humans are if they were given human intelligence."
And so it begins: a bet between the gods Hermes and Apollo leads them to grant human consciousness and language to a group of dogs overnighting at a Toronto veterinary clinic. Suddenly capable of more complex thought, the pack is torn between those who resist the new ways of thinking, preferring the old dog ways, and those who embrace the change. The gods watch from above as the dogs venture into their newly unfamiliar world, as they become divided among themselves, as each struggles with new thoughts and feelings. Wily Benjy moves from home to home, Prince becomes a poet, and Majnoun forges a relationship with a kind couple that stops even the Fates in their tracks.
André Alexis' contemporary take on the apologue offers an utterly compelling and affecting look at the beauty and perils of human consciousness. By turns meditative and devastating, charming and strange, Fifteen Dogs shows you can teach an old genre new tricks.
Listeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"[Alexis] devises an inventive romp through the nature of humanity in this beautiful, entertaining read.... A clever exploration of our essence, communication, and how our societies are organized." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Alexis manages to encapsulate an astonishing range of metaphysical questions in a simple tale about dogs that came to know too much. The result is a delightful juxtaposition of the human and canine conditions, and a narrative that, like just one of the dogs, delights in the twists and turns of the gods' linguistic gift." (Publishers Weekly)
"...I'm far from being a dog person, but as a book person I loved this smart, exuberant fantasy from start to finish." (Jonathan Gibbs, The Guardian)
What listeners say about Fifteen Dogs
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon customer
- 18-10-20
Absolutely loved this book
I bought this book for the title, being a dog lover.
It gave me several things to think about as well as enjoyment, from philosophy and psychology to the nature of dogs. It gives us thought that can also be applied to our modern social media society.
Brilliant!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- must love dogs
- 15-09-24
The burden of awareness
This is a strange, but beautiful little story. While I, as a huge dog lover, was initially hoping for more of dog’s endearing lightheartedness and strong virtues, this book was more about human traits. About being and thinking differently, and finding acceptance or lack there of, and about the burden of awareness. A philosophy book that makes you think about many different aspects.
The narrator read very thoughtfully and pronounced some words quite deliberately. For a different book, I might have disliked that, but here I found it perfectly fitting, as it reminded me of being read fables and fairy tales as a child.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 24-05-19
A beautiful and moving book
I have had two dogs and found the author deeply understood and reflected the relationship between dogs & humans beautifully. A moving and imaginative book. Loved it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- The Kind Peach
- 22-05-17
My Favourite Book
This reading is gripping and the tale tragic but poignant.
I first encountered this book at a train station and couldn't put it down until I was finished. The audiobook was just as engaging and added new elements to the book's poetry (especially during a second listen).
I high recommend this title.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!