CAROLYN PARKHURST - THE DOGS OF BABEL

The comments section in the back of the library book had just one notation: \"Different. I wouldn’t recommend it\". So I almost didn’t check out this book, even though I’ve had it in the back of my mind to read since it came out last year.
Wow, was that guy wrong! I couldn’t disagree with him more. I haven’t been this passionate about a book in a very long time. I found myself thinking about it all of the time-- at work, in the car, while I was watching TV, whenever I had a moment to myself. I dreamt about it at night.
The Dogs Of Babel, by Carolyn Parkhurst, is about a man whose wife falls to her death from the large apple tree in her backyard. The only one home at the time was their dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, Lorelei. Although the police have ruled Lexy’s death an accident, Paul is not so sure. As time goes by, he notices some unusual things that make him wonder. As a linguist, he becomes obsessed with the idea of trying to teach Lorelei to speak so she can tell him what she saw that day. As he goes deeper and deeper into this fantasy, he also beautifully weaves in the story of how he met Lexy and their life leading up to the day she died. Although, at first, you realize just how ridiculous his idea is, after a while you find yourself thinking that he’s not crazy at all, and that if only he can figure out the right thing to do, Lorelei will indeed be able to tell her story.
I loved this book! I have never read anything quite like it. I found it to be a beautiful, poignant story that I not only didn’t want to put down, but when I did, I was haunted by it. So, Mr. \"Different. I wouldn’t recommend it.\", I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one.