The Dog of the North: LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2023

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When her mad-scientist grandmother waves a gun at Meals on Wheels, Penny Rush is called to Santa Barbara, where her adventures begin.

Her beloved grandpa, Arlo (formerly married to Dr. Pincer) is graded senile by his second wife Doris and wants to leave him to care home. Penny must surely remind readers of Eleanor Oliphant, Bernadette, Lisa Simpson, and – brilliantly – themselves. The mix of oddness, mystery, pain and joy is perfectly blended. All in all, this is a blissful novel that I want to give to everyone I love.’ Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to be Cheerful The Dog of the North follows Penny on her quest for a fresh start. There will be a road trip in 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 toupée. There will be questions: Why is a detective investigating her grandmother, and what is "the scintillator"? And can Penny recognize a good thing when it finally comes her way?Not so much beyond the dog’s name, but I did understand that Penny is on a type of quest. And I think one thing she admires about Burt is his quixotic optimism. So, I think [the Don Quixote connection] kind of resonates. It was remarked that the van in Dog of the North is sort of like Don Quixote’s horse Rocinante, which, again, was not a connection I had thought of…but I love that the spirit of that beloved novel might hover near this one. The book is filled with long-standing preoccupations, things like alienation, expatriation and dislocation, step-parents vs. biological parents, failed marriages, awkward misunderstandings, and self-delusion. Once I landed on the character of Penny, I was especially interested in creating an experience for the reader out of the substance of her reactions and emotions. To be able to watch a person go through a logistical and emotional gauntlet and see, in near to real time, how they respond and change. Many thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the eARC of this fantastic, hilarious, charming read. I'm not familiar with the author's other books, but I read that she was a past National Book Award nominee, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with this, and I was correct.

Penny is searching for connection, for meaning in her life after quitting her marriage and job. Throughout her episodic travels, there are missing parents, a grandfather ready for an adventure, strange objects that perform mysterious and surprising functions, Dr. Pincer’s science experiments, shared meals, injuries, ailments and bits of hope. 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.Zany and fun . . . Penny is always sharp, ready for the other shoe to drop, and lovable. This spinning, upside-down rollercoaster of a novel is a delightful portrait of the definitive chaos of love and family and perfect for fans of Carl Hiassen and George Saunders.” — Booklist If you’re looking for a book that takes you on an adventure with twists and turns that nobody could guess then look no further. Although I did finish the Dog of the North with far too many questions for which I didn’t find my answers, I think it’s safe to say that it will be a book that is remembered and thought on fondly for a long time to come. It does sound like a lot of this is coming from things that you’ve experienced personally or emotions that you’ve had. Could you consider it autofiction?