The Dog Who Wouldn't Be

by Farley Mowat

Hardcover, 1957

Status

Available

Local notes

Fic Mow

Barcode

373

Collection

Publication

Little Brown & Co (Juv) (1957) Newer reprint. 238 pages. $18.95.

Description

Farely Mowat's best loved book tells the splendidly entertaining story of his boyhood on the Canadian prairies.nbsp;nbsp;Mutt's pedigree was uncertain, but his madness was indisputable.nbsp;nbsp;He climbed tress and ladders, rode passenger in an open car wearing goggles and displaying hunting skills that bordered on sheer genius.nbsp;nbsp;He was a marvelous dog, worthy of an unusual boy growing up a raw, untamed wilderness.

Awards

Original language

English

Original publication date

1957

Physical description

238 p.; 6 x 1 inches

User reviews

LibraryThing member usnmm2
I came across this book and grabbed it right up. I had read it many many years ago in the 5TH grade, and it was as good as my fond memories of it were.

This is a classic story of a boy and his dog (or maybe a dog and his boy).
Guaranteed to make you laugh out loud and bring a tear to your eye, a must
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read to anyone who has or had a dog.
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LibraryThing member stornelli
An autobiographical account of a boy and his dog’s adventures growing up in the Canadian Prairie province of Saskatchewan during the Depression era of the 1920s to 1935.Illustrations were penciled in black and white. A compelling story of a boy’s attachment to his dog.

Title is derived from the
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father buying a “mutt” but training it to be a hunting dog.The story is narrated by the boy in the first person. A few anecdotes about societal values of the era.
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LibraryThing member Stsmurphy
If you haven't made the acquaintance of the Canadian author Farley Mowat, you are now in for a treat. Perhaps best known for his book "Never Cry Wolf", he is at his best when describing wildlife in the Canadian prairies where he grew up in the 1920s-1930s. At the height of the dust bowl/depression
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years, Farley's father, a librarian, moved the family from Ontario to the remote prairie town of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. At the very edge of town, the untamed natural life of the prairie beckoned. As much about his youth as about the dog who shared his adventures, this book will make you ache for a time and a lifestyle long gone. Farley describes with a wry twinkle the travels he made with his parents in their old car, "Eardley", with Mutt in the rumble seat, sticking his nose into the 'slipstream', and wearing goggles against the dust. With one of the most touching endings of any dog story you will every read, this is a book to savor.I have read this book several times over the years and enjoyed it anew each time. This time around, I listened to an audio version read by James Armstrong (and including a recording of Mowat's "Owls in the Family"). Armstrong gave an excellent rendition of this classic.
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LibraryThing member Karin7
????

Farley and his family moved to Saskatoon when he was 8, in 1929, and weren’t there long before his mother bought a tiny, young dog for four cents, whom Farley named Mutt. Mutt was unlike any other dog they had ever known; he walked with an odd gait, refused to eat raw meat, and met the world
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in a way unlike any dog I’ve ever heard of, and this is a memoir of Farley’s years with Mutt.

Although the beginning was a bit slow and not my style, once Mutt learned to be a bird dog, in his unique fashion, the book picked up, replete with Mowatt’s humour. It is a fine book for y/a, but also for adults, and gives a window into living in Saskatoon during the depression as well.
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LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
This is a children's story that will engage all readers. Farley Mowat writes this light hearted story about his childhood dog and other various animals that resided with his family in his youth. Mutt was purchased by his mother for 4 cents and he was well worth it. A smart dog who learned to walk
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the fences, climb ladders, retrieve birds but would not come when called. He had a mind of his own and his antics entertained his family, the various communities they live in and readers for years. Also thrown in are a smattering of stories about the antics of his father as well. A great story for anyone who loves dogs, but be ready for the ending as in many books about animals.
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LibraryThing member mjspear
Not a kid's book; beautifully-written look at a child's life in a semi-rural world (Ontario > Canadian Prairie) esp. but not exclusively devoted to Mutt the dog but also Wols and Weeps the owls, assorted skunks, gophers, and cats... Teddy Roosevelt without the money, Mowat's fascination with the
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natural world began early and led to a life and writings for which we are all grateful.
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LibraryThing member LibraryCin
3.5 stars

In the 1930s, Farley Mowat and his parents moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. They wanted a dog. His father wanted a hunting dog, but since that was too expensive, his mother just bought a dog a little boy was selling for cheap door-to-door. They called him Mutt. This book includes stories
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that mostly focus on Mutt.

Actually my favourite chapter was the one with the two owls (Mowat used those owls in his fictional kids’ story, “Owls in the Family”). The book was more like short stories, but that’s ok. Mutt was a character. A lot of people seem to consider this a children’s book, but I didn’t think it read that way. A boy and his dog, sure. I suppose that would appeal, but it didn’t seem particularly written for kids. I’m rating it good.
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Other editions

Pages

238

Rating

(143 ratings; 4.1)
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