Title: The Dogs of Babel Author: Carolyn Parkhurst type of book: Fiction call number: Fic

This book is strong in character, story and language.

Summary:
After his wife Lexy dies after falling from a tree, linguistics professor Paul Iverson becomes obsessed with teaching their dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Lorelei (the sole witness to the tragedy), to speak so he can find out the truth about Lexy's death -- was it accidental or did Lexy commit suicide?

I would recommend this book!

Why?
Though not perfect (too many subplots thrown in at the end) it was a wonderful read -- it seems trite, but I could not put it down. It's not an easy read, having some brief passages about animal abuse, but worth it for the complexity of characters and relationships. It doesn't have to be believable; like all grief, it's highly personal. What people have to do to get themselves to the other side varies as much as the people they've loved and lost.