Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis

After learning Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis had won the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize for excellence in Canadian fiction I reserved the book from the library. I did the same three years ago after learning Will Ferguson had won for his book 419.

Of course all award winning books are popular. So the holds list was quite long. For me, my copy finally came in a couple of weeks ago.

I have to say, the book is pretty gripping. I shouldn't have started reading it late at night because once I got into it, it was hard to put it down.

The story is about fifteen dogs who have been given human intelligence by the gods, Apollo and Hermes. Apollo bets a year's servitude that the animals, with their newfound gift, will be more unhappy than without it. To clarify things the gods wager that "at the time of their death" if even one dog dies happy then Apollo wins.

And so it begins...

Now, right off the bat, three of the dogs die shortly after gaining their freedom from the veterinary clinic they were kept at. They stay at the back door while the others leave. One elderly dog is put down (because that's what her master left her there for).

The other two were treated for their particular ailments and returned to their masters who treated them as the dogs they once were. But, with their new found insight and intelligence they now rue the way they're treated with so little dignity and respect.

Set in Toronto, the rest of the pack makes their way to nearby High Park where they set up a den for themselves. The rest of the book tells of their interaction with humans, each other and other "normal" dogs. There is tension, betrayal, friendship and love. A worthy award winner for sure.