Book Review – TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG by Connie Willis
To Say Nothing of the Dog Synopsis
Connie Willis’ Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Doomsday Book uses time travel for a serious look at how people connect with each other. In this Hugo-winning companion to that novel, she offers a completely different kind of time travel adventure: a delightful romantic comedy that pays hilarious homage to Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat.
When too many jumps back to 1940 leave 21st century Oxford history student Ned Henry exhausted, a relaxing trip to Victorian England seems the perfect solution. But complexities like recalcitrant rowboats, missing cats, and love at first sight make Ned’s holiday anything but restful – to say nothing of the way hideous pieces of Victorian art can jeopardize the entire course of history. (Audible.com)
Book Review
There is no need to beat around the bush with this one – To Say Nothing of the Dog is a ‘must listen to’ audio book.
Connie Willis is such a clever author. Her prose and complex plot lines are delivered seemingly effortlessly, oozing intelligence, wit and class. Narrator Steven Crossley takes Willis’ wonderful novel and takes it to another level in audio with his perfect comedic timing and colourful characterisation.
Connie Willis’ novel To Say Nothing of the Dog is one of the most enjoyable audio books I have listened to.
Willis’ characters, both the human and animal variety, exude such personality that one cannot help to cheer them on in this hapless yet charming romp through time and space. Ned Henry is your quintessential good-hearted underdog finding his way through a maze of Victorian manners, literary debate, domineering women and animal wrangling with absolutely hilarious consequences.
I thoroughly enjoyed the other title I have read by Connie Willis, Bellwether also. In To Say Nothing of the Dog Connie Willis has again created literary fiction that you just do not want to end. I look forward to reading more from this wonderful author.
BOOK RATING: The Story 5 / 5 ; The Writing 5 / 5
BOOK DETAILS: To Say Nothing of the Dog (Audible); To Say Nothing of the Dog (Amazon); To Say Nothing of the Dog (The Nile – Australia); To Say Nothing of the Dog (eBooks.com)
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Literature, Historical, Sci-Fi-Fantasy, Audio
Author Information: Find out all you need to know about Connie Willis on her official website ConnieWillis.net, including her many Hugo, Nebula and Locus award wins and nominations.
- Read an interview with Connie Willis discussing To Say Nothing of the Dog
Other Reviews of To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis: Epiphyte Book Review ; The Book Smugglers ; Books and Movies ; A Good Stopping Point
Other Novels by Connie Willis: Bellwether, Passage, Black Out, All Clear, Doomsday, Lincoln’s Dreams, Impossible Things, Firewatch
I loved this book. Absolutely. Now you need to read The Doomsday Book– it’s even more amazing.
This one sounds absolutely fantastic — it goes directly on the audio TBR!