Sight Hound

I almost never read fiction, but I always read Pam Houston. I found this book in an airport, and that was the most refreshing moment in a long day. Houston's genius lies in her use of humor, which is as subtle and intelligent as the humor of one of her mentors, Toni Morrison. This is a story about losing someone you love to cancer. By writing about her pets as if they were human, Houston has made the tragedy universal, touching, and appealing. Each chapter is written from the point of view of a different character, and each dog and each person who speaks is equally intriguing. Anyone who likes Toni Morrison or William Faulkner will not be confused. I think Houston is one of the great writers of our times. Like many great writers, she is so good that the current intelligentsia seems to be trying to ignore her. I guess cowboys and mountains and dogs and great laughs aren't supposed to be chic, but I was yearning for something good to read and I found it.

A wonderful heartfelt story about the power of the human-animal bond between a woman and her dog. Houston is able to tell the story from different perspectives without ever losing the pulse of the story. As a dog lover and a professional who works with dogs doing animal assisted therapy, I felt she captured the relationship issues very well. This was a 24 hour read for me because it was SO compelling. Kate Nicoll, MSW of Soul Friends

What could be more off-the-wall than a dog who quotes Buddha and eats his dinner off a stainless steel fork with a tea towel under his chin? That's Dante, the title character in "Sight Hound," Pam Houston's long-awaited new novel. And his human mom, Rae, described by her boyfriend, Howard, as "sexy and round...bigger around than anyone I ever dated, not fat...looks like she was meant to have babies." There are no anorexic heroines in Pam Houston's fiction--only a pickup-truckload of complicated, quirky, appealing humans and animals. Each character gets his or her say in "Sight Hound," as they deal with the dramas of everyday life. Darlene, the live-in ranch manager and housekeeper, and Dr. Evans, the veterinarian, are particularly well-honed and likable. It's a very thoughtful read, told in Houston's straightforward manner, and will make you notice and appreciate more about the animals and people in your own life. And, as is so often true with Pam Houston's writing, it'll make you like yourself a little better, too.

This long-awaited first novel from writer Pam Houston does not disappoint. With candor and a balance of pain and humor that we've come to expect from Houston, Sighthound is a journey that will leave you deeply touched and changed. The novel is written from multiple points of view, and everyone gets to speak including the narrator Rae, her family of dogs, her quirky yet lovable actor husband, two veterinarians and Rae's diverse community of friends. Sighthound takes the reader on a wonderful journey of hope and courage, and I was left feeling like even the painful moments in life can bring us joy. It's an engaging read that takes a lot of emotional as well as structural risks, and they all pay off. A wonderful story of love and hope and connection with others! I can't wait for her next novel.

One of the best things about Pam Houston's writing is how she manages to unearth the preciousness in the imperfect. A three-legged dog, an "unstable" actor, a seemingly cold veterinary surgeon - the heroes of Sight Hound are not the most likely candidates, but each is rendered wholly and convincingly real. The woman who brings them together, Rae, has her own flaws as well, the biggest of which is perhaps a willingness to place too much trust in the wrong people, although she balances that with an equally strong knack for finding the right ones. The bond between Rae and Dante, the wolfhound and title character, is as deep and true as any human love, perhaps more. In the end, what makes this novel satisfying is the same thing that makes all of Houston's work so powerful. She makes us realize that ultimately it is our flaws, our willingness to be human, to risk, to make mistakes, to screw up, to be vulnerable and laid bare that open the door to the most meaningful moments in our lives.