A stray German Shepard is found with a collar and only his name, and a series of people have life changing (and many life ending) episodes in their short time with him before he moves on in his unerring quest for a little boy he was separated from by the tsunami. Each of the people who takes him in sees him always looking in the same direction, so they know he will not be staying, and eventually let him go (or they die, and off he goes). The story is very episodic, rather manipulative and therefore fairly predictable. It reminded me of those childrens' animal stories like Old Yeller, so I finally learned to read the end of the book first to see who was still breathing. I should have read the end first here too. But you see it coming, so it's only annoying. The writing/translating is straightforward if plain, and it's a quick read.

I like this novel that follows the stray dog Tamon into the homes and lives of several different people along his five-year journey to reuniting with his true and original owner.

The dog's staying with new owners until they can no longer keep him or are no longer in a position to keep looking after him is a brilliant way to move the story forward.

I also liked the ending when Tamon's true and newfound owner and the family of the first person who took the dog in are in contact with each other. There is pathos and true sentiment in the relationships with his owners as Tamon was seen as a gift from the gods and a symbol of good luck.

Older children and adults would enjoy the book without, hopefully, being too affected by some of the sadder and serious events in the stories.

I am a huge dog lover, but unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. I found it a bit repetitive and oh so much death. Maybe Japanese novels are not my thing? Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

THE BOY AND THE DOG by Seishu Hase is a series of vignettes set in Japan about a German shepherd mix dog called Tamon and the various people he meets, initially reminiscent of episodic stories like Black Beauty or Hitty: Her First 100 Years. However, despite the cover with its rather juvenile appeal, this book is not a story for young children or even teens. Each time that Tamon meets someone a death eventually occurs, but the more disturbing aspect is that one of his rescuers is a prostitute who ruminates explicitly on whether she would rather give blow jobs or have intercourse. The other stories are sad, too; they involve a getaway driver trying to support his sister and aged mother, an orphaned and impoverished child who has become an accomplished thief, a husband and wife facing marital discord, and an older man with a terminal illness. In each case, Tamon brings them strength, if only for a short time, as the dog is clearly searching for a past owner. Ably translated by Alison Watts, THE BOY AND THE DOG is an award-winning, bestselling novel in Japan and is being adapted for film while published around the world.

This lovely tale takes place in Japan after an earthquake and tsunami. It’s a stark reminder that life doesn’t return to normal after a natural disaster. It begins with a dog standing outside a convenience store. His tag gives his name but no information about his owner. A young man takes him in. From there, the dog connects with several other people.
This isn’t an anthropomorphic story. The dog doesn’t speak to the reader. But it’s definitely a tale about the ability of a dog to connect with humans, even those losing touch with reality. Each person finds a different connection and learns or gets something from the dog.
The writing style is plain, yet allows the reader to easily envision the scenes. Each character is fleshed out enough to totally understand their personality.
My favorite line - “How could it be that a dog who’d lived with them for barely a month was more important to her than the husband she’d spend more than ten years of her life with?”
The ending has almost a religious or fairy tale feel to it, depending on one’s beliefs.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy of this book.

I love novels translated from Japanese origin. They have a spare, straightforward writing style that speaks to me. I am also a dog lover, so really connected with the very special bond between dogs and humans portrayed in this book.

The dog in this story appeared to several different people in various locations in Japan. There had been a tsunami and earthquake which upended his early life, causing his displacement. This German shepherd /Japanese breed mix endeared himself to all with his obvious intelligence, empathy and obedience. However, all noted that his senses would always be honed in on a direction, clearly indicating that he was looking for his original owner. During the dog's journey through various temporary owners, he was loved, admired and cared for- but each person understood he was pining for someone that came before, and hoped he would find them one day. My heart was overflowing with emotion as the book came to a close. This was an extremely beautiful story, slow building... but reaching such a meaningful crescendo.

Thank you to the publisher PENGUIN GROUP Viking for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

The Boy and the Dog by Seishu Hase has much to admire in the diversity of the characters and the remote Japanese setting. It is not an original story, a lost dog trying to find his way home or to the person he considers home. The writing can be uninspired at times.

The charm of this book lies in the strong connection that each person who takes in this lost dog, Tamon, can make with him. They are often flawed people and even criminals and yet Tamon brings out their softer sides.
The ending was far-fetched and over the top for this type of story which would have been better served by staying more grounded. Dog lovers who enjoy lost dog stories and Japanese settings would be the target audience for this book. Mildly recommended.