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yes I felt the same way about Almondine. Though I knew in my heart when he was on the way back home that Almondine probably wasn't going to make it I still was upset about it. Devastated is probably a better word. And then of course it only gets worse after that point.

I do think you are right in that the dog stuff was a bit overly technical and detailed (that must have been the part that took 10 years!) but as for the tragic ending if you relate it in any way to Hamlet then you know that his paranoia and other negative forces (jealousy, envy, madness) pretty much destroyed his whole life and those around him--thus I think the ending that works out to be tragedy upon tragedy. But in part that is what is so intriguing and compelling about the book. When was the last time you read a book that wasn't quite all wrapped up neatly at the end? It's something the author intended I think (I haven't read his Q&A yet) and strikes me as the kind of thing you would say "you just couldn't make this up" in relation to the crazy tragic things that happen in real life. If that makes any sense!

I am still thinking about this book though I read it a bit ago.It kind of gets into your head. I think it does play into the feelings and emotions of the individual reader. For example I love dogs and have had to part with some dogs along the way through death. This is something that I don't think is explainable to people who don't value dogs as I do. They think--big deal you had to put your dog to sleep. So this book might not have the same impact on everyone. It is rare, I think, to care about characters in a book (including dogs) so strongly so that when they die or are hurt it profoundly affects you. This is what good writing is I think though. It makes you believe that the characters in the book are real people and so you feel real empathy and even love toward them. Powerful stuff.

Gotta run but always love to chat more about good books like this.

peace,
Clare