Cover Image: A Dog Called Boris

A Dog Called Boris

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Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love the cover of this book and Boris was the best character in the book. The various other dogs were great too. But since I'm not from Scotland or England, some of this story went over my head. Overall, it's a fun and quirky story with quite a variety of characters. Boris takes 1st place for me as he seems to have more sense than Rory and his statements made me laugh the most.

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•~Book review~•

✨It's been a long time since I posted here. Got caught up in some mental health issues, had to take a breather.
And do you know what or who helped me immensely?
My pet Indie dog Buro.
We pet lovers have this beautiful bond with our pets that is indescribable.
They are more than pets to us, they're like our brother/sister, like our friend.
They console us, love us and stay with us unconditionally.
And so I took up this light- hearted, humourous read, ✨A dog called Boris✨, arc courtesy by Netgalley.
I enjoyed it mostly, but not all of it.

✒️Written by P.D Innes, the story revolves around the protagonist Rory Campbell MacPherson, a Scottish person , patriotic and a devout SNP supporter and his pet mop hair spaniel named Boris. They relocate to London and several notable incidents throw into a whirlwhile of an adventure, that's laugh out loud interesting.
✨In this book you'll meet a lot of dogs and they are all sassy, speak sarcasm in volumes and exhibits dry humour. You'll get to see their worlds and their interactions with people and side characters.
The characters that work along the main protagonist are well created in relation to the protagonist.
✨ I felt that the storyline drooped a little in the middle and at the end and got absurd and silly, also all the stereotypical remarks at an obnoxious Australian character was to me, not at all amusing.
Perhaps, this book could be enjoyed fully by the local people familiar with the setting and Scottish people, also dog lovers.
There's a whole lot of reference to the Royal family of Britain that you'll not get to miss.
✨The dogs Boris, Amir, Olive, Elodie and several others are the star characters of this book and if you love dogs, go ahead and read it. The dogs will light your heart up and bring smiles on your face.🌼

Book review link : https://www.instagram.com/p/CNrQfVYL4Vh/?igshid=6zhf2zil9h7i

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A Dog Called Boris is the first novel by British author, P.D. Innes. Ruairidh (Rory) Campbell-MacPherson has abandoned Edinburgh and come to London. Things did not go well with his girlfriend (now ex) when that uncouth (but rich) Australian came along; the SNP rejected any further of his efforts towards Scottish Independence; and he needs a better job than scanning pregnant ewes or drywalling.

Meriel, his new landlady (and old friend) is understanding enough to allow Boris, his faithful mop-haired spaniel, to stay. She does want rent, though. Meriel assists with a (mostly fictional) CV, to no result, and his stand-in dog-walking and lunchtime kebab selling doesn’t bring in enough. Although the dog-walking does introduce him to the delectable Gabrielle Chantal (and Boris to another mop-haired spaniel, Elodie.)

Then the Hon. Myles Tyler-Bolton, a headhunter at Plasterman and Schtunk, targets him for a position offered by that wealthy Australian: does Rory really want to work for this man? A luxury kennel for ageing dogs, and a donkey sanctuary? The pay looks good, but is he on the level, or is there something else going on?

This is a fairly quick read with a quirky cast of humans: a pair of loathsome twins, a couple of snooty double-barrel names, an Eton-educated dog-walker/interior decorator, a porn actress, and an MI5 operative with an Elvis comb. The main protagonist, Rory comes across as immature and somewhat selfish, and his naivete at times veers from gullible into just plain dumb: who plans to kidnap the deputy leader of the SNP as a tactic to promoting Scottish Independence?

The dogs are probably the best characters in this tale: a Jack Russell, an ugly pug called Olive, a limping whippet called Nuts, a mentally-deficient rottweiler, and a bald canine called Nipper. And of course, Boris, whose running commentary, clearly denoted with italics, is what saves this from a lower rating. It indicates that he is a lot more mature than his master, and endowed with a dry humour, even if occasionally a little crude (he is an animal, after all.)

The humour is sometimes a little juvenile, eliciting eye-rolling rather than laughter, and will perhaps appeal more to locals familiar with the various topical issues that feature. The portrayal of the obnoxious Australian is a stereotype so exaggerated, it fails to amuse: “Cos that’s me, pom. Strine aristocracy my people are. Truly.” This novel’s rambling start has promise, then ventures into the absurd and degenerates into utter silliness. It might be enjoyed by Scots and dog lovers.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Cameron Publicity and Marketing

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