The Dog Who Wouldn't Be Book

I love Farley Mowat and this classic was a must. I went in with the knowledge that I relish his writing. He has a gift of crafting incredible vocabulary, with stupendous humour. I could love just about any subject he expounded upon and it was a treat to learn that his Dad was a wordsmith, who brooked no incorrect grammar. Language arts of the 1930s were refined. I learned that Farley's Dad was a sailor, which explained my favourite of his books, "The Boat Who Wouldn't Float". That quest was a breeze, after the sludge-treading expedition his Dad waged. I loved acquainting his parents and adored his Mother.

"The Dog Who Wouldn't Be" is from 1957, 11 years after Mutt died. It tributes human characteristics and thinking, evident in our precious cats. Farley weaves tales as only a raconteur-par-excellence can. He did not pretend all traits were desirable. A funny one is about Mutt refusing to leave a store with Farley's Mother. She argued with him. Without it dawning that he wasn't human, a businessman and policeman joined in urging Mutt to be reasonable! Farley deemed them the best 15 years of his life.

Three turnoffs snipped stars from an exceptional memoir. I was disappointed that this family, who invited even owls home, were hunters. Hunting encompassed long chapters. Taking certain animals from nests was to their detriment. Crucially, Farley implied that Mutt killed cats! He wrote with humour, of Mutt learning to climb fences after them! Farley should have conveyed regret. It was cleverly-phrased: "Saskatoon's cats became arboreal".

Fun facts: Farley was Godfather to Green Party leader, Elizabeth May's, Daughter! He was friends with Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau. As a consequence, in childhood: current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and his Brothers, received a dog named Farley as a gift!