The Dog of the North

A Novel

By: Elizabeth McKenzie

Narrated by: Katherine Littrell

* Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize * A New Yorker Best Book of the Year * A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice * Nominated for the Women’s Prize for Fiction *

“I’m in love with a grieving misfit driving around with a donkey-shaped piñata in an old van held together by duct tape…the great miracle of McKenzie’s writing… is how she manages to transform misery into gentle humor…darkly hilarious.”—The Washington Post

“An addictive read with an ultimately hopeful core that recalls Haruki Murakami, Sayaka Murata, Richard Brautigan, and Miranda July”–Sanjena Sathian, author of Gold Diggers

Penny Rush has problems. Her marriage is over; she’s quit her job. Her mother and stepfather went missing in the Australian outback five years ago; her mentally unbalanced father provokes her; her grandmother Dr. Pincer keeps experiments in the refrigerator and something worse in the woodshed. But Penny is a virtuoso at what’s possible when all else fails.

Elizabeth McKenzie, the National Book Award-nominated author of The Portable Veblen, follows Penny on her quest for a fresh start. There will be a road trip in the Dog of the North, an old van with gingham curtains, a piñata, and stiff brakes. There will be injury and peril. There will be a dog named Kweecoats and two brothers who may share a toupee. There will be questions: Why is a detective investigating her grandmother. What is “the Scintillator”? And can Penny recognize a good thing when it finally comes her way?

This slyly humorous, thoroughly winsome novel finds the purpose in life’s curveballs, insisting that even when we are painfully warped by those we love most, we can be brought closer to our truest selves.

©2023 Elizabeth McKenzie (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

The plot gallops along . . . As the caper wanes, McKenzie allows Penny a modicum of closure. This is the sweet, yet cautionary note the book ends on. The past is a sinkhole, it seems to say. It’ll swallow you, if you’re not careful, and your Land Cruiser, too.”—Erin Somers, The New York Times Book Review

“I’m in love with a grieving misfit driving around with a donkey-shaped piñata in an old van held together by duct tape. Her name is Penny Rush . . . The great miracle of McKenzie’s writing . . . is how she manages to transform misery into gentle humor . . . The irresistible sound of The Dog of the North is Penny’s voice, composed of mingled strains of good cheer and naked lament . . . darkly hilarious.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“The Dog of The North filled me with joy, a glorious feeling in these times. I laughed out loud on every page and underlined most of the book—passages to return to. The novel in several different dimensions is about caretaking, a role that most people stumble into, don’t plan on, and suddenly, wham, there you are doing this task for which you may or may not be prepared. Each person in the book in her/his own way is taking care at some level, even if he/she is wrong headed (or insane) in the approach. Thank you, thank you, Elizabeth McKenzie!”—Jane Hamilton, author of The Excellent Lombards

Entertaining listen

The story is unexpected and has moments of insight that I keep thinking back on. The narration is excellent.

Beautiful story

Loved every moment, so much on the themes of the chaos in our families and chosen families. The characters felt so real. Don’t miss this read.

Nice story, vacuous and incomplete ending

I liked this harried story about an insecure and confused thirty something in LA and later Australia. Crazy grandmother and lovable older characters will warm you. The ending almost ruined the book and left me wanting something complete. Not here.

What fun!

This book is a rolling good time! Don’t miss it! But don’t listen on the train— because you will giggle and snort and slap your knee. You might even cry. Just don’t embarrass Penny! She has enough problems with her divorce, her dreary job, her disappeared parents, her crazy grandmother— and her grandmother’s accountant’s health challenges. For some reason all that is very funny when EM writes it.

Stop whatever you’re doing

You need to read this book. I promise you. Yes you. Don’t look at me that way. It’s for your own good… and the good of all humanity. There’s no time to waste. Unless there are donuts involved.

Wonderful story and narration

I kept wanting it to continue on and on. The story was so authentic and beautiful.

Enjoyable read

This was a good book, although not my favorite of McKenzie’s works. The story is swift and enjoyable. I am happy to have listened to it.

Disappointing

The reviews I read described it as darkly humorous but I did not find it so. I barely smiled a few times. The haplessness of penny was an annoyance for me. I could not feel sympathy for her. The narrator was terrific. Her accents were right on.

I have no sympathy

I feel no sympathy for a milquetoast character who makes such awful choices. I have to stop torturing myself after three hours and just quit listening. I don't even find it funny, just sad, and a bit gross at times.