The Dog of the South

By: Charles Portis

Narrated by: David Aaron Baker

From Charles Portis, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of True Grit, The Dog of the South is a novel about a husband on a crazy road trip pursuing his runaway wife.

Ray Midge is waiting for his credit card bill to arrive. His wife, Norma, has run off with her ex-husband, taking Ray’s cards, shotgun, and car. But from the receipts, Ray can track where they’ve gone.

He takes off after them, as does an irritatingly tenacious bail bondsman, both following the romantic couple’s spending as far as Mexico. There Ray meets Dr. Reo Symes, the seemingly down-on-his-luck and rather eccentric owner of a beaten-up and broken-down bus, who needs a ride to Belize. The farther they drive, in a car held together by coat hangers and excesses of oil, the wilder their journey gets. But they’re not going to give up easily.

“[Charles Portis] understood, and conveyed, the grain of America, in ways that may prove valuable in future to historians trying to understand what was decent about us as a nation.”—Donna Tartt, New York Times Book Review

©1979 Charles Portis (P)2012 Recorded Books

funny but a little meandering down the stretch

If you're only gonna read one Charles Porter's book read true grit. I did think this one was funnier than a Confederacy of dunces. There are a lot of racial slurs so be on the lookout for that

A true gem

I laughed aloud at this quirky tale and the characterizations resonated with my knowledge of the American Southwest. David Baker beautifully captured the drawling language, even to my native Texan ear

Cool for a Thrift Shop Find

Bought of a copy of the book at a thrift, ended up finishing via audiobook at work/in passing. Enjoyed a lot of aspects of the story and characters, thought it would focus more on the titular bus but still a cool read. The voice actor was entertaining as well, very enthusiastic and gave a lot of personality to the book.

Top ten audiobook

Great book and a brilliant voice performance to match, almost every character is voiced perfectly

A highlight of my long life of reading

This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read/heard in 50 years of reading. With his startling and hilarious combination of sagacity and cluelessness, the narrator/main character Ray Midge puts me in mind of A Confederacy of Dunces (absent the gravitas). I was smiling all the way through, except when I was laughing out loud.

Long end good start.

The end dragged on and on...which is saying something for such a short book. Not a bad listen though.

The Odyssey of an Everyman

Poignant and funny tale of a seemingly ordinary and somewhat misbegotten soul who pursues a former coworker who has absconded with his wife, car, and credit card. Naturally, there's more to it, with deep insights into the nature and nurture of the human psyche. Twainesque humor and an all around most enjoyable story. Didn't want it to end.

Excellent story telling.

Just loved everything about this tale. His storytelling and characters reminds me of Wallace Stegner or Ivan Doig. Well developed colorful characters, you really care about or strongly dislike! There’s no ambiguity. I really like that his books are about journeys involving growth of character. Along with my absolute favorite narrator, I can’t imagine anyone but David Aaron Baker doing this and other Portis books. He IS Ray. I would like to take a trip with him. A book I will listen to again and again.

Road to Nowhere, well-done

I listened to this because it was free on Audible. I love "True Grit," but other than that I didn't know what to expect. That confusion continued . . . and continued . . . I didn't know what genre it was, I kept waiting for something to happen. Spoiler . . . it doesn't. Well, no discernable plot line emerges, but of course things happen, like car trouble and money trouble and Aztec ruins and hurricanes . . . but nothing connected to the characters or the plot. I kept thinking "this is the strangest book I've ever read." But eventually it caught me. I started hearing the words when I wasn't listening. I realized nothing ever was going to happen and so I should just enjoy it. The narrator is absolutely wonderful, a magician. It is a classic, not for everyone, but a classic nonetheless.

A Perfect Match of Reader and Writer

What did you love best about The Dog of the South?

David Aaron Baker deserves an Oscar (whatever the appropriate equivalent might be) for his performance. He demonstrates a complete grasp of the written work and an impeccable sense of timing and delivery as he brings the characters of this charming work alive. Charles Portis must listen to this and marvel at how Raymond and Dr. Symes and the British Hondurans come alive in his novel. Confederacy of Dunces is the only equivalent I have encountered.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Dog of the South?

The interaction of Raymond and the cast of characters he encounters is wonderful. But any reader will recognize that Portis' ear for dialogue is uncanny. A reader who can make those encounters echo two adversaries, without the benefit of a writer's use of the printed page to identify speakers, is one of a kind. Baker is in rare form.

Have you listened to any of David Aaron Baker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not sure.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh. Wonder. Learn.

Any additional comments?

One of a kind.