The Last Days of Dogtown

A Novel

By: Anita Diamant

Narrated by: Kate Nelligan

Set on Cape Ann in the early 1800s, The Last Days of Dogtown is peopled by widows, orphans, spinsters, scoundrels, whores, free Africans, and "witches". Nearly a decade ago, Diamant found an account of an abandoned rural backwater near the Massachusetts coastline at the turn of the nineteenth century. That pamphlet inspired a stunning novel about a small group of eccentrics and misfits, struggling in a harsh, isolated landscape only fifty miles north of Boston, yet a world away.

Among the inhabitants of Dogtown are Black Ruth, an African woman who dresses as a man and works as a stone mason; Mrs. Stanley, an imperious madam whose grandson, Sammy, comes of age in her rural brothel; Oliver Younger, who survives a miserable childhood at the hands of a very strange aunt; and Cornelius Finson, a freed slave whose race denies him everything. At the center of it all is Judy Rhines, a fiercely independent soul, deeply lonely, who nonetheless builds a life for herself and inspires those around her to become more generous and tolerant themselves.

©2005 Anita Diamant (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division.

Critic reviews

• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Solo Narration (Female)

"Poignant, beautifully written. Diamant's fans won't be surprised to see that she continues to excel at creating memorable characters." (Boston Magazine)

Unforgettable

As others have mentioned, the chapters unfold and a set of characters are revealed while the author's focus weaves a tapestry from these disparate threads of seemingly small lives. It is only as each individual's time on stage ends and the story draws to a close however that we grasp how much each soul has indelibly touched the heart. With its excellent narration, this work may well become one of those journeys you remember long after the last sentence fades.

Excellent

Great story, a look back at just how tough life was in the early 1800's.

good

Good story but lacked depth, nothing compared to the "red tent" All in all it was a worth while read

Lovely and nostalgic.

As someone who walks the trails of the Dogtown woods often I love reading this book. It brings to life the cellar holes and boulders that are now broken and overgrown. I love all of the characters, especially Judy, and the first time I read this I had to go right back to the beginning to read it again. Great narration as well.

...they lived happily ever after

Decent novel. It is a series of little stories involving the different people in a small New England town-and how these events tie together. There is no main plot or who dunnit, just a story about people lost in a ever changing world. A nice little book to go to sleep to at night

Ladies & Gentlemen, This is Character Development

Anita Diamant is on the honour roll for character development! I don't know that I've read a book before that had so many richly developed characters. Each one of the Dogtown residents had multi layers of personality, motives, and viewpoints. Even the dogs and the town were characterized.

Anita Diamant's story was inspired by an article she read about the ghost town in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. I went online to see if there was such a place. There was indeed a town named Dogtown and legends about Judy Rhines, Tammy Younger, and Cornelius "Black Neil".

Each chapter was like a vignette showcasing individual characters and their circumstances. By the end of the book, as the last resident of Dogtown was moved to the workhouse, Diamant had tied them all together as a cohesive story about the trials and tribulations of the town that was known as Dogtown.

This was an audiobook narrated by Kate Mulligan who did a wonderful job in giving a voice to each character

Interesting

This is a well written story about the lives of a community . It is very well written. There is a good development of characters.

History comes alive

This was a well written account of a time and place in history The characters were well developed. I would recommend reading up on Dogtown before reading the book. This will add to the understanding and enjoyment. I enjoy Diamant's writing style. The Red Tent was much more enjoyable However I enjoyed her development of these people and their progression through this ending of a town and way of life

What a Cast of Characters

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, so well written and many of my friends know that area well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Last Days of Dogtown?

Following this cast of characters from start til finish.

Which scene was your favorite?

Can't pick one.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Cornelius/Judy. Oliver/Polly

Any additional comments?

Such a well written cast of characters. Wish the book were longer.

WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG

I WAS TOLD TO READ THIS BOOK A LONG TIME AGO AND I PUT IT OFF. I AM GLAD I FINALLY READ IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO GOOD. EXCELLENT, IN FACT.