Dog Days
Fiction | Short Story Collection | YA | Published in 1998
Short Story Collection • Fiction
1998
YA
18+ years
Judy Budnitz's short story "Dog Days" portrays a family's life during a wartime winter. They navigate hardship with their somber father who adopts dog-like behavior. The narrative explores themes of survival, identity, and the blurring of human and animalistic traits amid the backdrop of conflict and familial struggle.
Dog Days by Judy Budnitz has been praised for its unique blend of surrealism and poignant storytelling, though some found its narrative structure disjointed. While the imaginative prose and inventive scenarios drew acclaim, these same qualities led to mixed feelings about character depth and plot coherence. Overall, it's celebrated for pushing the boundaries of conventional fiction.
A reader who enjoys surreal, thought-provoking narratives and dark humor will appreciate Judy Budnitz's Dog Days. Comparable to George Saunders' Lincoln in the Bardo and Karen Russell's Swamplandia!, it appeals to those who relish blending the uncanny with acutely observed human experiences.
Short Story Collection • Fiction
1998
YA
18+ years
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