The Dog by Joseph O'Neill is a novel that follows the internal narrative of an unnamed protagonist who works as a lawyer in Dubai for a wealthy family. The plot delves into the protagonist's complicated relationships, including a mysterious disappearance of a friend, his strange work arrangements, and his struggles with moral dilemmas. The writing style is characterized by long, intricate narratives, detailed observations, and a mix of humor and morose tones, providing a unique insight into expat life in Dubai.

Characters:

Characters in the story, particularly X, are portrayed as flawed and often unsympathetic, mirroring the complexities of expatriate life.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is intricate and dense, marked by lengthy sentences and a blend of humor and introspection, creating a challenging but engaging read.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows X, who leaves New York post-breakup to take a job in Dubai, leading him to reflect on his life choices, alienation, and the nature of relationships.

Setting:

The setting of Dubai vividly illustrates a culture of excess while contrasting with the protagonist's past in New York.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow, characterized by lengthy internal monologues that can feel dense and require patience from the reader.

PERHAPS BECAUSE OF MY GROWING SENSE of the inefficiency of life lived on land and in air, of my growing sense that the accumulation of experience amounts, when all is said and done and pondered, simpl...

Notes:

The narrator's professional name starts with an 'X', and he refuses to disclose his real name due to feelings of humiliation.

He reflects on his life through a series of long, winding sentences filled with multiple parentheses.

The protagonist has recently come out of a long-term relationship and moves to Dubai for work.

He takes a job as a Family Officer for a wealthy family, which includes various personal and financial tasks.

The majority of the population in Dubai are expatriates, highlighting the city's nature as an artificial construct in the desert.

The novel explores themes of alienation and self-reflection, with the protagonist often feeling disconnected from his surroundings.

The writing style is intentionally complex and legalistic, which some readers find challenging to navigate.

There is a significant lack of sympathetic characters, leading to an overall sense of isolation and discomfort in the narrative.

The protagonist composes many emails in his head but does not send them, illustrating his internal conflict and dissatisfaction.

The story draws parallels between the protagonist's life and the construction projects in Dubai, reflecting a sense of emptiness and unfulfilled potential.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include themes of existential despair, emotional distress, problematic relationships, mental health struggles, and commentary on class and cultural inequalities.

From The Publisher:

***A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK***

***LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2014***

***PWs Best of the Year 2014***

The author of the best-selling and award-winning Netherland now gives us his eagerly awaited, stunningly different new novel: a tale of alienation and heartbreak in Dubai.

Distraught by a breakup with his long-term girlfriend, our unnamed hero leaves New York to take an unusual job in a strange desert metropolis. In Dubai at the height of its self-invention as a futuristic Shangri-la, he struggles with his new position as the "family officer" of the capricious and very rich Batros family. And he struggles, even more helplessly, with the "doghouse," a seemingly inescapable condition of culpability in which he feels himself constantly trapped-even if he's just going to the bathroom, or reading e-mail, or scuba diving. A comic and philosophically profound exploration of what has become of humankind's moral progress, The Dog is told with Joseph O'Neill's hallmark eloquence, empathy, and storytelling mastery. It is a brilliantly original, achingly funny fable for our globalized times.

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About the Author:

JOSEPH O'NEILL is the author of the novels Netherland (which won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award), This Is the Life, and The Breezes, and of a family history, Blood-Dark Track. He lives in New York and teaches at Bard College.

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The Dog

Joseph O'Neill