BookLife Review by Carol O’Day: The Friend (Sigrid Nunez, author)

National Book Award winner, grief, loss, human and dog bonding, healing power of pet, Manhattan, Great Dane, writers

And now for something completely different. The Friend is a sparsely written novel/memoir about grief, loss and the bond between a woman and dog. The unnamed narrator is a single woman deeply mourning the loss of her dear friend and mentor, a man and writer who had been married three times and had affairs with his students. There is a suggestion that she experienced an unrequited love for him as well. When the man dies, his third wife asks the friend to take his beloved dog, a Great Dane, even though her Manhattan apartment does not permit dogs of any kind, let alone massive ones. 

As the book unfolds and the narrator attempts to process her grief, she grows increasingly attached to the dog. She hopes to avoid eviction through a little known law that allows dogs to remain in an apartment if they live openly there for three months without the landlord taking action. Just as eviction threatens, her therapist registers the dog as an emotional support animal and he is allowed to stay. 

Other than the challenge with the landlord and adjusting to life with a dog, not much action or drama occurs. Instead, it is an emotional journey and reflection on grief. It is also a powerful study on the deep bond and solace that can be found in a meaningful relationship with a dog, which is not trivial or incidental. In instances of grief and loneliness the relationship can be profound. The Friend taps into the mutuality, depth and healing power of that bond. Studies is made vivid and real and evocatively emotional. For anyone who ever loved a dog deeply, or even for those who never have and wondered what all the fuss is about, The Friend is a must read. 

For more book reviews and writing by Carol O’Day visit BookLife; Reviews for Readers on Substack, www.caroloday.substack.com.