Published by Algonquin Books Genres: Adult Fiction, Contempory, Fiction
Format: ARC, eBook
Carry the Dog is a brilliant and gripping book about trauma and how it affects one’s life, grief, aging, how the past affects our future, self-worth, and relationships. I found it hard to put down and felt for Bea.
Bea and her brothers were the subjects of her mother’s infamous photographs dubbed the Marx Nudes. Their mother Miri, a celebrated photographer, took nude photographs of them. Their mother made them pose in uncomfortable poses. Their nudes were famous and garnered a lot of attention. The attention was not favorable and there was outcry and an investigation. The end result was tragic.
Bea went on to marry and divorce rock star Gary Going twice. They have an interesting relationship and Bea relies on him financially and emotionally. She also wrote one of his most famous songs but never received credit or compensation for it. Yet, she keeps coming back.
Readers will see Bea at a crossroads. She is 60 years old and thinking about the rest of her life. What her choices are, what she wants to do, and how to move forward. She has been approached about the photographs and her life – a Hollywood producer wants to tell Bea’s story and the Museum of Modern Art wants to show her mother’s work again. What a decision to make. Does she make money off the photos and her life’s story, or does she keep the photos in the storage unit and go on with her life? What a decision to make!
Bea is forced to confront the past while forging ahead with her future in this captivating book. This book is raw and compelling. Bea has a lot on her plate and has some decisions to make. Often, we just go through life, pushing things to the side, not dealing with issues or our feelings. But Bea is at a crossroads where she must look back, face her past, her feelings, her thoughts, emotions, and relationships.
I found this book to be well written and thought out. I look forward to reading more books by Stephanie Gangi.
Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.